3rd Worc`s 11th August 1917

[Martin Newman]

Hi Everyone,

As some of you may know I have been busy this last year or so tracing what happened to my Great Uncle Albert Bentley Newman and his 21 comrades of the 3rd Batt Worc`s who were killed on the 11th Aug 1917 at Westhoek Ieper.

I have visted the graves of the 7 named casualties and have been fortunate to find unknown Worc`s buried in close proximity about 15 plus, so the chance is great that these unknowns are possible the unnamed soldiers that fell on that day.

With the help of a local historian I have managed to find exactly (within yards) where they were killed defending on the 11th Aug, we managed to find the remains of the German block houses, just above ground level.

I have placed a cross named with the 22, a wreath, and roses at that location.

Baker  Clifford  31407  Pte.

Boots  Walter  31244  Pte.

Bushell  Harry  397 95  Sgt.

Cook Ernest 17273 L/Cpl.

Cooper William 30093 Pte.

Dunford John Richard 33272 Pte.

Green Henry 27680 Pte.

Harris Frederick George 34622 Pte.

Hodgkiss Phillip 35215 Pte.

Hutchinson Bert 38436 Pte.

Jackson Rueben 28768 Pte.

Lee William Thomas 34597 Pte.

Newman Albert Bentley 45334 Pte.

Powell Henry 25030 Pte.

Randle Thomas Henry Not Known 2/Lt.

Rickard John Henry 33225 Pte.

Skidmore Arthur 10565 Pte.

Snook William 32911 Pte.

Tee Walter Dennis 37556 Pte.

Veale Percy Edmund 30087 Pte.

Evans The Rev Geoffrey Maynard Chaplain 4th Class

Willis Hugh Dudley Captain Royal Army Medical Corps

I have taken some photos of the field and of the cemeteries, anybody interested can email me and I will gladly send the photos.

Regards

Martin Newman

http://martin-newman.com/

martinnewman@home.nl

Extracts from the Capture of Westhoek.

The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War by H Fitzmaurice Stacke published Kidderminster Cheshires 1926

pp275 -277

3rd Worcs, 7th - 10th Aug 1917

3/Worcs moved forward to Halfway House on the night before the battle. Orders came to relieve 8th Division on the ridge. From evening of Aug 1st to that of Aug 5th remained in position. Heavy rain and shell fire almost continuous. At night the front of the ridge was plastered with gas shells - removal of wounded very difficult due to deep slime. The worst trials were those of 'D' Coy on the defensive flank down to the Menin Road. The position was shelled heavily and the Coy lost half its strength killed or wounded. Survivors cheered by gallantry of 2Lt A Brewer (awarded MC) who showed great bravery and coolness. Other companies behaved equally well, but their casualties were almost as severe. When at last, after dark on Aug 5th, 3/Worcs were relieved, one fourth of the battalion had been put out of action. After relief, 3rd Worcs moved back down the Menin Road through Ypres to Halifax Camp.

The rest of the 3rd Worcestershire at Halifax Camp was brief. On August 5th came orders

for the line, and the Battalion again tramped forward up the Menin Road for a fresh attack.

The failure on the first day to capture the Westhoek Ridge and Glencorse Wood had resulted.

in a terrible casualty roll in the battalions on the Bellewaerde Ridge and in the valley beyond,

exposed as they were to the direct observation of the enemy machine gunners in those strongholds

To safeguard the position it was essential that those points should be taken. Plans had been made

for a local attack with that object by two Divisions, the 18th Division against Glencorse Wood,

and the 25th Division against Westhoek.

The attack of the 25th Division was to be made by the 74th Brigade, with the 7th Brigade in

close support. After dark on August 9th the 3rd Worcestershire moved into the support trenches

on the Bellelvaarde Ridge, the trenches which they had held a week before. An hour before the

attack was due to start, '' A '' and '' C '' companies were ordered forward to take position close

the right battalion of the attacking Brigade, the 13th Cheshire.

THE CAPTURE OF WESTHOEK.

