worcestershire regiment

[theodore]

Can any member supply details from Ray Westlake's book 'The British Army of August 1914: An Illustrated Directory' for the second battalion of The Worcestershire Regiment.

Regards

Peter

[Roy Evans]

Peter,

I have a copy of the Worcester's Unit History, do you need anything from that?

Roy

[theodore]

Roy,

Thanks for your offer. Any information regarding 'D' company 2nd Battalion embarking for France in August 1914. I have Stacke's book on the Worcesters in WW1 that gives a very good coverage of events but any further information would be welcome. Tried to obtain a copy from Birmingham Central library of Ray Westlake's book but they do not have it in stock and reason for my request.

Regards

Peter

[ceebee]

Peter

Would you like the extract from Ray Westlake's British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 for the 2nd Battalion in August 1914? It is roughly a page in length. PM me with your email details and I can scan the pages, and others for September through to December if you wish.

Chris

[Tom Morgan]

Can any member supply details from Ray Westlake's book 'The British Army of August 1914: An Illustrated Directory' for the second battalion of The Worcestershire Regiment.

Regards

Peter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Peter - this book is a directory of locations of units. All it has to say for the 2nd Bn. the Worcestershire Regiment is "Aldershot." The excerpt from British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 offered by Chris is what you want.

Tom

[theodore]

Chris

Thanks for your offer, I have a copy of Ray Westlake's 'British Battalions in France and Belgium' .

I was just hoping a little more info may be available.

Thanks also Tom, I no longer need to find a copy of Rays other book if it only mentions they were in Aldershot.

Regards

Peter

[Northern Soul]

Peter,

perhaps this may be of some use to you;

FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

The Motto of the British Soldier.

BARROW HERO’S SEVEN BATTLES.

Exciting Experiences Recalled.

With a smiling face, despite an injured hand, and worse still, a wounded back, Pte. Alf. Hackett, of the 2nd Worcester Regiment, related his interesting narrative re his experiences in the present war to our reporter on Wednesday. Pte. Hackett is a native of Barrow, and was born in St. Mark’s parish. As a lad he joined the Army, where for four and a half years he served with the Lancashire Fusiliers, and an additional four years in the 2nd Worcester Regiment. On leaving the Army he returned to Barrow, and found employment with the Barrow Haematite Iron and Steel Company as a coke filler in the blast furnace department, and resided at 52, Dundas-street. When war was declared the scene of his labours was changed, and on the 5th August he rejoined the Worcesters, and proceeded from Worcester to Aldershot. He is a single man, and in Barrow is extremely popular. Describing his movements since leaving Aldershot, he stated that he was drafted out with the fifth Brigade of the Second Division of the Expeditionary Force. On arrival at Southampton the troops boarded the S.S. Herschell, a boat taken from the Germans and used for transport purposes. From this port they (the British) were landed at St. Germain on the 18th August, and remained at that place until the 21st. Proceeding up country, the British had their first taste of fighting two days later, when they took part in the memorable battle at Mons. It was here that our hero received his first wound, viz., the knuckles of his left hand being damaged by shrapnel. For six and three-quarter hours he and his comrades lay in the trenches, the whole time hearing the whistling of the shells overhead and the thundering of the guns.

