All the notebooks were written on the right hand page and additions, photos, cartoons or other documents were added to the left hand page.
Book 3.
This continues directly from the previous book.
the trenches for an officers’ bomb-proof.
29th March I now started all spare men on digging out places for proper Bomb-proofs for the men. Nine Ten were made in all to hold 20 men each. They were right under the crest of the hill and safe against anything short of a howitzer. No more trees were allowed to be cut down and I arranged with the French to stop their men from doing it also. We also worked during the night at a supporting point in the wood but this proved very disappointing owing to water lying a foot below the surface. Very few sandbags were available for building up parapets and these were required to build out to the right of 49a. A boggy stream caused great difficulty here but some progress was made. We were warned that the Germans were preparing a gas attack on a large scale but it seemed incredible. A number of their aeroplanes were very active again, the first we had seen for some time.
The ridge behind us was shelled as usual and a few shells fired into 51. I arranged for all the corrugated iron and timber to be brought away from there at dusk and again at dawn, this proved invaluable for the new bomb-proofs.
On the opposite page is a sketch map of the location showing Hill 60, the trenches and Zillebeke.
It was most fortunate this was done as shortly afterwards the Huns heavily shelled 51 now abandoned. This was twice repeated during the day. Our men were delighted with themselves sitting in perfect safety watching the “Hate”. We were again rifle grenaded but had no means of reply. Two men were badly hit. It is the horrid feeling of being left in the lurch while in England it is “Business and Pleasure as usual”. I had another talk with the French Commandant and stayed by special request while they were handing over from one Bn to another. It was very well done. Splendid large scale maps showing every French and German trench were handed over. Between the French and German trenches there were a large number of Frenchmen lying where German machine gun fire had caught them two months earlier in an attack. There were more aeroplanes about again.
I walked with Neville to examine the trenches we had made in the wood A, passing up a glade behind 49 I looked back and saw the German trenches only 100 yards off. It was broad daylight but fortunately no one was on the look out. We were in full view for about a minute.
31st March. There were the usual hates during the day. I took some photos of the trenches and Bombproofs and the work was completed so that the relieving troops could enter by the new comn trench instead of using the French one. In case of attack two if possible should always be available, one to evacuate wounded the other for reinforcements. That evening we were relieved and marched back through Ypres to our old camp. Here some new huts had been built for the Officers and the ground was quite dry and green.
Thursday March 01, (16.04 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wickford.
Thursday March 01, (17.25 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 V-2 rocket fired, impacted Horndon-on-the-Hill.
Thursday March 01, (23.07 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.
Part of the unit Battery 444 fired two new test series V-2/V-2s in the first days of March at a place called Armsen (southeast of Verden an der Aller) in the direction of the North Sea, Northern Germany.
Friday March 02, (00.57 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ashingdon.
Friday March 02, (02.14 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Havering-atte-Bower.
Friday March 02, (05.35 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Epping Forest.
Friday March 02, (05.46 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired impacted Chigwell (airburst).
Friday March 02, (05.47 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Fambridge.
Friday March 02, (08.11 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Southend.
Friday March 02, (09.19 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Brentwood.
Friday March 02, (22.59 hours) – Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell.
Saturday March 03, (01.06 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Foulness Island.
Saturday March 03, (03.29 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Bois
Saturday March 03, (05.55 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. Ten people dead.
Saturday March 03, (06.10 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton.
On March 03 a total of (56) Allied medium bombers mounted an attack of the Duindigt/Haagse Bos, the suspected headquarters in Marlot and the western part of the forested Haagse Bos, where much of the V-2 material was stored. Because of a mistake in the navigation the first bombs were dropped southeast of the Haagse Bos instead of northwest. Many Dutch civilians of the Bezuidenhout quarter were killed by mistake. Later that evening, while the fires from the ill-fated attack were still burning, the Germans fired several rockets to show the Allies that the bombers missed their intended target.
Sunday March 04, (01.32 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Havering-atte-Bower.
Sunday March 04, (08.16 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chingford. No casualties, but one person killed by falling loose debris approximately 30 minutes after impact.
Sunday March 04, (08.59 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Southend
Monday March 05, (22.29 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rainham.
Tuesday March 06, (03.02 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham. Thirty one people killed.
Tuesday March 06, (03.03 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rainham.
Tuesday March 06, (06.14 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Barking.
Tuesday March 06, (12.25 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bowers Gifford.
Tuesday March 06, (16.54 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Walthamstow. Five people killed.
Tuesday March 06, (23.13 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell.
Tuesday March 06, (23.20 hours) – Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. Eleven people dead.
Wednesday March 07, (03.10 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stanford Rivers.
Wednesday March 07, (16.54 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Duindigt, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Waltham Holy Cross. Five people killed.
Wednesday March 07, (21.57 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford.
Wednesday March 07, (23.28 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dagenham.
Thursday March 08, (00.46 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell.
Thursday March 08, (03.21 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Writtle.
Thursday March 08, (04.17 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Wassenaar, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton
Thursday March 08, (04.59 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. Twelve people killed.
Thursday March 08, (09.05 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Wassenaar, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.
On March 08, 1945, after suffering fuel supply problems and very few rockets, Batt. SS Abt. 500 moved back the old firing Sites at Eelerberg Forest.
Friday March 09, (04.00 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Pitsea. Two people dead.
Friday March 09, (08.31 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Thames Estuary near Southend.
Friday March 09, (13.45 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Waltham Holy Cross. Two people dead.
Friday March 09, (22.54 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted South Ockendon.
Saturday March 10, (01.21 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Brentwood.
Saturday March 10, (04.18 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rawreth.
Tuesday March 13, (06.24 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Shenfield.
The war diary of Batt. 836 (Art. Reg. 901) stated on March 13, that; “…the long awaited supply train, which had left for Gruppe Süd on March 8, had still not been found.” Instead, a train which had left from Friedrichshafen later on had arrived. As a result, the Batt. 3./836 (Art. Reg. 3./901) launched V-2s against Antwerp.
Wednesday March 14, (00.36 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Havering-atte-Bower.
Thursday March 15, (02.36 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dagenham, in River Thames.
Thursday March 15, (06.21 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rayleigh.
Thursday March 15, (23.41 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted River Blackwater, Essex.
Friday March 16, (02.49 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea near Clacton.
Friday March 16, (08.45 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted East Ham. Eight people killed.
Friday March 16, (09.31 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dengie.
The last rocket from Hachenburg area was launched around 14.58 hrs on March 16, 1945. The failing supply of fuel and Allied advance at Remagen, caused Batt. 836 (Art. Reg. 901) to be the first V-2 launching unit to halt operations.
Saturday March 17, (00.01 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Upminster.
Saturday March 17, (00.50 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch.
Saturday March 17, (03.29 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wennington.
On March 17, 1945, the SS Werfer Battery 500, on orders from Himmler, fired 11 rockets at the Remagen bridgehead, which had recently been captured by the Allies, in an attempt to disrupt the advancing American troops crossing over the Rhine.
