9th Bn., Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

[Adam Shaw]

Does anyone have (or can anyone point me in the right direction to find) information on action involving the 9th Bn around Arras in February 1917, specifically on 14 Feb 1917?

[Tom A McCluskey]

Hi ,

Please, before anything, have a look at tis section of the Long Long Trail (LLT):

http://www.1914-1918.net/scotrif.htm

Hope this helps

Tom McC

PS - More info will follow

[Steven Broomfield]

27th Bde, 9th Divn. from Divisional History (page 178):

By far the most notable raid was that of the 'Rifles' on 14th feby."

A party of 20 officers and 320 men (under Major M N Forsyth, MC, rehearsed behind the line on a plan of the enemy's ground; teams were divided into specific tasks, no man had any identification on him.

A one minute barrage by artillery and trench mortars preceded the departure of 2 parties, through 2 gaps cut in the enemy wire. They went straight up the communication trenches to the third enemy line, thus cutting off al those in the first 2 lines, who were dealt with by the remaining parties. A box barrage kept enemy interference down to a minimum.

The attack started at 11 a.m., and success was pretty complete: 43 prisoners, 2 machine guns and one trench mortar taken. 2 dead, 15 wounded and one missing for the Rifles. Even Sir Douglas Haig sent a message of congratulation.

[Hambo]

From the history of the Scottish Rifles

"A scheme was devised by Major M.H.Forsythe MC (later DSO, MC KIA 11.3.18) of the 9th Battalion. It was to attack on a very narrow front at 11am (noon German time) after an artillery and trench mortar barrage of only one minute. The ground selected for the operation was well suited to a daylight raid; it was east of Roclinclourt and lying in a shallow dip, could not be observed from either flank. The most painstaking care was given to the organisation of details. the raiding party consisted of 20 officers and 320 other ranks under the command of Major Forsyth, was divided into various groups, each with its own special task such as wire cutting, blocking trenches, clearing dugouts, demolitions, evacuating the wounded and escorting prisoners.

The plan of operation was a simple one. Towards the end of the one minute barrage two groups were to leave the British trenches and enter the enemy trenches through two gaps in the wire, cut previously by the concentrated fire of trench mortars. These groups of men, attacking on a front of approximately 350 yards, were to push rapidly up the communication trenches bounding the area, meet in the third line and thus shut in the garrison. Other groups were to follow and clear the enemy from all the intermediate trenches and dug-outs and destroy emplacements. The whole party was to remain in the German lines for 40 minutes at the end of which time the men were to withdraw through three gaps in the German wire, the third gap being cut during the raid.No badges or other marks of identification were to be carried by any officer or man. When the raider were busy the artillry was to smoke screen the area from enemy observation from the front and flanks of the attack.

A trace of the area to be attacked was marked out behind the British lines, and here officers and men had a number of rehearsals so that every-one taking part knew exactly what was expected of him.

At 1100 hours on the 14th of February Major Forsyth led his party across No Man's Land and, passing through the two gaps cut in the enemy wire, penetrated the German position to a depth of about 300 yards. The artillery barrage fell along three sides of a rectangle, effectively screening the assaulting infantry and imprisoning the enemy garrison within the "box". The infantry assault was a complete surprise, the Germans having just settled down to their mid-day meal. In the fighting which followed the 9th Scottish Rifles killed many men, destroyed several dug-outs, blew up two concrete machine gun emplacements and one mine shaft. Two machine guns, one trench mortar and a large number of rifles and a quantity of trench stores were brought safely back together with 43 prisoners belonging to the 104th Regiment. The withdrawl was sucessfully completed and the whole operation was executed according to plan. The battalion lost two rank and file killed .two officers and thirteen rank and file wounded and one man was missing. About an hour later the enemy bombarded the British Trenches, but there were no further developments"

Hambo

[Adam Shaw]

Hi ,

Please, before anything, have a look at tis section of the Long Long Trail (LLT):

http://www.1914-1918.net/scotrif.htm

Hope this helps

Tom McC

PS - More info will follow

Thanks Tom (Steven and Hambo for the replies below). My interest in this is in Cpl 43548 James Shaw who died on 14.02.1917. I don't know if he died in the action that day described quoted by Steven and Hambo. Cpl Shaw is commemorated on the Arras Memorial and, annoyingly I was very close (less than 2km) to the Memorial 2 years ago while visiting other cwgc sites and before I "knew" of James so haven't yet had the chance to pay my respects there.

Thanks to all for the information.