“It was a frightful sensation,” said Pte. Hackett, “and I will never forget it.” After the battle of Mons the troops moved through the town of Frameries, and all the while they marched the Germans continued their shelling operations. In consequence the British were obliged to retire a distance of about 28 miles, the Germans being in superior numbers. Mauberge, the seat of the retirement, was reached within the day’s march, a splendid record considering the 80lbs to 90lbs of kit the soldiers had to carry. While on this journey bully beef and biscuits were frequently partaken of, a meal familiar to the soldier on the march. On the 1st September they encountered the enemy at Landrecies and two days later at La Fontenoy. Their troubles were not finished yet, as on September 5th sever fighting took place at Guise. September 6th marked the meeting of the French Army, in command of General Joffre, and after a brief halt the armies turned and advanced on the enemy, covering an average of 25 to 28 miles per day. The advance continued, and incidentally a skirmish took place with the Germans, resulting in 13 of our hero’s comrades being wounded. It was on September 8th, however, that Pte. Hackett had most cause to remember, as on this day, after emerging from six big battles with glory and only a slight wound, he was completely put out of action by having his back injured by shrapnel. This was at Gibraltar, and although the name suggests great things, yet the battle was described as being very small. After waiting 261/2 hours, he was conveyed by ambulance to Columbiers, and thence to a hospital at Nantes. After a stay of two days here the wounded were removed to the S.S. Andrew and down the River Loire to St. Nazaire, where the S.S. Asturius carried them across channel to Southampton.

Our subject landed there on the 20th September, and was immediately transferred to a Manchester hospital, where he underwent a successful operation, and came to Barrow last Saturday. Here he will stay for three weeks, and then proceed to his headquarters at Worcester. Pte. Hackett, it may be said, has seen much active service during the past few months, and commenting on the way generally, he speaks of the Germans as being a very poor class of fighters. Their marksmanship, he adds, is shameful, the infantry and cavalry being particularly bad, although the artillery he describes as being splendid, and when once they do get the range they drop down the shells within a yard or so of the Allies. The bayonet is not a source of pleasure to the Germans, and whenever the British present their weapons then enemy turns as white as sheets, and run away squealing. One day, said Pte. Hackett, they (the British) sighted a German aeroplane flying over a small town, and immediately they commenced fire. This they kept up for three quarters of an hour, but without effect. It was in a village where our spokesman saw his first dead German, the body of this disciple of “Kaiser Bill” lying on the ground minus his head (apparently having been blown off by a piece of shell). A further incident is recalled where three of the British soldiers, including Pte. Hackett, searched a barn and found three German soldiers in hiding. These were at once made prisoners. From another prisoner obtained a pocket wallet containing documents, which he handed over to the authorities, and afterwards retained the wallet. The Germans on the whole, continued our friend, do not make any bones about being made prisoners. In several cases they walked up to the British, and seemed to be glad of the chance. One of the chief characteristics of the German Army is the attitude of the officers. Instead of leading their men, it is said that they follow them. The British troops, when passing through France, were, to use our hero’s words, “made little gods of,” and the French people seemed to worship them. Anything the British soldier required, he only need ask for it, and if it was obtainable at all it was his. From the British soldier, badges and buttons from their uniforms were ever welcome as souvenirs, and French and British were on the best of terms.

My first battle, said Pte. Hackett, was a unique sensation, and the first baptism of fire was terrible, and almost indescribable. In fact it resembled something like Hades let loose. Shells dropped around the trenches within a radius of ten and twenty yards. These did little damage, and only one man was wounded in the space of six and three-quarter hours. He received ten wounds, and died. If there was any grumbling from the men in the trenches it was because they could not get nearer the enemy. It was quite usual to hear a man turn round and say, “Oh well, it’s for a good cause; remember what you are fighting for.” The “boys” were in the best of spirits. Concluding, Pte. Hackett remarked that the taste of bread was most welcome, as for fifteen days, under the special circumstances, he had to be content with biscuits. Moreover, he did not get the privilege of having his clothes off for six weeks. He also mentions that when he was leaving his work at Barrow for the front he humorously remarked to his companions that he would not be pushing ballast about for a while. Now, he points out that it wasn’t a patch on the work he has had at the front. “It is hard work,” he adds, “but it’s for a good cause.”

-: Barrow Guardian, Saturday, October 10, 1914; page 8.

11087, Private Alfred Hackett was wounded and was discharged from the Army on 7th March, 1917.

Best wishes

Andy.

[theodore]

Andy,

Many thanks for your extract from the Barrow Guardian. It adds that personnel touch that regimental histories miss. Maybe my grandad knew Pte Hackett.

Regards

Peter