Sunday March 18, (00.32 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.
Sunday March 18, (01.27 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, exploded in the air in the north of Cranham, England damaging six cottages.
Sunday March 18, (01.55 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier , V-2 rocket fired, impacted Battlesbridge.
Sunday March 18, (+/- 01.58 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Epping.
Monday March 19, (01.27 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch.
Monday March 19, (22.14 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Bois.
Tuesday March 20, (01.22 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Little Warley. Farmhouse demolished. Three people killed and several cattle.
Tuesday March 20, (04.04 hours) – Battery 3/485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Hanningfield.
Thursday March 22, (10.24 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford (airburst).
Thursday March 22, (23.38 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Southminster.
The V-2 launches continued with an average of ten V-2s per day during March. The majority of rockets were fired from Statenkwartier and also a new launch Site southwest of edge of the Haagse Bos. Because the ground was very solid, there were few failures. Of the 217 rockets fired from areas of The Hague during March, no more than 19 failed.
Friday March 23, (03.07 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton.
Friday March 23, (06.19 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Garnon.
Friday March 23, (09.35 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Latchingdon.
Friday March 23, (12.21 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stapleford, (airburst).
Friday March 23, (23.10 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Waltham Holy Cross.
Sunday March 25, (23.59 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Lambourne End.
Monday March 26, (04.36 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch. Two people dead.
Monday March 26, (08.58 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Navestock.
Monday March 26, (14.37 hours) – Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford (Airburst).
Monday Mar.26, (19.01 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Romford. Two people killed and thirty-four seriously injured.
Tuesday March 27, (03.24 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford.
From March 09 to March 27 at Hellendoorn, Feuerstellung Nr. 412, Batt. SS Abt. 500 launched about 38 V-2 rockets, with 3 failures. On Wednesday, March 28, – Batt. SS Abt. 500 leaves Hellendoorn because of the Allied advance. The unit was split up into various parts that all left the launching area on different days, with different destinations. The third platoon, followed by the first platoon, and then the second platoon of the SS 500 left the area last. Some soldiers of the Batt. SS Abt. 500 were, in the last phase of the war, were equipped with Nebel-Werfers (15 cm, Do-Werfer). They were supposed to travel to Berlin to battle against the Russians. But, the SS 500 soldiers never made it to Berlin and were scattered during the Allied advance.
Also on Wednesday, March 28, Batt. 1./485 (Art. 1./902) and Batt. 2./485 (Art. 2./902) withdrew on to Fallingbostel, 23 miles north of Hanover, they arrived on April 1. One day later, the Batt. 3./485 (Art. 3./902) launched its last two rockets before it also retreated to Fallingbostel.
After the retreat from its operational area in late March 1945, the Batt. 836 (Art. Rgt. 901) originally was to have gathered at BRAMSCHE (about 10 miles west of Osnabruck) for the so-called “Ziethen Undertaking”. The deterioration of the military situation, however, prevented this. Instead, the “Blucher Undertaking” was ordered, in which the units were to move to Celle (about 20 miles north of Hanover). From there the remaining rockets were to be fired against the “Kustrin Fortress” (the polish Kostrzyn of today, about 60 miles northeast of Berlin).
The plan fell apart because of the total breakdown in Germany. As a result, all of Gruppe Süd’s equipment was destroyed in the area of Celle, to prevent capture, on April 7, 1945. SS-General Kammler had already given the order to reorganize the rocket units into infantry regiments. The war diary of the Batt. 836 (Art. Rgt. 901) stated on April 8, that – with all of their specialized equipment destroyed, the FR Gruppe had lost its character as an elite unit. They were now nothing more than an infantry combat group.
There is some information that seems to indicate that Battery 444 fired additional rockets from the area around Verden in Germany as late as April 5-6. In January of 1945 Battery 444, after V-2 ending operations in the Netherlands, moved to Buddenhagen. There this battery was reorganised and renamed with other units into Lehr- und Versuchs Abteilung. A portion of the 444 troops formed one small launching troop and fired rockets from the site at Heek as late as March 27. The other part unit went at the end of February/beginning of March to Rethem for A-4/V-2 test launches. But in Rethem no rocket was fired. Lehr- und Versuchs Abteilung moved deeper into Germany, arriving in a place called Welmbüttel in Schlesig Holstein, northern Germany. The unit had reportedly already fired two new test series V-2s from this area a few weeks earlier sometime in the first days of March at a place called Armsen (southeast of Verden an der Aller) in the direction of the North Sea. Some of the soldiers of that unit had taken quarter in these villages and stayed there after the end of the war. Eyewitness reports said that on Good Friday and Easter there were no firings, but on April 5 the residents saw the first launching of a V-2 from Welmbüttel in Schlesig Holstein, in the direction of the North Sea. On April 6, there was a misfire resulting in a crash near one of the launch Sites.
Eyewitnesses report a total of five rockets fired from these areas. In the following days, all the rockets were moved away from this area and most probably destroyed by the rocket troops near Celle. These last firings are not related to operational attacks. They were only test firings, but they do give an idea of the movements of remnants of Battery 444 (*MG)
From Oct. 7 – Mar. 30, 152 V-2’s crashed in the Antwerp harbour killing 131 workers there.
During the last phase of the operations, the daily rate of fire for Gruppe Süd, due to the problems mentioned above, was clearly lower than that of Gruppe Nord, and amounted to an average of about four rockets per day.
Although the war was ended another accident with a V-2 happened in Holten (Holland). On April 30, at the crossroads of Rijssenseweg/Markeloseweg a “Bomb Disposal Lorry” drove, that carried the highly explosive top of a V-2 rocket. Suddenly it exploded killing 6 people. One of the persons was sitting on the top of the rocket and nothing of him was found anymore. Near the Castle De Waardenborch, there is still a monument remember this accident. By the end of the V-2 campaign about 3172 V-2s where launched.
2nd March 1915. Two officers and 329 other ranks were transferred to the Depot. In order to partially equip the men proceeding to Burmah it was necessary to take practically every serviceable article of clothing from the men transferred to Kendal.
3rd March 1915. The Battalion, consisting of 28 officers and 767 other ranks, left Blackpool in two parties for Avonmouth.
The final destination of the Battalion was changed from Burmah to Poona, Bombay Presidency, India. The Battalion had no mess property, but money grants were received in lieu.
4th March 1915. The Battalion arrived at Avonmouth at noon, and immediately embarked on H.M.T. Dongola, together with a draft of East Lancashire R.E.’s and other drafts proceeding overseas to various places in the East, and Naval ratings proceeding to Aden and Bombay. The transport, escorted by two torpedo boats, sailed at night, but collided shortly after midnight with a steamer in the Bristol Channel off Barry, which necessitated the landing of the troops and women and children in tugs and the ship’s boats at Barry, and the dry docking of H.M.T. Dongola. The Battalion was thanked for its conduct by the Army Council. (Copy of the Army Council’s letter is appended.)
