Festubert 2nd Royal Warwickshire

[Tony Cox]

This is the diary of Pte H Benwell 2/nd Royal Warwicks that came with his medals, and this is his acount of the battle of Festubert.

Twas on the 15th eve in May,

When our Regiment did prepare,

To go into the trenches gay,

And take position there.

We reached the spot well after dark,

And lay down for a rest,

But soon big guns began to bark,

And we had to leave our nest.

So along the trench we slowly walked,

And fixed the steel the while,

But there was not one man there who talked,

For it was an awful trial.

It was early Sunday morning now,

And starting to get light,

When our guns began to make a row,

A sign we had to fight.

At 3,oclock the order came,

To make a gallant charge,

So over the top we went so game,

At the Germans fine and large.

They would not stay to face the steel,

But simply turned and fled,

With our gallant men close to their heel,

mowing then dow as dead.

So here we took trench one and two,

But we were not satisfied,

For there was more dirty work to do,

And now for the third our officers cried.

So on again at a rapid pace,

How we got there there is no telling,

For we had to cross an open space,

And a river they were shelling.

Allthough we lost men every yard,

And our work was just begun,

The soldiers were not put off their guard,

For duty must be done.

The fourth trench lay not far ahead,

So onward we must go,

And soon the ground was strew with dead,

Belonging to the foe.

We hunted all the stragglers round,

Who were mostly prussian huns,

But though they were all big and sound,

We took 170 and 2 machine guns.

Now here as that was left all had to stop,

As we had done our very best,

But the shells they did not cease to drop,

So we did not get much rest.

Of course we had reserve regiments very close,

Which now must take the lead,

And give them just another dose,

Of which they often need.

Our officers are all gallant men,

And our Genral is an expert,

For on that day their bravery is shown,

When we won the battle of Festubert.

Hope you enjoy

Tony

[marina]

It's amazing how many men took to poetry in the trenches - I enjoyed that. Thanks, Tony.

Marina

[marina]

PS - did Pte. Benwell have any more poems in his notebook? And what happened to him?

Marina

[Tony Cox]

Hi Marina

yes there are few more small poems in the notebook and some drawings,i will post some more soon.

Don't know what happen to pte benwell all i know is he survived the war.

Tony

[brindlerp]

Very nice post Tony, thanks for that.

My Grandfather was there also with 2nd Bn RWR.

Regards

Richard

[marina]

Hi Marina

yes there are few more small poems in the notebook and some drawings,i will post some more soon.

Don't know what happen to pte benwell all i know is he survived the war.

Tony

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good he came through. Shall look forward to the other posts!

Marina

[ypres1418]

a wonderful piece,

you can see and hear it as you read it.

i'll take a copy with me when we go over if you don't mind just incase we go to Festubert.

Mandy

[spike10764]

Please, do post some more Tony. That is a piece of history in your hands. Can we see some of the drawings?

[Laurent]

Hi, a map showing RWarwickshires trenches position (in red) and photo of this battlefield. The trenches are in the middle of the field near "Canadian Orchard" position.

Laurent.

Canadian Orchard, the trenche goes to this position.

[dycer]

In relalion to the map does anyone know where the 8th Royal Scots were placed?.

They occupied the front line on the 16th and remained there until the 18th.The 4th Guards Brigade crossed the Battalion's left front on the 18th and the Canadians attacked through the Battalion at about 5.15 p.m. on that day.

The Battalion lost its Colonel and 31 other ranks,11 officers and 148 other ranks wounded and 3 missing during the Battle.

George

[Laurent]

1/8th Royal Scotts TF was on 7th Division 22nd brigade. This regiment was on trenches behind 1st RWF near "Indian Village" area (Festubert) south of "La Quinque Rue" may 16th 1915.

see situation troops 22nd brigade on this map.

Laurent.

[mcderms]

Cna someone point me at more info on this action? My Great-Grandfather was wounded with 2/Warks and it ended his career.

[dycer]

Laurent,

Sorry to be a nuisance but I cannot open your map of the location of the 8th Royal Scots.

Is it a Web-Site problem?

George

[Tony Cox]

Thanks to all for the reply, nice shots of the area today Laurent.

Hear is another poem from Pte Benwell's notebook, Titled (supposing)

Supose i met a pretty maid,

And it began to thunder,

I wonder if shed be afraid-

I only wonder.

If holding my umbrella out,

And begged her to come under,

Do you imagine she would pout,

I only wonder.

If two red lips-please tell met his,

Should make me try to plunder,

Would she begrudge a stolen kiss,

I only wonder.

And if she happened to be you,

Would you forgive my blunder,

Now dare i make it all come true,

Of course i only wonder.

h.b

When i first read this from his notebook i could imagine him thinking of some sweetheart back home.

