1/4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers

[sandyford]

6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers War Diary

28th March 1918

Seventh Day of the Battle

CAIX

A general retirement to the line CAIX-WIENCOURT was ordered and commenced at 6 a.m.

All troops took up positions in a defensive zone N.E. and N. of CAIX.

E. of CAIX, French troops were in position.

The Battn. held a long and somewhat scattered line with the 7th D.L.I. on the left.

These positions were held till 4 p.m. when the left flank was driven in leaving 'A' Company (Capt. Leathart) in an exposed position.

The troops effected a safe retreat however, and marched through BEAUCOURT & MEZIERS to MOREUIL where the night was spent.

Fatalities CWGC - 8

7 Pozieres memorial

1 Champs Au Val Cemetery

[sandyford]

50th Div. History - Everard Wyrall.

28th March 1918

Before the exhausted troops of the 50th Div. were withdrawn, they came during the last days of March under the orders of yet another Division, i.e. the 20th Div.

The presence of the enemy in WARFUSEE and BAYONVILLERS was indeed dangerous, for he was West of our troops still holding the line at Harbonnieres.

The 149th Brigade received orders at 6 a.m. to withdraw to the line CAIX-GUILLAUCOURT road, with a rearguard holdignall roads leading into HARBONNIERES from N.E. & W.

By 8 a.m. the Brigade (with attached units) was South of the railway and moving into the following positions:

6th Battn. to CAIX

5th Battn. to GUILLAUCOURT

4th Battn. on the right of the 5th Battn, and the 7th Durham Light Infantry joining up the 4th & 6th Battns.

The 22nd Entrenching Battn. was ordered back to the right of the RIVER LUCE, S. of GUILLAUCOURT. Only 2 Coys., however marched back to the river.

Units were scarcely settled in the CAIX-GUILLAUCOURT line, when at 10 a.m., the enmy, sweeping down in a south-easterly direction, broke the line at GUILLAUCOURT.

The 5th Northumberlands state that they counter-attacked, but the result is not given in the records.

The Battn. had formed a piquet line round HARBONNIERES, and had to fight a stiff rearguard action to get away. - - -

- - -At 1p.m., therefore, the 50th Div. retired to the line CAIX-CAYEUX but held the CAIX & CAYEUX bridgeheads until 6 p.m.

At the latter hour numbers of British troops could be seen marching along the CAIX-BEAUCOURT road and the G.O.C.. 149th Brigade, ordered the rear-guard to withdraw on MEZIERES, covering the retirement of his Brigade to MOREUIL where, worn out with fighting and marching (the distance from the positions they had held in the morning to MOREUIL was from 9 - 10 miles), all units billeted for the night of the 28th-29th March 1918.

[sandyford]

6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers War Diary

29th March 1918

DEMUIN

Eighth day of the Battle

Battn. marched from MORREUIL to position due S. of DEMUIN and advanced in artillery formation to poit 90 on the AMIENS-ROYE Rd. where the enemy was attacking in force.

During the afternoon the Battn. was ordered by Brig. Genl. Riddell to hold a wood about 500yds. E. of POINT 90, which was done and held till the forces on the right retired when thre Battn. withdrew again to near POINT 90.

From E. of the wood a heavy fire was kept up on the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties.

This position was held by the 149th Infantry Brigade till darkness set in and retirement was ordered to the line MOREUIL-DEMUIN Rd.

50th Div. troops were ordered to rendezvous N. W. of RIFLE WOOD in support to the new line of the 20th Div.

Fatalities CWGC - 1

1 Pozieres Memorial

[sandyford]

50th Div. History - Everard Wyrall

29th March 1918

- - -The whole Brigade plus the 4th E. Yorks. and the 22nd Entrenching Battn and the 149th Machine-Gun Company under the orders of the G.O.C. 149th Brigade was ordered to advance forward in support of the 20th Div., to a road astride the AMIENS-ROYE road, half a mile S. of Demuin.

The Brigade with attached units was to be under the orders of the 20th Div. - - -

- - - The 6th Northumberland Fusiliers at 12 noon attacked and captured a wood E. of their position.

At 4 p.m. an attack organised by the 20th Division on MEZIERES, failed and the Div. being heavily counter-attacked fell back on the line DEMUIN-MOREUIL Rd.

This retirement uncovered the right of the 149th Brigade which then launched a second counter-attack.

The 4th E. Yorks., in a brilliant attack, drove the enemy from the high ground N. of MAISON BLANCHE, the 6th Northumberlands co-operating.

The 5th D.L.I. then attacked the wood immediately N. of VILLERS.

These attacks gave the 20th Div. time to re-form in their new line.

At 7 p.m. the 149th Brigade (and attached troops) began to withdraw to the N. of AMIENS-ROYE Rd. in order to conform to the movements of the 20th Div., now on the right of the Brigade.