5th March 1915. “C” and “D” Companies were landed at Barry and quartered at the docks; “A” and “B” Companies were taken to Cardiff, quartered at the docks, and most hospitably treated by the National Reserve Detachment of the Manchester Regiment.
6th March 1915. “A” and “B” Companies returned to Barry, the stores were transferred from H.M.T. Dongola to H.M.T. Tunisian, the Battalion embarking on H.M.T. Tunisian the same night, with Captain John Hall as captain of the transport.
7th March 1915. H.M.T. Tunisian left Barry Docks at 10.00 hours, anchored outside owing to the presence of a German submarine in the Bristol Channel, and sailed at 23.00 hours, with all lights out, escorted by two torpedo boat destroyers. Owing to the fusing of an electric wire a fire broke out at the moment of sailing, but was extinguished by the ship’s crew.
8th March 1915. 2/Lieut. G.H. McVittie (Penrith) died from meningitis and was buried at sea. Owing to the danger of submarines, a course was steered well to the West of the usual steamer route, and land was not sighted until Gibraltar, which was reached on the morning of the 12th.
12th March 1915. After six hours the transport proceeded to Port Said, passing the Island of Pantalaria on the morning of the 15th.
19th March 1915. Port Said was reached early on the 19th. Officers and senior N.C.O.’s were allowed two hours ashore, and after coaling, the transport passed through the lines of British and French warships (assembled for the attack on the Dardanelles) and into the Suez Canal.
24th March 1915. Suez was reached the next day, and Aden on the night of the 24th. The majority of the Naval ratings transferred at Aden to the Empress of Japan, which was being employed in maintaining the blockade of German East African ports. Aden was left on the afternoon of the 25th, and on the morning of the 31st Bombay was reached.
31st March 1915. The Battalion disembarked in the evening, and left by train at night for Poona.
On duty in am. Left for Brussels at 12.15 arriving there at 230. Shopping then met G & M at Atlanta for tea. Excellent film after tea ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – Greer Garson, Lawrence Olivier. Good dinner
Sherry
Soup
Ham omelette } Red wine
Veal & veg } Champagne
Peach flan }
Coffee
Brandy
After dinner nattered til 11 ocl then to M’s house & so to bed.
To Nil From Nil
2 March
Up at 8.45 and b’fast with Maurice. Left the old city at 10.15 and was back at Corps HQ at 12.15. Rozzer away this morning on a course in UK. After lunch hockey v Signals on our football field – fair game. We won 6 – 3. Scored 4.
Duty after tea. Dinner, oysters and champagne with Nigel (his wife’s birthday) at 8 pm. Ping Pong with Geoffrey Lamb after dinner then over to CE’s caravan to talk about stamps – Wrote A before going to bed – at 12 midnight.
To A From A, L, L (cake) (med. supplies!)
3 March Saturday
On all morning and afternoon. Not much happening. John Roberts back from his 3 weeks in UK.
After tea wrote L and had an excellent bath. Moving unfortunately to Tilburg on the 12th – great pity. On duty at 8.15 pm for the night.
To L A From A.
4 March Sun
Church in morning. Nothing exciting – work til dinner. After which I went to bed very early.
To A From A, Aunt D.
5 March Mon
In evening went to see the ENSA variety show with Ingvar and Charles Woodford.
To A From L, B, Papers L
6 March Tues
Dinner with George Holden at Offrs Club. Frightful belly ache after & to bed on return.
To Nil From Nil
7 March Wed
‘Desert Song’ with Edward after tea then night duty. Stum still very unsettled.
All the notebooks were written on the right hand page and additions, photos, cartoons or other documents were added to the left hand page.
1st March. I was President of a Field General Court Martial sitting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There were six prisoners. After that the Coy had to be paid, another 2 hrs and the day was nearly over. One of my subalterns (Kirch) had a beautiful pink & white birthday cake. Secretly I think he was rather ashamed of it but the Officers soon relieved him of the sight of it. There were any number of good things about and after a period of scarcity it was tantalising not to be able to eat any but my Little Mary was still qual****. We had never been able to get an issue of any jam other than Tickler’s Plum & Apple. Our Mess Sergt was able to procure plenty of ration marmalade in Bailleul at 1fr 80. An Army Service Corps perquisite. No jam worth eating could be expected to reach troops in the trenches with so many people on the lines of communication.
2nd March. Count Gleichen came round to say good bye he was off to command a Division in England. My billet is a large house close to the station. Von Kluck stayed there during the advance and as they had rather nice linen commandeered it all & sent it to Germany. Their cellar was drunk dry and horses stabled in the garden and courtyard. They left the house in a filthy state.
3rd March. We marched about 8 miles over very bad roads to our “rest camp” near Flamertinge (Vlamertinghe). It consisted of a collection of canvas huts in a field. Thick mud everywhere. The Officers arranged for a Mess in an Estaminet where there were chairs to sit on and a warm stove but at night we returned to the camp.
On the opposite page is a sketch plan of the location south east of Ypres.
4th March. We moved off about 4 p.m. and marched through Ypres to Rosenthal Chateau. It was quite dark as we marched through the town there was a sudden flash and a shell burst over our heads but the bullets lost themselves against the walls. There were a good many bullets whistling down the road but at least everyone was got under cover. The Officers were in two cottages. The men 2 Coys in the Chateau, one in the stables and one in the Chateau Lankhof a short distance further on. All the windows had to be blocked up to prevent any light showing as it was visible from Hill 60 and St. Eloi. The floors were indescribably filthy. We “spring cleaned” as best we could.
5th March. Some very fine bomb-proofs had been built by the French. These were now used as latrines. A nice job the Defaulters had making them habitable in case of shelling. I found men constantly went back there in preference to the latrines 200 yds away in the open where there was a chance of a stray shell. I told the Provost Sergt to put the next man he caught there on sentry to remain there until he caught another man. It stopped like magic the sentry got well chaffed & morale went up a point. The Chateau was slightly damaged by shell fire, a field at the back was pitted with large holes. A few shells burst fairly close during the day but most of them went into Ypres. All the furniture had been removed with the exception of a piano in good order. The men gave it no rest, they had a continuous sing song. In the afternoon I walked up to the trenches with Col Griffith Gen Northey & Andre the French Interpreter. We walked with wide intervals so as not to give too good a target. Still the bullets came quite close enough.
6th March. We continued the cleaning up process Capt Ogden found the top half of a Frenchman where it had been lying for weeks or months about a hundred yards from our cottage. He was proceeding to go into detail when Tabor asked him if he had had breakfast yet. He answered yes why? Because, was the answer if you go on with that yarn you will get mine.
That evening we went into the trenches. We now came into the 20th Division of which all 3 Bdes were changed. They were seasoned British troops from India but Flanders mud and cold had taken all the heart out of them. They were rotten with fever, took over trenches in the dark from the French. These it seems were not the original front line trenches (The French had lost them). They were attacked and driven back. Some trenches of sorts were made but no one knew quite where they were situated. The map in the Bde office was totally wrong. I copied it and then made a fresh survey on the ground. Our trenches were in parts 800 yds behind those shown as held. I made my headquarters in 32a trench but was also in charge of 32b. The sandbags were not bullet proof, there were no bomb proofs and only here and there could men fire over the parapet.
