British Positions before Ypres 1914

[brindlerp]

"The British Positions before Ypres, October 29th, 30th and 31st 1914"

map on this site has letters A, B, C, D, E and F denoting units defending these lines.

What units are they?

Is there an official description of each line?

Are they a breakdown of the deployment of 7th Division?

Are there any reconnaissance photographs available of the area taken at the time?

Regards

Richard

[Chris_Baker]

This is the map in question:

Good question. I can't remember where we got that map from. I'm sure someone will know the original reference.

[AOK4]

I can 't immediately think of a unit that would have served in the Gheluvelt area from around 18 October (A) to 11 November (E) and again in May 1915 (or perhaps later?) (F). If the maps shows the positions of one Battalion, it must be one from the 1st Division I think and not the 7th Division, although I could be wrong.

Jan

[Annette Burgoyne]

Hi Richard

After looking at the maps that covers the dates October 29th, 30th and 31st 1914 in the Official History.

D. & E. are in IV Corps' area.

A., B. & C. are in I Corps' area

but latter three and F only partly match the positions, for the dates October 29th, 30th and 31st 1914 on the maps in OH ?

F looks like the line hold by 4th May 1915 (do not know which Corps involved without looking at OH for that year).

Regards

Annette

[Annette Burgoyne]

Richard - I have just read all your posts and see that your interest is 2/Warks. Do you want the movements of this Batt. and 7th Div. from Official History of the War for the time covering First Ypres.

Annette

[Robert Dunlop]

Very roughly, A would correspond with 2nd Division and B with 1st Division on 29th October.

D would correspond with 7th Division on the same date.

C could be the position of 1st Division on 30th October.

E might be the frontline on 31st October.

F beats me. On the 31st, the battered remnants of the BEF still held Polygon Wood, which is just behind line A. There certainly were not enough forces to hold a second line at F out on the the left flank. It does not correspond to the gun line that I am aware, though the top half of the line might.

Robert

[Staffsyeoman]

F looks very much like the position held by a composite formation comprising the survivors of 2/KRRC and 1/Loyal North Lancs plus stragglers of other battalions, total less than a thousand, driven back south of the Menin Road by a German assault on 31st October. The senior ranks left standing were the Lt QM of the LNLs - eventually killed by a shell - and a CSM of 2/KRRC... my partner's grandfather.. awarded the DCM for consolidating the defence, and a 'battlefield commission' two weeks later.

[brindlerp]

Richard - I have just read all your posts and see that your interest is 2/Warks. Do you want the movements of this Batt. and 7th Div. from Official History of the War for the time covering First Ypres.

Annette

Many thanks everyone for the information.

Annette, if at all possible I would like as much information as can you can easily provide from the Official History, regarding IV Corps, 7th Division, 22nd Brigade, 2nd Royal Warwicks.

When circumstances allow, there are many books including the Official History I want and also visit the National Archive.

I have transcribed the appropriate chapter/part regarding the 2nd Royal Warwicks story and edited it to create a rough diary as a working document.

I hope to develop it to cover my Grandfather's location/battles etc. up to his discharge date of 4 October 1915 with 2nd Royal Warwicks.

For 1914:

Source information edited from :-

The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Formerly the Sixth Foot)

by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

IV Corps, 7th Division, 22nd Brigade : - 2nd Royal Warwickshire, 2nd Queens, 1st South Staffords, and 1st Royal Welch Fusiliers.

1914

October 6 landed at Zeebrugge to cover the retreat of the Belgian Army and Naval Brigade from Antwerp

October 9 entrained for Ghent, and on the following morning the 2nd Royal Warwickshire were sent forward to support a battalion of French Marines who were holding a position about four miles outside the town. There they spent two days with the Germans close at hand and no chance for rest.

October 11 when the retreat of the main Belgian Army was secured, the Division began to fall back before the overwhelming force of the enemy. Hard marching brought them through Thielt and Roulers to Ypres on the afternoon of October 14.