That night, the Brigadier of the 149th Brigade was ordered to hand over all troops under his command to the 20th Div.

The records state that "all troops of the 50th Div. had a hot meal."

Throughout the retirement the "Q" branch of the 50th Div. had "played up" extraordinarily well.

It was no light task to feed troops continually on the move, fighting most of the time and then withdrawing in all directions.

But the Administrative Staff appear to have been successful in feeding all units by dumping supplies at places through which the troops would pass.

[sandyford]

6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers War Diary

30th March 1918

DOMART

Ninth Day of the Battle

Battn. STRENGTH 120 O.R. -

Battn Strength on 1st March 1918 is given in the War Diary as 21 Officers & 664 O.R.

Enemy attacked in strength in direction of MOREUIL and at 6 a.m. 59th Inf. Brigade issued verbal instructions for Battn. to take up position guarding RIFLE WOOD.

At 10 a.m. the line holding RIFLE WOOD broke but reformed and position was held.

Battn. remained in support to 59th Brigade throughout the day & night.

Fatalities CWGC - 4

1 Pozieres memorial

2 St. Sever Cemetery

1 Champs Au Val Cemetery

[sandyford]

50th Div. History - Everard Wyrall

30th March 1918

At 6 a.m. on the 30th the enemy again attacked heavily.

At 10 a.m. the 5th & 6th Northumberland Fusiliers received orders to hold RIFLE WOOD (S. of the AMIENS-ROYE Rd.) but at 11 a.m. the enmy regained possession of the wood.

An immediate counter-attack, however robbed him of his gains and retored the situation.

DEMUIN was lost on the 30th.

During the night of the 29th-30th, the enemy gained possession of MOREUIL WOOD and on the 30th attacked on both sides of the RIVER LUCE.

Cavalry had cleared the enemy from the wood, but he retained possession of DEMUIN.

The Official Despatches record that " In the evening a most successful counter-attack by troops of the 20th & 50th Div.s re-established our line S. of the LUCE."

The attack was organised and personally led by Capt. Pollock 1/4 E. Yorks.

[sandyford]

6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers War Diary

31st March 1918

DOMART & HANGARD

Tenth Day of the Battle

Battn. ordered by Gen. Hislop G.O.C. 59th Inf. Brigade to take up position at road junction on road running S. from HANGARD to AMIENS-ROYE Rd. ready for counter-attack when ordered on DEMUIN.

No orders were received and enemy commenced attack in force on RIFLE WOOD and 20th Div. front.

At 2 p.m. the front broke under enemy pressure and during the afternoon and evening British & French troops withdrew across the River LUCE to the defences of DOMART - leaving the 6th Nbd. Fus. 5th D.L.I., detachments of Cornwalls, Sommersets and the 25th Entrenching Battn guarding the bridge at HANGARD.

The flank of the D.L.I. was found to be in the air and all attempts to establish touch on the right failed.

Our own artillery commenced firing heavily on HANGARD and at 8 p.m. a conference was held at the chateau at HANGARD between the O.C. 25th Entrenching Batt. and Capt. Leathart and Lt. Leech, (6th N.F.) at which O.C. 25th Entrenching Battn. issued written orders for the 6th N.F. to withdraw from the positions they were holding and take up new positions covering the bridgehead at HOURGES.

This was done and at 9 p.m. the 18th Div. came forward from the direction of DOMART and also occupied HOURGES, which was understood to have been in the possession of the enemy.

At 11 p.m. the 18th Div. withdrew leaving the 6th N.F. to guard the bridgehead.

Casualties CWGC - 0

1st April 1918.(This is written in the account for the 31st March)

In the meantime efforts were made to establish communication with 59th Inf. Brigade. Lt. A. W. Leech established touch with Brig. Genl. Hislop at 2 a.m. Upon information which was supplied to him the G.O.C. issued written orders to 50th Div. troops and the 25th Entrenching Battn. on the S. side of the river LUCE for holding the bridgeheads.

Arrangements had been made for blowing up the bridges at HOURGES but these were cancelled, and a new line was given for the artillery to fire on.

At 6 a.m. a Cavalry Div. under Gen. Seeley arrived at DOMART and crossed to HOURGES ready for the attack on RIFLE WOOD and the high ground S.E. of the river LUCE.

The 6th N.F. was placed under orders of Ge. Seeley in support to the Cavalry Div. which attacked at 9.15 and suucced in establishing itself in its objectives which included RIFLE WOOD.

The attack by the Cavalry was launched from the ground which the 50th Div. troops had succeeded in holding on to through the night of the 31st March 1918.

Whilst proceeding to the bridgehead Lt. S. Brown was wounded.