On the opposite page is a sketch plan of the area and a photograph of a trench.
It was really a communication trench, the Germans were holding the far end of it with a narrow barricade in between. It was open to attack simultaneously from front and rear and there was no wire between our lines & the German. No sniping plates had been put in position. It was sometimes known as the International and the Z trench. We worked like demons. The trench was full of water. By making sump pits and channels for the water to run in and clearing out much filth a great improvement was made but there was a constant stream of water coming from the Germans. I could hear the Germans at work the other side of the barricade a yard from me and was afraid they might be preparing a mine. (We were trying to make one towards them from 32a) I decided to evacuate 20 yards of the trench and dam up the water so that if they tried to rush that portion of the trench they would find themselves up to their thighs in mud. A traverse was built with loopholes firing straight down it. (On our return we found the Dorsets had carefully filled in these loopholes and built up the sandbags so that there was no firing over them). During the night there were several sharp bursts of fire & an attack seemed probable. I don’t think they liked our plan of firing whenever a flare went up just before they could.
7th March. After daybreak we could not put in quite so much work but it was steadily continued. We had been issued with “Vigilant” periscopes the first Govt issue of any kind that had been made to the Regt. They consisted of a piece of looking glass 2 inches by one inch mounted so that it could be fixed on a bayonet. Here they proved invaluable tho’ they were broken if left up for more than a few seconds.
8th March. That evening a Coy of the 8th Liverpool Terriers were attached for 24 hr tour of duty. I put a platoon in 32a and sent a platoon of our men into support so as not to be too crowded. The Terriers were told off for all the ordinary duties in pairs with our men so as to give them a good idea of the duties when they should hold a position of the line on their own. (The Dorsets instead of doing this sent them into Dug outs in rear where they could learn nothing). The Ptes were rather of the City clerk type desperately keen to learn. Suddenly about 10 a.m. there was a terrific burst of fire coming from our left. Soon the tops of our sandbags were being ripped to pieces. I thought a General assault was imminent so did the Terriers. I heard one man say “Oh why did that platoon of Regulars go back.” My periscope soon showed me there was no attack being made so I kept everybody under cover until at last the firing died down. Without a periscope countless lives would have been sacrificed. A little later as I was standing by a man looking through a Vigilant fixed on his bayonet a bullet took a large bite out of the bayonet. I felt as if somebody had caught me with a big stone on the back of my head. It was bleeding profusely so I had some iodine put on and had it bound up. (X-rays show a piece of metal still in my head). My eye also was cut sometime during the day without my noticing it and remained troublesome for over a month. The head wound was healed in a week.
On the opposite page is a photo showing the “Effect of one shell on a large house in the Place de la Gare. Myself in foreground with a bandaged head.”
After that the Vigilants were always fixed on bits of stick less visible than a bayonet and quite safe if hit. A German machine gun about the point A was very troublesome so Cpl Chandler lobbed over a few hand grenades which quite shut them up. On the left of the trench they were more amenable and threw over a cigarette and bit of newspaper. From 33 trench inclusive there was another Bde. The sap was a very narrow trench full of water but some men had always to be holding it. At B and C sentries from the other Bde were posted with orders to fire occasionally as the side tracks “led to German trenches”. I had my doubts & caused them to be explored; afterwards as they were knee deep in mud I put on some working parties to make them passable. We were constantly being shot at from the direction of 35 trench. Whether they were overs from the Germans or from the right section of 34 I cannot say but I suspect the latter anyway we had several casualties from the left rear. We naturally expected them from the right rear near A. To make matters worse our own gunners dropped shells into 32b and caused many casualties. (Chiefly 8th Liverpools). We were relieved that evening and marched back with quite a lively dropping of unaimed fire. The Germans seem to be able to expend an infinite amount of ball ammn but is extraordinary how few people get hit. There was one very bad spot. A gap in the Barbed wire near Bn H. Q. upon which evidently several rifles were trained. The Liverpools marched into Ypres from the Chateau giving me the cheeriest of “Good night & Good luck, Sir” as they passed. They seemed very pleased with themselves and almost sorry there had not been a German attack.
9th March. We were billeted in Rosenthal again as before. No attempt had been made during our absence in the trenches by the Dorsets to continue cleaning up. It had been a beautiful place with a lake, places for breeding wild duck & pheasants, a large kitchen garden with lots of glass and magnificent stables. The lake was choked with trees cut down by shell fire and everything else was more or less knocked about. A lot of shell were dropped close to the chateau during the day and one shrapnel struck the cottage I was in. We managed to get some bloaters, these were grilled on an improvised gridiron. They were voted a great success. Later on I was sent for by Br. Gen. Northey to give information regarding the trenches. The man who relieved me reported that he had been attacked soon after we left – I wonder!
On the opposite page is a sketch showing 2 the extraordinary British trenches facing every direction and firing into one another.”
10th March. In the morning I had to go to the Norfolk H.Q. the other side of Ypres as President of a F.G. Court Martial. There were 5 prisoners, rather involved cases and I only just got back in time to march off to the trenches. One man was badly hit on the way up by a stray bullet. I occupied a dugout with Neville, the M.G. Officer some 30 yards behind 31 B. There were gaps of over 100 yds between the trenches on the right and left & no wire up. In fact nothing to prevent the Germans walking through any night they liked. I caused a series of little posts to be made which were subsequently all to be connected up. The trench as usual was under water and a drain 100 yds long had to be cut. The communication trench also required a lot of draining. We started a sap forward to get in closer contact with the Germans. An old trench full of water was found where the dotted line runs. My idea was to get forward on to that line and connect 32b with 32a at the same time preparing a second line in case 32a was rushed on had to be abandoned.
11th March. Soon after dawn going round 29 trench I had to walk over a protruding dead body buried in the bottom of the trench, a horrible idea but later I found it very universally done by other Regts. It was an ideal position for a sniping post and the one rifle with telescopic sights we had was employed there but next day for some unknown reason it was taken away. The Germans dropped about a dozen shell into the middle of a working party some 40 yards from my dug out. They were in a wood but must have been visible from some point in the enemy lines. I hardly expected to find anyone left but they dived into the drain they were making at the first shell and only one man was killed. Capt. Ogden was wounded in the head in 32a trench (the one I got hit in).
On the opposite page is a message to
The Officer Commdg Bedfordshire Regt. The German Trench mortar appears to be fired from a point about 500 yds S.SW of my Trench (32 A).
I am being fired at by rifle fire from my left rear, Sgt Major Watson killed, possibly by people sent in support. Liverpool, very jumpy, should be glad if I could have someone to give me a hand.
C Kennedy 2 Lt. Comdg D Coy
1 p.m.
12-3-15.