Tony

p.s i will post some more with the drawings

[Tony Cox]

As promised some drawings from Pte Benwell's notebook

Tony

[Tony Cox]

drawing number 2

[Tony Cox]

drawing number 3

[Tony Cox]

and the regimental badge

[marina]

Thanks to all for the reply, nice shots of the area today Laurent.

Hear is another poem from Pte Benwell's notebook, Titled (supposing)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like a girl he was too shy to approach - that's so touching and delicately put. His drawings are good too. How did you come by the notebook, Tony

Marina

[spike10764]

Sounds like a girl he was too shy to approach - that's so touching and delicately put.  His drawings are good too.  How did you come by the notebook, Tony

Marina

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes , I agree Marina, it definitely sounds like he was thinking of a girl back home.

Maybe one of those he drew- my guess being the second- framed in flowers and looking rather chaste (...and not caught )

[brindlerp]

attached, copy of pages 145 and 146, from Chapter XIX - The Great War In The Trenches 1915 - 1916: The Story Of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment by C.L. Kingsford.

Covering the period May 1915.

[brindlerp]

WAR DIARY - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, WO/95/1664

[ 1st May to 31st May 1915 ]

1st In billets. Meteren. Strength 23 Officers, 1017 Other Ranks.

2nd In billets. Meteren. Fine day.

3rd In billets. Meteren. Fine day.

4th In billets. Meteren. Fine day.

5th In billets. Meteren. Fine day. Battalion Paraded at 9.15 pm and

marched to billets at LA GORGUE and assigned at about 2.30 am. 6th

inst.

6th In billets. LA GORGUE. Fine day.

7th In billets. LA GORGUE. Fine day.

8th In billets. LA GORGUE. Fine day. Left LA GORGUE at 10 pm and

marched to trenches arriving at 1 am. 9th inst.

9th Daybreak reveal aeroplanes flying over enemy's lines. 4.45 am Heavy

rifle fire on our left. 5 am Bombardment commenced. 6.30 am

advanced from assembly trenches and occupied 'G' Trenches. There

Battalion was under continuous shell fire until the following morning

many officers and men were hit but not sufficiently bad to be post sick

our actual casualties were only 19 other ranks.

10th 2 am left 'G' trenches and went to 'M' trenches and remained until 8 pm

when the Battalion left the trenches and marched with the remainder

of Bde to ESSAR and bivouacked for the night. Lt. Col. V.R. Piggott

was slightly wounded (but remained at duty). Other Ranks wounded 2,

Missing 3.

11th Remained at ESSAR. (Bivouacked) ?? of 113 Other Ranks joined Battn.

12th Remained at ESSAR. Moved into billets at LOCON.

13th Remained at LOCON. Remained in billets.

14th Remained at LOCON. Remained in billets.

15th At 7.50 pm on Sat. we left our billets S of LOCON and arrived at the starting point X 20 c 8.55 pm Marching via RUE DE BOIS - RUE EPINET - Route IV The Bn was formed up in the support trenches N of RUE DE CAILLOUX by 11.30 pm without any casualties. On the 16th when the first Coy of the R Welsh Fus was launched to the assault, the Bn commenced to file into the front trench of the British line N of RUE DE CAILLOUX. The enemy, by this time, had opened up a heavy bombardment on our front line trenches and support trenches. The Battn was formed up in the fire trench in the following order A.B.C.D. A Coy demolished the barricade on the RUE DE CAILLOUX and made an opening in our parapet 40 yds north of road to allow entrance of wounded. 1 Platoon A Coy advanced at 4.30 am to reinforce R.W. Fus followed by the remainder of the Coy at 4.40 am. B Coy was sent at 5.15 am to reinforce R.W. Fus and Queens in a half right direction across the RUE DE CAILLOUX. A Coy advanced on line M5 - Road Junction LA QUINQUE RUE and took up position in communication trench M 5 M 6 by 6.40 am. B Coy arrived M 8 - M 9 at 7.30 am. The line M 5, M 6, M 8 - M 9 was held at this time by Queens R. W. Fus and two Coys of R. War. R. At 5 am two platoons D Coy with M. G. section proceeded to put 1st German trench in state of defence. The R.W.F. asking for further reinforcements 1 Platoon C Coy advanced 1/2 right across RUE DE CAILLOUX at 5.45 am and on arrival at about 50 yds S.W. of M 5 the Platoon Commander put himself under orders of O.C. Queens. All these Coys advanced with great dash and quickness and arrived at desired objective (and only returned from this line on receipt of orders from Capt Stockwell Comdg R.W. Fus as he informs me that the trenches were untenable owing to enfilade fire). At 8.45 am 3 Platoons "C" Coy and 1 Platoon D under Capt Knyrett with objective P4 - N11 - LA QUINQUE RUE with orders to get into touch with Scots Guards on left, protect left flank and put LA QUINQUE RUE in a state of defence B Coy to go to LA QUINQUE RUE and 1/2 Coy to N11. This Coy did not get beyond N8 as the troops on left were unable to advance. At 8.50 am of 16. 5.15 the position of Battn was as follows.

