15th Royal Irish Rifles - 21st March 1918

[AlanCurragh]

I was wondering whether there were any accounts relating to the 15th and their defence of Racecourse Redoubt on the first day of the Spring Offensive. My interest is in 2nd Lt William Samuel Baird Ross, one of two officers killed that day - the other being 2nd Lt Edmund De Wind who was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions on that day.

I'm aware of the piece on the Long Long Trail concerning the defence, and 2nd Lt De Wind's part in it, but I'd be really interested to find out if it is known what happened to 2nd Lt Ross.

The war diary for the 1st to 20th March for the battalion is missing, and for the 21st, this comment is made -

"The diary now deals with the movements of the Battalion details which consisted of transport, personnel of quartermaster's stores, personnel left out of action, other ranks arriving back from leave, and from hospital, together with a draft of 100 other ranks which arrived today. The battalion itself was gone, killed wounded and prisoners . Captain PM Miller MC commanded the little party."

I find the words "the battalion itself was gone" and "little party" very poignant....

Many thanks

Alan

[rob elliott]

Alan,

The National Archives has on line available for download the transcript of a Private named Smith of the 15th RIR. Captured on 21st March.

Haven't looked at it so it may be nothing but always worth trying.

Also i think you may want to look at Imperial War Museum file MISC.124/item 1918. This is the prisoner of war report from Lt Col Hamilton explaining why he surrendered the battalion, but as it was De Wind in charge of Racecourse redoubt i'm not sure where Hamilton was.

It seems that the morale went after de Wind was killed and the position surrendered, they held on till 6:00pm so did well considering.

Rob

[AlanCurragh]

Thanks Rob - I'll have a look at the Smith file at Kew next week. Will try to get to IWM to see the Hamiton file too...

Alan

[Desmond7]

Account from Falls' history ... find it strange that De Wind's role is not mentioned in this context?

Also, since Lord Farnham basically agreed to surrender (and to his credit saved many lives which would have been lost for no real gain) it is hard to equate the praise heaped on the unit.

Up forward, meanwhile, the three Redoubts of the Forward Zone, hopelessly beleaguered, completely surrounded by the enemy, had fought a battle that may be described as epic. The enemy pounded their trenches with trench mortars, attacked, was beaten off, bombarded once again, again attacked. Jeanne d'Arc, on the right, was the first to fall, about noon.

The other two fought on, in the hopes of effecting a break-through after dusk. But it was out of the question, so thick was the enemy now in their rear. Trench after trench was taken by the enemy in Racecourse Redoubt, till at last only a corner round the railway cutting remained. Attacks with flammenwerfer were repulsed, largely through the skill with the rifle grenade of Captain Stewart, the Adjutant. Such a battle against incredible odds could not continue for ever.

At half-past five, almost simultaneously, though they had of course no communication with one another, Colonel Cole-Hamilton, commanding the 15th Rifles, and Lord Farnham, commanding the 2nd Inniskillings, decided that further resistance was impossible. Both were highly complimented upon their resistance by the German officers who took over the forts. Colonel Cole-Hamilton was told that a battalion had been attacking him all morning, and that a second had been brought up during the afternoon. He himself had about thirty men unwounded. In the case of the headquarters of the and Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Germans released two pigeons in Boadicea Redoubt with messages announcing its capture.

The messages were received by the Headquarters of the 36th Division. The resistance of Racecourse and Boadicea Redoubts affords a rare example of that "cold courage," unsupported by the ardour and excitement of an advance or the hope of ultimate victory, which has been so often displayed by soldiers of British race in all periods of the history of British arms.

[AlanCurragh]

Thanks Des. I had a look in Middlebrook's Kaiser's Battle today - very little mention there.

Hopefully Smith's transcript at the Archives will be useful

Alan

[KGB]

My Grandfather was at Boadicea Redoubt.