12th March. Next morning the Germans started dropping trench mortars into 32a. I sent up Lt. Neville to worry them back with rifle grenades. In the afternoon a message from Lt. Kennedy who since Capt Ogden’s wound was alone in charge that he wanted assistance reached me and I went up to have a look round. On reaching C (on sketch) a trench mortar burst within 10 yards of me and I was covered with debris. They came regularly every eight minutes in all five burst while I was up, all exceedingly close. I found that the right section of 33 trench held by the 5th Fusiliers no longer existed. Our own trench 32a had not been damaged tho’ there were several wounded still there was no means of reaching it under cover now as it was necessary to go through 33 to get there.
On the opposite page is a photo and sketch of an area of trench.
I gave instructions for the breach to be repaired and the communication trench B.D. to be made passable. I sent up a working party with many hundred sandbags and barbed wire with Lt. Moxley of C Coy in charge. Two hours later another urgent message arrived so I went back. The trench mortar had ceased firing. (We had asked our guns to fire a few high explosive shell into the place we made out the fire coming from). They had turned a maxim on to the breech and all working had ceased except filling sandbags in readiness. I had filled my pockets with “Vigilant” periscopes. These I threw across the gap to Neville. All those in the trench had been shot away. Going back along the Fusilier trench I found the first section evacuated, in the next no one on lookout. One man had a periscope but did not know how to use it until I showed him. I asked for the officer in charge and eventually found a subaltern taking his ease in a very comfortable splinter proof. I pointed out the danger of leaving the sections next to the breach unwatched with the German trenches only 30 yards off and suggested that some of his men might assist in repairing the breech which was all part of their trench.
On the opposite page is a Bairnsfather cartoon.
He replied “Oh the Engineers are seeing to that. Our men are too tired”. I pointed out that the Bedfords were the only people about working. No Engineers were there. We had had just as hard a time as they had and the work was very urgent. He said “The Fighting Fifth” are never found wanting”. It was the same Bn which had run away from their trenches on the 7th Nov at Ypres and left us in the lurch. I felt a strong desire to say so but my duty was not to join in a silly wrangle but to get the work done and prevent a disaster. All I said was “Well let us see if you can do as well as the Bedfords”. That evening I heard that Lt. Moxley was killed putting out barbed wire on front of the 5th Fusiliers trenches. a splendid officer and a great loss to me.
On the opposite page are 4 photographs of Ypres and area.
13th March. We were relieved that evening and returned to Rosenthal. In the morning I attended Moxley’s funeral on the Ramparts. As soon as we got back the Huns started bombarding the Chateau grounds dropping some 30 forty pounder shrapnel all round and bringing trees and branches crashing down luckily no building was hit and no damage done.
14th March. There was more shelling and the Coy at Lankhof had one man killed and 2 Officers and 15 men wounded. Lankhof had been much more knocked about than Rosenthal. In fact there was not much left of it. The men were sheltered in the various outhouses. One man was found sitting in a pig sty on a beautiful Louis XIV sofa with curly legs collecting lice off his shirt. Beautifully brocaded chairs were in the cow sheds being gradually broken up. Marching back to the trenches that evening I had a nasty shock there was a whizz and a shell struck the ground 10 yards off. Had it exploded as nine out of ten do I should have been a gone coon but it fortunately did not.
On the opposite page are two photographs of life in the trenches.
My headquarters were in 32b trench and my chief anxiety was to make 32a safe.
15th March. I got hold of a pair of gum boots and spent the day wandering up to my knees in water. During the next 48 hrs Trench B.D. was made into a fire trench and drained. Another good fire trench was made at E.F. and a new communication trench dug between E and D the existing one being undrainable. During the night two men on listening post were caught asleep on their post. Instead of putting them under arrest for trial by F.G.C.M. when Death could be the only sentence the subaltern in charge sent them to put up some barbed wire during the rest of the night. One was killed but the other escaped with a wound. The moral effect on the Company was very good.
On the opposite page is a postcard of Ypres before and after the bombardment.
A dead Englishman was found at E in the old trench and buried. The sap from 32a was prolonged and made into a fire trench joining on to the communication trench running forward from 32b. The other Regts had a sentry whose duty it was to fire up this trench at stated intervals. No wonder the people in 32a had a bad time. They built up a sandbag parapet at the breech decreasing it by 20 yards. The 5th Fusiliers left their side in status quo and eventually as a concession said they would put on 5 men to work if we put on 5 men on our side! The whole of the breech was in their lines and all our men were at work, we had already done half of it. I agreed to save time, and sent in an official report later. I knew it was little use in doing this. Undoubtedly when the O.C. 5th Fusiliers was asked through the G.O.C. his Bde for a report his sense of “Esprit de Corps” would lead him to exculpate his men and the G.O.C Bde with the same ‘laudable’ intention would still further smooth matters so that instead of thanks one is looked upon as an insufferable busybody. While I was in the ambulance on 7th Nov the O.C. 5th Fusiliers came to say goodbye to a Capt in his Regt who was wounded. The Capt said “I saw the Germans coming on in great numbers so I thought it advisable to give the order to retire.” His C.O. said “Quite right old chap I know you did your best.” They were holding the line next to us and knowing there were no supports behind ran back the best part of a mile leaving us outflanked and the guns unprotected. They did not even await the attack tho’ entrenched. And yet some people still call them the Fighting Fifth. I suppose the O.C. 5th Fusiliers thought it was “Esprit de Corps” to stick up for his Capt whatever the circumstances.
My periscope was broken by a bullet in 32a during the morning. Luckily I had a spare glass. Later on a stone caught me a crack on the head without breaking the skin. The Huns were occasionally sending over a trench mortar these were very largely filled with flints and old nails. We replied with rifle grenades using up all those available and a very nice trench howitzer was placed in position near 32b and three rounds fired out of it by 2/Lt. Kennedy. (He had to sit on it when firing to keep it from flying up.) Unfortunately there were no more in the country and it was sent away to be re-bored so as to take some other type of amtn. It was exactly the thing we wanted most but I never saw another. In this manner we managed to prevent the Germans having it all their own way. A party of Territorial Engineers was at work on the sap towards the Germans and in trying to pump out the water I proposed to show them the new way back. There was a check when I was at E and zip a bullet just missed my nose. Looking up I noticed that there was a hole in the trench wall about one foot across made by a succession of rifle bullets evidently all fired off a rest. It caused a parados to be built up to catch these bullets in future.
16th March. The Huns continued trench mortaring us the next day and did some damage to the communication trenches. A body was seen to be lying in the breech. The 5th Fusiliers said they had accounted for all their men and he was certainly not one of ours. He proved on examination to be one of the 5th buried by an explosion of a trench mortar with others two days before and now thrown up by a fresh explosion. We found the benefit of the new ones. I took a couple of photographs in the morning (see 3 pages back). In the 48 hrs out of 60 men in 32a there were 15 casualties so we were very lucky considering what we had gone through. That night we marched back to Ypres. There was a certain liveliness on the way. The bullets humming past sounded just like a swarm of bees.