October 14 the 7th Division and 3rd Cavalry Division had to maintain a too extended line against forces far more numerous

October 16 7th Division moved out to the east of Ypres to occupy a line from Zonnebecke to Zandvoorde, the Royal Warwickshire being at the first named place

October 18 a slight advance was made to Becelaere and Kruseik

October 19 General Rawlinson was ordered on the morning to advance and seize Menin. The attack was commenced by the 22nd Brigade, with the Royal Warwickshire on the right and the Royal Welch Fusiliers on the left. Dadizeele was passed without opposition, but as they approached Kezelberg they came under heavy shell-fire. Nevertheless the village was cleared and the advance continued towards Kleythoek. They were driving the Germans back easily and success seemed secure, when the order came to retire. General Lawford had learnt that the Germans had received large reinforcements and that immediate retreat was imperative. Before the withdrawal could be effected the Royal Welch Fusiliers came under heavy artillery fire. The Royal Warwickshire suffered less; but "B" company, which was in advance, was heavily shelled during the retirement. In the fighting that day Captains G.R. Taylor and H.G. McCormick, and Lieuts. J.E. Ratcliff and R.T. Stainforth were killed.

October 20 After billeting for the night at Zonnebecke the battalion marched next morning to the Chateau of Herentage (above Dumbarton Lakes) on the Menin road, where it would be in a position of reserve for the whole Division. In the afternoon the Germans attacked the rest of 22nd Brigade on the ridge east of Zonnebecke, and the 2nd Royal Warwickshire was hastily brought up. There whilst forming a defensive left flank to the brigade Colonel Loring was wounded by a stray bullet in the heel. Just before dark the Coldstream Guards (who had just come from the Aisne) arrived, and at midnight the Royal Warwickshire were able to close to their right to billets at Zonnebecke.

October 21 the Germans made another heavy attack on the 22nd Brigade, and the Royal Warwickshire were thrown in near the cross-roads east of Zonnebecke to restore the fight. At the end of the day the battalion still held the ridge, but there were gaps in the line and the casualties had been severe. Captain Methuen was killed, Captain Whaley wounded, and Lieuts. Collins and Somerville were wounded and missing. All that day Colonel Loring, in spite of his wound, had ridden, regardless of danger, even in close proximity to the front line. The night was exceptionally dark, and it was with difficulty that at midnight the troops were mustered in the rear of the ridge and marched back through Zonnebecke, now deserted and battle-worn. Though the men had been scarcely able to keep awake whilst on the ridge, they had at once to dig trenches in the rear of the village.

October 22 the Germans did not advance through Zonnebecke, and the battalion was able to rest and improve its new line.

October 23 the enemy threatened to push their attack through Polygon Wood to the south of Zonnebecke, and a company of the Royal Warwickshire was consequently detached to assist the South Staffords.

October 24 At dawn the remaining three companies were sent to recover lost trenches where the Germans had broken through our lines at Polygon Wood. The wood was very thick and it was difficult to keep direction, but after hard and close fighting the Germans were driven back. Then the three companies came under heavy machine-gun fire from a small farm-house. Nevertheless the house was assaulted and captured, and after the line had been reformed they advanced another mile and recovered the lost trenches, which they held till evening. Colonel Loring, who in spite of his wound still remained with his regiment, rode that day at the head of his men, encouraging them to greater efforts by the example of his fearless bearing. Twice his charger was shot under him, and at last he fell himself on the assault of the farm. He was one of three noble brothers (The other two were Major C.B. Loring of the 37th Lancers, Indian Army, and Captain William Loring of the Scottish Horse, who was mortally wounded at Gallipoli), all alike conspicuous for character and courage, who were killed in the first year of the war. Earlier in the day 2nd Lieut. Deane had been killed, and the other casualties were over a hundred. It was the price of a fine achievement, which, as General Rawlinson told the regiment next day, had saved the situation at a critical moment.

October 25 one day's rest

October 26 the battalion moved out, under the command of Major P.J. Foster, to Zandevoorde, where they were joined by the first reinforcement of 190 men.

October 27 held the trenches under heavy fire, being forced in the afternoon to withdraw a part of their line. At night they were relieved and bivouacked near Klein Zillebecke, remaining close to that village on the following day.

October 29 when the battle was at its height, the Royal Warwickshire was ordered to counter-attack; but was held up by machine-gun fire and forced to dig in, two companies having a narrow escape from being surrounded.

October 30 All day they held their trenches under a heavy bombardment.

October 31 on the morning many of the trenches were blown in and their occupants buried, the battalion on the left under the strain gave way. The Royal Warwickshire had in consequence to swing back their own left to a fresh line, which they were ordered to hold at all costs. A small party under Major Foster, with five other officers, did not receive the necessary orders, and remaining in their advanced position were finally surrounded and taken prisoners. The day's fighting had been long and fluctuating, and it was only at evening that the 22nd Brigade beat off the enemy and re-establish the line. After this the battalion, now numbering little over a hundred men, remained three days in brigade-reserve in the woods.