At dawn (a) on August 10th the British artillery opened fire simultaneously with one

tremendous crash, and the assaulting battalions charged forward as swiftly as was possible in the

heavy mud. They just avoided the reply of the enemy’s artillery, which in three or four minutes

struck all along the line of the British front trenches. The two companies of the Worcestershire

lying in close support suffered more severely than did the attacking troops who, taking the enemy

by surprise, fought their way forward up Westerhoek Ridge, topped the crest-line and pushed down the

further slope. There the advance was checked. The reverse slope of the Ridge sheltered several

concrete block-houses, still undamaged. The 13th Cheshire were held up and sent back messages for help.

"A '' and " C '' Companies of the 3rd Worcestershire were ordered forward. 2nd Lieut

A. W. Vint led '' A '' Company up and over the Ridge. By the time he reached the forward platoon

of the Cheshire the protecting barrage had lifted and the enemy's machine-guns were sweeping

bare ground. He organised an attack and led his men forward, working from shell-hole to shell-hole

across several hundred yards of bare ground till he could close on the block-house, which was captured

by a bold rush ( . Within half-an-hour from the start the objective of the attack had been gained

and the victorious troops were endeavouring to establish defensive posts along the swampy valley

of the Hannebeek. Orders were sent back for '' B '' and '' D '' Companies of the 3rd Worcestershire

to move up to the old front line below the Westhoek Ridge.

Then, as had been anticipated, began the severest trial. From north, east and south the

enemy's shells came tearing to burst along the captured ridge : worse still, on the right flank the

18th Division after a hard struggle in Glencorse Wood had been driven back to that wood's western

edge, thus exposing the right flank of the 13th Cheshire. Soon they were taken in enfilade by machine

guns from the wood on the slope above them. By I1 o' c1ock all the senior officers of the Cheshire

battalion had been hit and, at the request of their wounded C.O., Lt.-Colonel P. R. Whalley, com-

manding the 3rd Worcestershire, went forward, and took command.

By that time enemy counter-attacks were beginning. Bodies of the enemy could be seen

struggling forward through the swamps of the Hannebeek. Again and again as they came on, but

they were easily shot down by the British fire.

All counter-attacks were repulsed, though the fire from the machine-guns still swept the

ground from the right flank. Throughout the day, Colonel Whalley commanded both battalions

inspiring all with his courage and determination .

Darkness closed down. The 3rd Worcestershire reassembled west of the Ridge and reckoned

their losses-some fifty in all, including three officers (d) : marvellously light considering the intensity

of the fire.

Next day (August 11th) the defence of the captured ridge was continued. Lewis-gun teams

of the Regiment went forward over the Ridge to assist the 13th Cheshire. Word came to send help

to the right flank against an enemy counter-attack. All movement was perilous under the hill at

shells, but Sergeant G. H. Tucker bravely led his men forward through the fire to the threatened)

dank. There he established his Lewis-guns in positions from which their fire checked the enemy

movement (e).

Two great losses fell the Battalion during that mowing, which deeply affected all ranks ;

the Rev. E. M. Evans, M.C. who had been attached to the Battalion as Chaplain for more than two

years was killed, and the not less devoted Medical officer, Captain H. D. Willis, was mortally wounded. At last on the fo11owing night the 3rd Worcestershire were relieved and withdrawn to a

position in reserve. In the two days of fighting the Battalion had lost a third of its battle strength(a) .

On the next day (August 12th) the 3rd Worcestershire moved back through Ypres to Vlamer-

tinghe and thence by bus to Steenvoorde to rest. At Steenvoorde were found the 1st Battalion,

who had been resting and reorganising during the previous Week.

(a) 4.25 a.m.

2/Lt. Vint was awarded the M.Ce In that advance Pte. D. Godson led a Lewis gun team forward with great bravery he was awarded the D.C.M. © Lt.-Colonel Whalley was awarded the D.S.O,

(d) Killed, one officer (Lt. C. Greenhill, M.C.) and 10 men. Wounded two officers (2/Lt. T. H. Handle

(afterwards died

of wounds) and 2/Lt. H. S. Hemp) and 4I other ranks.