17th March. Eventually at 1 a.m. we reached the Cavalry Bks at Ypres and slept on soldiers plank beds. In the morning I had a cold bath with the men all round me (no privacy) but it was the first time I had had my clothes off for 14 days and no doubt many envied me. That afternoon we marched out to the Huts near Vlamertinge and within half an hour the men had found an old football and at once started a game. The ground had dried up wonderfully with a fortnight’s fine weather and the camp was quite a pleasant place. We had the same mess in an Estaminet. We were told that after we left Rosenthal for the trenches a shell struck the cottage we lived in and killed a Capt in the Dorsets. Quite a galaxy of Generals headed by Plumer came round to pat us on the back. As far as I was able to make out from individuals who were subsequently in the trenches 29 to 32 nothing was done to improve the position after we left. It was none too safe there in case of a real German push. The Staff had just seen the Dorsets with a group of 20 Coy officers & when our four lined up they wanted to know where all the others were. In six weeks we had lost over 20 officers, killed, wounded, frostbite and illness.
18th March. My birthday. Actually had a hot bath. A very cold day with snow on the ground. The men were marched off in parties to a school a mile away which had been converted into a bathing establishment, here after a wash in hot water they were given a clean set of underlinnen, unfortunately lice abounded not only in their clothing but also in the straw on which they slept so the relief was only a very temporary one. Still it probably kept the scourge under.
19th March. Another bitterly cold day. I rode in to Poperinghe with Col Griffith and had lunch and tea there.
20th March. Was President of a F.G.C. Marshal at Bde H.Q. while I was away General Smith Dorian came round and in an address told the men that The Norfolks and ourselves were the two best Regts in the Army. He was sorry he had to take us away from in front of Messines where we had done so well but it was the highest compliment he could pay us. He required some Veteran Battns on which he could absolutely rely to restore the British ascendency. He also said that we were considerably hampered by the strikes at home only six guns were available where 120 had been promised.
21st March. We marched into Ypres after dark and were billeted in a large house near the station. A shell had smashed up the back premises otherwise it was undamaged. The living rooms were covered with tapestry and the doors were inlaid. There was even a bath room, tho’ unfortunately the discharge pipe was choked. I slept on the floor in a room with Capt Edwards.
On the opposite page are three photographs of Ypres.
The men were accommodated in the Inf Barracks. These were practically undamaged by shell fire. The Town was full of civilians and business was flourishing. Many booths having been built up on the site of burnt houses – chiefly for the sale of pastry to the troops.
22nd March. I took the opportunity of going to an eye specialist as my eye had been violently inflamed since 8th March (when I was slightly wounded). He said it was a slight cut and it ought to be quite well in a fortnight. In the meantime I was to bathe it. How could I in the trenches!
On the opposite page is a sketch plan looking south and a photograph.
In C Coy out of 150 men in February only 80 were left of the originals tho’ drafts kept us up to strength. I looked at the Cloth Hall and St. Michael’s Church. The damage done is irreparable. Little more than the bare walls are standing.
23rd March. We only had 5 Coy officers left (20 short). Col Griffith not considering this sufficient for a tour in the trenches borrowed 4 officers from the Q.V.R. to make up the numbers a little.
During the night there was very heavy rifle fire and twice I came down thinking the Germans must be almost in the Town it sounded so close. There was also much big gun firing but nothing came of it. That evening we took over trenches 43 to 51. I was to be especially responsible for 49 to 51. 51consisted of a log hut for officers and a collection of esquimaux like huts made of branches of trees and turf for the men, not even splinter proof. Just before we arrived a shell splinter penetrated the officers log hut and a shell demolished a hut with three men in it. Strange to say only one of them was hurt. The march up was wonderfully free from stray bullets and the trenches tho smelly and wet were 50 to 150 yds from the Germans with a little barbed wire in between. There was comparatively little firing, in fact it seemed quite a haven of rest.
On the opposite page is a sketch plan showing Bedford bomb proof location.
24th March. In the morning I had a long talk with the French Commandant and was very favourably impressed. They belonged to the famous Iron Corps which took part in the battle of Metz and later in the fights for Verdun. It was most interesting comparing notes. We both agreed on points which formerly would have been considered rank heresy.
49 trench was absolutely enfiladed by the German trenches behind Hill 60 and being on the slope of a hill it was very difficult to make tenable except by building up high traverses and deepening the trench. As it had originally been made without traverses, it was found best to build the traverses over the trench making a small tunnel to pass through. Twelve were made altogether. These gave far better protection than the ordinary type of traverse could afford but were rather awkward for men with packs
on.
On the opposite page are two photographs, one of 49 trench
During the day drainage was worked at, the parapet thickened and sniping posts selected. I made a sketch of the trenches and decided on making a new communication trench to 50 trench and to prolong an existing French 2nd line one. The ridge behind us was very freely shelled at intervals and any individual showing himself there always caught it. That night there was a heavy down pour.
25th March. We carried on all day with the same work and constructed a number of splinter proofs in the trenches for the men. During the morning Lt. Tabor was wounded in the head while fixing an iron sniping plate. (He is still on sick leave 20.6.15) shelling of the ridge continued. The Cheshires relieved us that evening and we marched back to Ypres to the same billets. Just before leaving we wrapped some handbills announcing the fall of Przemysl in stones and threw them into the German trenches.
26th March. The following afternoon I bicycled out meeting Weatherby the Bde Major and an R.E. Officer on the way. I was not happy about the gaps between 48 & 49 and saw no object in a certain support trench which was supposed to be held. We wandered over the ground till after dark then returned having meanwhile fixed up a satisfactory scheme. Six North Stafford Officers were attached to us to bring up to our numbers (4 have since been killed, one sent back ‘nervous’ 20.6.15)
27 & 28 The next two days we stayed in Ypres except for heavy firing at night and an odd shell which nobody troubled about we might have been in London, that evening we returned to the same trenches. No coal or coke was sent up to the trenches for 48 hrs. This was due to a colonel in the A.S. Corps at Poperinghe who considered that his representative a Qr Master Sergt at Ypres was issuing more than was necessary and cut off all supplies. How we would have liked to put him in the trenches for 48 hrs to see how he would like the bitter cold. It is so easy to stop supplies when you are 20 miles back in a comfortable office. I sent in a report to Gen Northey before we left for the trenches.
29th March. The Cheshires told us that they had been trench mortared but of course could not reply as we had none. We were also greeted with rifle grenades and had some casualties. We fired off about half a dozen in reply and then had no more nor could any fresh ones be procured and yet the English papers were full of accounts of men striking for an extra penny an hour. The Cheshires M***** **** had buckled too and done a vast amount of work. I could hardly believe my eyes. A lot of it was hopeless, for instance they cut down so many trees that the Germans could see right through the wood and 51 became a death trap. They also made two trenches in the wrong places but it was so delightful to find someone outside our own Regt actually doing some work. Their new Colonel who always went round the trenches himself was of course the moving spirit (since killed). I had already selected a site closer to. Here this volume of text ends. It continues immediately at the beginning of the next book.