Casualties

Officers 16

O.R. 310

J. G. Leathart

Capt. Commdg. 6th Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers 27th - 30th March 1918

Fatalities 01/04/1918 CWGC -1

1 St. Sever Cemetery

Fatalities 02/04/1918 CWGC - 22

20 Pozieres Memorial

2 Roisel Communal Cem. Ext.

[sandyford]

50th Div. History - Everard Wyrall.

31st March 1918

On 31st March the enemy attacked and drove the 20th Div. and the French to the northern bank of the LUCE, all units of the 50th Div. (with the exception of the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers and the 5th Durham Light Infantry suffering a similar fate.

The 2 Battns. held their ground S. of the river, covering HANGARD.

At 9 p.m. the 18th Div., under the impression that they were held by the enemy , attacked HOURGES & HANGARD.

At the close of fighting on the 31st March the British line ran from MOREUIL STATION to HANGARD, thence to the old line W. of WARFUSEE-ABANCOURT.

[sandyford]

6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers War Diary

April 1918

There was no War Diary submitted to the 149th Infantry Brigade for April 1918.

[sandyford]

50th Division.

Herewith the War Diaries of the 149th Infantry Brigade for the month of April 1918, less the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers.

The War Diary of 6th Bttn. N. F. will be forwarded as soon as possible.

The following has been received from the O. C. that Battn.

"Owing to the exceptional nature of the heavy casualties suffered by this Battn. lately - which include the C. O., Adjutant and Intelligence Officer, great difficulty is being experienced in obtaining authentic data for the continuous history of the operations in which this unit has taken part during the period covered by the War Diary in question.

Major J. G. Leathart at present at LE TOUQUET is the only officer who can supply certain necessary facts. As he will not be returning to the Battn. until the end of the present week, I fear that it will not be possible to submit the War Diary for April at the stipulated time.

It will be forwarded at the earliest possible moment.

03/05/1918

H. W. Jackson,

B. M. for Brig. Gen. Commdg. 149th Infantry Brigade"

The belated War Diary for April is not included, so perhaps it was never submitted. K. C.

FATALITIES for the rest of the month of April 1918 CWGC 140

[sandyford]

50th Div. History - Everard Wyrall

Beginning of April 1918

On the 1st April 1918 the infantry of the 50th Div. were relieved, though small parties still remained with the 20th Div.

The 149th Brigade battalion, (strength about 400 all ranks), on the morning of the 1st was dug in on the crest of a hill 1,200 yds. N. W. of DOMART, in support of the 20th Div.

All day long this position was held until, at 6 p.m. the Brigade Battalion was relieved by troops of the 41st Div.; the 149th then marched to LONGEAU and billeted there for the nught.

On the 2nd the Brigade Battalion marched to SALEUX, and at 10 p.m. entrained for RUE en route for the DOURIEZ area, where the 50th Divisional H. Q. had already been established. - - - - -

- - - - Thus the infantry of the 50th Div., with the Field Ambulances, Royal Engineers and other Divisional troops, had by the 2nd April been relieved and had been withdrawn to rest and refit to the DOURIEZ area. - -

- - - - The fine fighting displayed by all units of the 50th Div. received but little notice in the official despatches, nor indeed do the records of the Division give anything in the way of descriptions of the Great Retreat. - - - -

- - - -the grim business of fighting kept the C.O.s and Adjutants (just as on the retreat from MONS in 1914), from keeping an adequate diary. And that is why it is not possible to relate the countless deeds of gallantry and daring which everyone knows took place all over that vast battlefield."

[philg]

Thanks very much for taking time to post so much information Kate...that's a lot of typing. It's been an enormous help.

best regards

Phil

[sandyford]

Phil

I have added the daily fatalities for the 6th N.F. as shown by the CWGC onto each posting in this thread.

For the days 21/03/1918 - 02/04/1918 they total 82. Most are recorded on Pozieres Memorial but 12 have known graves.

Perhaps someone who sees this thread later will be able to add the more specific information on the 4th batt. N.F., although I think we can see why there is not much recorded for some Battalions in all the turmoil of the rearguard action.

Kate

[philg]

Kate,

just one question regarding casualties from CWGC. How did you extract that info? was it just a question of trawling through it or is there some clever way to search on a battalion basis?

Phil

[sandyford]

Phil

I got most of the names when the CWGC was searchable by regiment & perhaps even by battalion, can't remember if you were able to search battalion. I also put in all SDGW and War Diary fatalities.

I think someone on this site said now that it is not searchable by regiment, that you can ask CWGC for names (at a cost, which I don't know), where, e.g. 6th Northumberland Fusiliers is part of the text.

Of course the new SDGW searchable discs (which I haven't got) are good for this sort of trawl by date or any number of fields - although they don't have all the names & sometimes there are errors.

Kate

[philg]

Kate,

Thanks for that. Based on what you said, I emailed them and they just sent me through exactly what i was after in Word format, so that was easy.

I can email it if anyone would like a copy.

Phil