All this time, for nine consecutive days and nights, officers and men had little more sleep than what they might snatch in the trenches. Day after day in the face of an appalling artillery fire they had held the trenches, which they had dug in haste during the previous night, and had never lost a trench until it had been actually blown in by the enemy's shells. At one critical time, Lieut. and Quartermaster Hyde collected all the servants and cooks, the Sergeant-Drummer, the Sergeant-Master-Shoemaker, the Armourer-Sergeant and the Orderly-Room Corporal (of these four the Sergt.-Master-Shoemaker was wounded, and the other three were killed ) and hurried them forward to help to restore the fight. General Rawlinson specially commended the battalion for its steadiness and good discipline on October 19, and for its courageous conduct on October 20, 21 and 24.

November 4 brigade was withdrawn

November 6 recalled to take part in a counter-attack.

November 7 With General Lawford leading them on foot they advanced at dawn in four lines and captured the enemy's position. That day the Royal Warwickshire and South Staffords formed a composite battalion under the command of Captain Valentine of the latter regiment, who was killed in the action after winning the Victoria Cross by the gallantry of his leading.

For three weeks the 7th Division had withstood the repeated attacks of the enemy, who through their superior numbers could again and again hurl fresh troops into the battle to be met by the same worn and tired battalions. Nevertheless at the end Ypres was uncaptured and for the time secure. But of that heroic Division there was only a bare fifth of its original numbers. In the 2nd Royal Warwickshire the losses had been particularly heavy; of the officers seven had been killed, six wounded and ten were prisoners of war; of the men there were hardly enough to make one weak company. When the battalion was finally withdrawn there remained with it but one combatant officer, 2nd Lieut. R.F. Richardson. Of him a brother officer writes: "He was very gallant, cheery and cool, even in the worst of the ordeal. Within two years of his joining, it was his great honour to bring out the remnants of the battalion from one of the most famous battles in the history of the world." Lieut. Richardson was wounded at Bois Grenier on December 18, and next year was mortally wounded whilst leading his company in the first assault at Loos on September 24, 1915.

The first battle of Ypres continued for some days after the withdrawal of the 7th Division; but the German attacks gradually died away, and with their final defeat on November 17 the first phase of the war came to a close. From that date began the change to permanent trench-war conditions, with the first growth of all the administrative problems that necessarily arose therefrom. Still we must here carry on the narrative to the end of the year.

After their withdrawal from the fighting-line the 2nd Battalion had a week's rest in billets, where their numbers were restored by the arrival of strong drafts from England.

November 10 Major R.H.W. Brewis had assumed command of the battalion

November 14 they went again into the trenches at Fleurbaix; but now they had regular periods of rest, whilst their numbers gradually increased, until on December 12 they mustered 22 officers and 939 other ranks.

December18 when they were serving in the trenches, they had orders to capture the German position at Bois Grenier before Le Maisnil. Immediately the attack began the enemy opened fire with rifles and machine-guns. Still the battalion advanced with great steadiness, and some men got within a few yards of the enemy's trenches. But the casualties were so heavy that the attack failed in its objective, and what remained of the battalion was forced to return to its own lines. For the second time it had lost its commanding officer. Lieut.-Colonel Brewis and eight other officers were killed, whilst two were wounded and one missing. The total casualties of other ranks were nearly 300. General Capper in a Divisional Order congratulated the battalion on their "gallant effort, which though unsuccessful had been of great use and service to the general plans of the Allied Army."

Regards

Richard

[Robert Dunlop]

F looks very much like the position held by a composite formation comprising the survivors of 2/KRRC and 1/Loyal North Lancs plus stragglers of other battalions, total less than a thousand, driven back south of the Menin Road by a German assault on 31st October. The senior ranks left standing were the Lt QM of the LNLs - eventually killed by a shell - and a CSM of 2/KRRC... my partner's grandfather.. awarded the DCM for consolidating the defence, and a 'battlefield commission' two weeks later.

I agree with your suggestion about the section of F south of the Menin Rd. Thanks for the interesting anecdote as well!

I can't account for F above Menin Road.

Robert

[Annette Burgoyne]

Hi Richard

Seeing what you already have, the Official History by not add anything new but I will read through it and see if there is anything to add to what you've got. I will scan the maps in OH and email them to you.

Annette