On the back two pages are two photographs of building bomb proof shelters and a newspaper cutting.
BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
COMMANDING 123rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.
HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,
30th MARCH, 1915.
207 – District Court-Martial –
The District Court Martial directed to assemble in Brigade Order No. 184 of March 20th, 1915, of which Major P.B. Norris (3rd Battalion Tyneside Scottish) was President, is hereby dissolved.
208 – Musketry –
The attention of Officers Commanding Units is drawn to Musketry Regulations 1909, Part 1, Reprint 1914, Paragraph 489, which applies both to Miniature Ranges and the Open Range.
BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
COMMANDING 123rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.
HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,
29th MARCH, 1915.
203 – District Court-Martial –
The details of officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Orderly Room, (1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish), Alnwick, at 10 a.m., on the 31st day of March, for the purpose of trying by a District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin:-
PRESIDENT
Major G.H. Gardner, 2nd Battalion, Tyneside Scottish.
MEMBERS
A Captain from the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish.
A Captain from the 2nd Battalion Tyneside Scottish.
The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.
The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 123rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.
Officers Commanding 1st and 2nd Battalions (Tyneside Scottish) will each detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.
In the margin. No. 5 Pte. Frank Roche 20th (S) Btn, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish) and No. 508 Pte. James Brown 20th (S) Btn, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish).
204 – District Court-Martial –
The details of officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Orderly Room, Newburn, at 10-30 a.m., on the 1st day of March, for the purpose of trying by District Court-Martial the accused person named in the margin:-
PRESIDENT
Major E.K. Purnell, 4th Battalion, Tyneside Scottish.
MEMBERS
A Captain from the 3rd Battalion Tyneside Scottish.
A Captain from the 4th Battalion Tyneside Scottish.
The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.
The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 123rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.
The Officer Commanding 3rd Battalions (Tyneside Scottish) will detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.
In the margin. No. 1003 Pte. W. Riley, 22nd (S) Btn, Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish) and No. 346 Pte. T. Ramshaw, 22nd (S) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish)
205 – Good Friday – Observance of –
The 2nd of April, 1915, being Good Friday, it will be observed as a Sunday.
206 – Marching Order – Parades in –
Battalions which are in possession of full equipment will when carrying out route marching prior to the 15th April wear the equipment as laid down in Plate 12 – “The Pattern 1914 Leather Infantry Equipment” – (Equipment without Pack).
After the 15th April, route marching will be carried out in full marching order – Plate No. 6. Commanding Officers will arrange that the distances marched are short to begin with and are gradually increased.
When full marching order is ordered, Company Commanders will see that the articles laid down are carried in the packs.
BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
COMMANDING 123rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.
HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,
28th MARCH, 1915.
201 – Dental Treatment –
In order to save unnecessary journeys from Alnwick to Newcastle-on-Tyne of soldiers requiring new dentures or repairs to old ones, the Medical Officer attached to Units at Alnwick will in each case, when the new denture or repair will, undoubtedly in his opinion cost less than the sum of £3, inform the Officer Commanding the Battalion accordingly, and that Officer, if in his opinion such a course is desirable, will, in that case send a notification to accompany the soldier to the House Surgeon of the Dental Hospital approving the work to be carried out.
Only those soldiers who wish to receive the benefit of dental treatment should be sent to the dental hospital. Men who agree to receive dental treatment and subsequently decline treatment will be charged for their railway fares.
202 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –
“LONDON GAZETTE” –
The following extracts from the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, the 23rd March, 1915, are published for information:-
The Northumberland Fusiliers:-
21st Battalion (2nd Tyneside Scottish) – The undermentioned temporary Lieutenants to be temporary Captains:-
Wallace Marrs. Dated 16th February, 1915.
Stewart A. White. Dated 17th February, 1915.
22nd Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) – Robson Wilson Rotherford to be temporary Lieutenant. Dated 13th November, 1914. (Substituted for the notification which appeared in the “Gazette” of 18th January, 1915.)
23rd Battalion (4th Tyneside Scottish) – The undermentioned temporary Lieutenants to be temporary Captains:-
Joseph B. Cubey. Dated 1st February, 1915.
Creassey R. Longhurst. Dated 3rd February, 1915.
Hector F. Whitehead. Dated 5th February, 1915.
The following extract from the Second Supplement to the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, the 23rd March, 1915, is published for your information:-
The Northumberland Fusiliers:-
21st Battalion (2nd Tyneside Scottish) – William Brown to be temporary Second Lieutenant. Dated 16th February, 1915.
Northern Command Order No.471.
MESSING ARRANGEMENTS –
With reference to Northern Command Order No.437, dated 22nd March, 1915, a specimen Diet Sheet is issued this day as an annexure to Command Orders for the guidance of all concerned.
(I.A.S.) Northern Command Order No.472.
LEAVE – JEWISH FESTIVALS –
The attention of all concerned is directed to the notice in Command Orders of 9th February, 1915, regarding leave for Festivals to be granted to soldiers of the Jewish Faith.
C.R.N.C. No. 42133 (A.). Northern Command Order No.476.
MUSKETRY FORMS –
The following Army Forms and Books will be kept by Reserve Cavalry Regiments, Yeomanry Regiments, Royal Engineer Field Companies and Signal Units, and all Infantry Battalions throughout the Command when firing Musketry Course approved to be carried out.
ARMY FORMS.
B 62 Collective Field Pracs. – Register.
B 68 Grouping Practice – Register.
B 189 Company Commander’s Roll.
B 190. Butt Register.
B 192 Company Annual Return.
ARMY BOOKS.
99 (Camp Commandant’s Ammn. Diary)
100 (Asst. Adjt. Ammn. Diary)
Vide Musketry Regulations, 1914, Part I., Chap. IX.
Indents for a supply of these forms and books should be made by Units direct to the Secretary, War Office.
(G.) Northern Command Order No.477.
HIRE OF MESS ACCOMMODATION –
Where troops are billeted, and for disciplinary reasons, it is considered desirable to bring the Officers together, mess accommodation and necessary furniture and equipment may be hired as a charge against the public.
In such cases neither mess hire allowance nor the grant authorised by Army Order 429 of 1914 is admissible.
Authority, 103/Infantry/471 (Q.M.G. 1), of the 19th March, 1915.
C.R.N.C. 49343 (D.B.O.). Northern Command Order No.477.
FIELD ALLOWANCE –
With reference to Command Order No. 152 of the 2nd February, 1915, relative to advances of field allowance to Officer proceeding on active service abroad, it is notified for information that the usual advance of field allowance issuable under Army Order 501 of 1914 may be made to Officers of consolidated pay embarking on or after 16th November, 1914, and will be issued by the Command Paymaster of the Command in which the Officer was permanently stationed prior to embarkation, the Command Paymaster at the Base being notified accordingly.