1 Platoon D Coy in first line British Trench.

3 Platoon C Coy and 1 Platoon D Coy en route for P4 - N11 LA QUINQUE RUE.

2 Platoons D Coy putting 1st German trench in state of defence with M.G. Section.

B Coy in communication trench M 6 - M 5.

1 Platoon C Coy 50 yds S.W. of M 5.

A Coy in trench M 9 - M 8.

At 11.40 am C Coy was ordered to advance in support of R. Scots in their attack through N 5, N 4 - N 11.

At 3.45 pm 2 Platoons D Coy moved towards farm on LA QUINQUE RUE to put it into a state of defence, but found advancing British troops retiring.

At dusk the Battn was ordered to hold 1st German trench N 4 - N and by 9 pm the whole Battalion was reorganised and formed up in this position.

Subsequently Bn was moved to left, taking up position with left on RUE DE CAILLOUX and right on M.3.

On the morning 19. 5.15 1 Platoon of D Coy moved into N 9 in support of R. Scots where it stayed until night, when it withdrew to line British Trench.

During night 17th/18th the Battlefield was cleared and the dead buried.

Throughout 18th we remained in support of R. Scots and at 8 pm the Battn left the field and proceeded into billets at VENDIN-LES-BETHUNE .

The casualties of the Bn during the operations were as follows.

Officers Killed: 2 2/Lt S.B. Blair

2/Lt F.A. Burden

Wounded: 3 2/Lt H.O.D. Segrave

2/Lt C.T. Holmes

2/Lt F. Durnford

Slightly wounded 2/Lt A.E. Stehn (still at duty)

Other Ranks. Killed 24

Wounded 157

Missing 21

19th In billets. The Battalion paraded at 2 pm and proceeded to CORNET

BORDOIS with the remainder of Brigade.

20th In billets. Fine day.

21st In billets. Fine day. Inspection B.G. Comdg 22nd Bde who

complemented the Battalion on the recent operations.

22nd In billets. Fine day. Draft of 1 Officer 112 Other Ranks ( 2/Lt

Unsworth ) joined for duty.

23rd In billets. Fine day.

24th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day.

25th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day. Major J.H. Lloyd rejoined Battn

for duty.

26th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day.

27th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day. Battalion paraded with the

Brigade for inspection by the French Commander-in-Chief General

Joffre and General French.

28th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day.

Special Order. The following is a final summary of the results of the

operations on the front of the First Army since 16th May. The enemy's

line has been pierced on a front of about 5400 yds i.e. over 3 miles.

Of this the whole hostile front line system of trenches has been

captured on a front of 3,200 yds. On the remaining portion the first

and second lines of trenches have been captured. The total number of

prisoners taken was 8 officers and 763 Other Ranks 11 Machine Guns

are known to have been captured or destroyed and 15 more are

estimated to have been damaged or lost making a total of 26.

A considerable quantity of material and equipment was taken the

exact amount of which hasn't yet been ascertained. The G.O.C. desires

to express his satisfaction to all ranks of the First Army on their

achievements and has much pleasure in publishing the following

congratulatory telegram from Field Marshall Commander-in-Chief

"I think your summary of the results attained by the First Army from

May 16th up to date is very satisfactory. Please convey my

congratulations and thanks to the Canadian and 47th Division, which

here so well matured and extended the excellent work begun by the

2nd and 7th Division, whose services I have already acknowledged".

29th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day.

30th In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day. Capt N.H.L. Matear, 2/Lt W.L.

Ditten, 60 Other Ranks arrived with Draft for duty.

31st In billets. CORNET BORDOIS. Fine day.

V.R. Piggott

Lieut. Colonel

O.C. 2 R War R

1. 6.15

[brindlerp]

Pages 158 to 161, from Chapter VII

Aubers Ridge and Festubert

THE SEVENTH DIVISION 1914 - 1918

by C.T. Atkinson, published by The Naval & Military Press.

Page 181 contains Map 14, widely referenced in this chapter and found in my first post in this thread.

[brindlerp]

Pages 162 to 165, from Chapter VII

Aubers Ridge and Festubert

THE SEVENTH DIVISION 1914 - 1918 by C.T. Atkinson, published by The Naval & Military Press.

Page 181 contains Map 14, widely referenced in this chapter and found in my first post in this thread.

[brindlerp]

Pages 166 to 169, from Chapter VII

Aubers Ridge and Festubert

THE SEVENTH DIVISION 1914 - 1918 by C.T. Atkinson, published by The Naval & Military Press.

Page 181 contains Map 14, widely referenced in this chapter and found in my first post in this thread.