Authority, War Office Letter No. 14/Miscellaneous/192 (Q.M.G.F.a), dated 21st March, 1915.
C.R.N.C. 38188/45 (Q.). Northern Command Order No.480.
HIRING OF SCHOOLS –
It has been decided to amend Section 11 of the Rules for Billeting, as follows, and pending a revise, copies of these rules should be amended accordingly:-
At the end of “(c)”, paragraph 13, Section 11, add: – In England and Wales “Public Elementary Schools” and many other educational institutions are maintained by the Local Educational Authority, viz., the County or County Borough Council, or in some cases the Borough or Urban District Council. In Scotland, similarly, Public Schools (both Elementary and Secondary) are maintained by School Boards.
Lists showing these authorities, with the address of their Education Offices (or Clerks). Have been supplied to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Home Commands in England and Scotland.
Before agreeing to occupation, the Local Education Authority, or School Board, as the case may be, should obtain the consent of the Board of Education, Whitehall, or of the Scottish Education Department, Whitehall, respectively.
There are also numerous public educational institutions (including some training colleges for teachers and many secondary schools and the institutions of the Y.M.C.A.) which, though not maintained by Local Educational Authorities, receive grants from the Board of Education or the Scottish Education Department, or are otherwise under their jurisdiction. In these cases it should be ascertained from the Governors whether the consent of the Board of Department has been obtained.
“(d)” of the same paragraph is omitted.
The Local Authority will only consider applications for the use of schools which come under Command Headquarters.
Authorities, War Office Letter General Number 16/3233 (Q.MG.1.), dated 13th March, 1915, and Board of Education Circular 893, of 8th March, 1915
C.R.N.C. 44047 (Q.). Northern Command Order No.481.
DETENTION ALLOWANCE –
With reference to Command Order No. 264 of the 24th ult., it has been decided that not only Officers of the New Armies but also other Officers attending courses of instruction at the London School of Instruction, Chelsea Barracks, and necessarily residing in the vicinity may be granted detention allowance at the nightly rate of 8/- in lieu of all other allowances, provided they are not ordinarily stationed within the radius of six miles from Chelsea Barracks.
Authority, War Office Letter 14/Gen. No./5618 (Q.M.G.F.a), dated 23rd March, 1915.
C.R.N.C. 44620 (Q.). Northern Command Order No.482.
Officers Commanding Units will indent without delay on the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, for 20 camp kettles to be used for Field Cooking purposes.
200 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –
INSTRUCTION IN BAYONET FIGHTING –
With reference to the pamphlet on “Instruction in Bayonet Fighting with the Service Rifle and Bayonet” the attention of all concerned is drawn to the importance which attaches to the careful instruction of all recruits in the preliminary lessons contained therein. These lessons should be followed by the Exercise in the Final Assault practice, which should be frequently practiced.
War Office letter 69/2659 (A.G. 2 A.), dated 23rd March, 1915.
C.R.N.C. 49975 (G.). Northern Command Order No.465.
CAMPS – SANITARY SERVICES –
With reference to the forthcoming move of all troops in Billets into Camps, as soon as the sites of the various Camps have been decided on, the Officer Commanding Army Service Corps, of each formation, Coast Defence Troops, etc., will make all necessary arrangements for Sanitary Services, i.e. removal of privy soil (bucket system), manure, etc.
The necessary forms of Tender can be obtained on application to Command Headquarters and all offers obtained should be submitted for the necessary approval.
C.R.N.C. 50141 (S.T.). Northern Command Order No.466.
GYMNASTIC INSTRUCTORS – Easter Holidays.
On the recommendation of the Inspector Gymnasia, Aldershot, Instructors of the Army Gymnastic Staff may be granted passes from the first to the 6th of April, 1915, inclusive.
C.R.N.C. No. 49808 (A.). Northern Command Order No.467.
BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
COMMANDING 123rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.
HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,
25th MARCH, 1915.
196 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –
The following Northern Command Order, No. 1309, dated 21st September, 1914, is re-published for information:-
FIELD RATION –
Under paragraph 27, Allowances Regulations, the items in the Field Service Ration are subject to alteration as circumstances may require. It has accordingly been decided, in order to enable units to vary their diet at the discretion of their Commanding Officers, that from the 21st September, 1914, inclusive, certain items of the ration will be reduced and an equivalent cash allowance issued in lieu.
The items affected (with the revised quantities) are as follows:-
Tea ½oz
Sugar 2oz
Jam 1oz
Bacon 2oz
Cheese 1oz
Vegetables Nil
The cash allowance in lieu will be at the rate of 4d. a day, and will be issuable in all cases in which rations in kind are drawn. This allowance will not be credited to the man’s pay accounts, but will be drawn by the Officer Commanding in bulk on the basis of the number of rations drawn in kind. The allowance will be expended by the Officer Commanding solely on messing, and a separate cash record will be kept regimentally.
Authority, Special Army Order, dated 18th September, 1914.
Northern Command Order No.1309.
NOTICE-
All men serving in Service Battalions or Units of the New Armies, who, after Medical Examination, are found permanently unfit for Service abroad but fit for Home Service, should be posted to their Reserve Battalion or Unit. This does not apply to N.C.O.’s enlisted for Home Service temporarily attached as Drill Instructors.
The above also applies to Locally raised Battalions.
Authority, War Office Letters No. 19/Gen. No./5267 (A.G.1.), dated 23rd February, 1915 and 17th March, 1915..
C.R.N.C 45330 (a.). Northern Command Order No.444.
As regards Units of this Brigade for “Reserve Battalion” read “Depot Company.”
CLOTHING –
Reference Northern Command Order No. 330, dated 5th March, 1915, Officers Commanding Units are directed not to return part worn Clothing to the Clothing Depot at York, when they have been equipped with New Clothing. The old Clothing should be worn out on fatigues, etc., and then condemned and disposed of in accordance with Northern Command Order above quoted.
C.R.N.C. 43756/ (O.S.). Northern Command Order No.447.
SADDLERY – PRICES OF –
It is notified for the information of all concerned that the rates are as follows:-
Saddlery Officers’ £12 19s 7d with large saddle.
£12 7s 1d with small saddle.
Authority, W.O. Letter 16/15 (Q.M.G. Fb.), dated 19th March, 1915.
C.R.N.C. 38282/73 (O.S.). Northern Command Order No.448.
SICK LEAVE – OFFICERS –
The attention of all concerned is directed to paragraph 1293, King’s Regulations.
When an Officer has been granted Sick Leave on the recommendation of a Medical Board, he should report to his Commanding Officer before the expiration of his leave with a view to arrangements being made for his re-examination by a Medical Board before resuming duty with his Regiment.
(M). Northern Command Order No. 449.
CASES – CARTRIDGES – DUMMY –
Units in possession of dummy cases S.A.A. which are found difficult to load should return the same without delay to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York.
(O.S.) Northern Command Order No. 451.
CLEANING CLOTHING –
It is notified for information of all concerned, that a charge against the public for the cleaning ofService Dress Clothing in wear is not admissible.
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