1915

16^th February 1915. Captain V.S. Jones, 4 officers, and 167 other ranks proceeded to Fleetwood to provide the guards on the Arsenal and the Harbour.

22^nd February 1915.  The Battalion was asked to volunteer for service in Burmah.  Practically every man volunteered, but owing to a considerable number being too young for Foreign Service, only 767 N.C.O.’s and men were available.  Japanese rifles had been received with which to arm the Battalion.  These were, however, never issued, and Lee-Enfield Mark 1* rifles were substituted.  Owing to the previous shortage of rifles, and the necessity of using a certain number for guard duties, very few men had fired on an open range, except some of those transferred from Sittingbourne, and a small number who were exercised at Fleetwood.

28^th February 1915.  Captain F.W. Halton, T.D., promoted Major and appointed Second in Command.  Lieut. H. Thompson appointed Adjutant.

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 2

This book commences Night 15 – 16 Feb 1915 and is obviously a continuation of an earlier volume, not part of this series.

miles deep at least in the firing line trenches.  The two supports were in places knee deep and only constant pumping kept the water down.  The men had no shelter from the weather and the firing line trenches suffered much from enfilade fire.  There was an apology of a wire entanglement to our front but the chief safeguard against attack was the swampy nature of the ground.  The Germans were very much top dog in sniping by day anything showing above the parapet attracted fire.  It was impossible to get from our trench to the other or back to the supports until dark.  The trenches on our left held by D Coy were even worse and the gum boots available had all been given to them.  Our predecessors had evidently given up all idea of improving the trenches and passed the hours they were there in abject hopeless misery.  On an average they had asked for 100 sandbags a night to replace those shot away.

16^th Feb. 1915.         I demanded 2000 nightly and had the parapets thickened, traverses and shelters built after the surface slush had been removed and many hundred empty sandbags which had rotted away where they had been first thrown down, had been cleared away, we came upon a lot of floor boards.  Pulling up these and digging through about two feet of evil smelling rubbish we came to the original soil.  After making small channels leading to sump pits which could be easily drained out the boards were replaced.  From that time on the men were dry-shod in the trenches.  Our example infected by degrees the rest of the Bde and soon the trenches became fairly good.  A number of sniping posts were also constructed and we began to stop the Germans having it all their own way.  I arranged that the men should be in three reliefs by night No 1 lookout, No 2 waiting man No 3 working party.  This prevented any chance of surprise and ensured a third of the men working all night.

On the opposite page is a sketch map showing the position near Wulverghem.

They got what sleep they could during the day.  Close to the barbed wire in the intervals between the parapets listening posts were dug in.  They were relieved every three hours during the night and withdrawn by day.  Landon was killed the previous day in 13 trench while glancing over the parapet about 3 p.m.  I was holding 10 B, 11 A, 11 B and the two support trenches.  I arrived with a cold in the head but by getting wet up to my waist and remaining wet for 3 days the cold was driven away.  There was a good bit of shelling by the Germans during the day and the trenches on our left caught it.  Two English aeroplanes tried to chase off a German but it was like two owls after a swallow.  The German darted too & fro where she liked.

17^th Feb. 1915.         Work was continued throughout the night I noticed that about three seconds after every German flare there was a rapid burst of fire.  Arguing that to fire the Germans must be exposing themselves I ordered all the lookout men to fire a round in the direction of every flare sent up and then take cover before the German bullets could reach them.  It seemed to have a good effect.  They shelled my group of trenches during the morning.  One shell burst right in my right hand trench but caused no casualties.

On the opposite page a Bainsfather cartoon “The Innocent Abroad” of a shelter.  It has been annotated “Just like my shelter.”

18^th Feb. 1915.         We were ordered to stay a third night in the trenches.  I proposed changing round the men who had been in the worst trenches with others but Sg^t. Newsome asked if he might be allowed to stay on as he hoped with another 24 hrs work to make his trench quite habitable.  Once let our men understand what requires doing and they are splendid.  Cp^l. Puddifoot with 3 men crawled out in the dark to try & round up some snipers.  Cp^l. Dunton found our wire had been cut and repaired it.  Going my rounds at night I got stuck in one trench sinking in up to my thighs.  My orderly was able to help me out.  We walked about with long poles to feel for Jack Johnson holes.  There were generally a good many loose bullets about and as we were on the crest of a slight ridge we must have shown up against the skyline.  It is extraordinary how little sleep one can do with.  After 3 nights without any I found a two hours doze quite sufficient.  No rations arrived for us on the 3^rd day and then we heard that there would be no relief again.  It had been raining for 48 hrs on end.

19^th Feb.1915.          However about midnight a Coy of the Dorsets came to take over and we marched back to the little farm house we had been in on the 12^th & 13^th where the shelling occurred.  The 25^th British Indian Division at Ypres had been badly mauled and they wanted to bring them down to our part of the world where it was comparatively peaceful and send us up to take their place.  This required a certain amount of management – thus instead of a rest of 8 days – we were kept on 3 days over our time and then had 3 days rest at Dranoutre before returning for a spell of five days.  In Dranoutre we were to be ready to move off always in ½ an hour but a canvas bath had come out for me and I was able to get a good wash.

20^th Feb. 1915.         We remained on in the little farm house making up for arrears of sleep and that evening marched to Dranouter or rather some very dirty farm houses beyond it.  Our mess was in an Estaminet, the meals being cooked in the room we fed in, on a small stove.

21^st & 22^nd     We remained there the next two days and then marched back to R.E. farm, close behind the firing line, by 8 p.m. 

23^rd Feb. 1915.         D Coy was in “Burnt farm” close by.  A and B in the firing line. 

24^th Feb 1915.           We stayed there the next day and the following evening took over 11A, 11B and the two supports.  Half the company had been in a redoubt behind the line on the two previous days so they not much rest.  Had the Germans rushed our front trenches they might have been on us within five minutes.  I had agitated at once to have the farm prepared for defence.  This was now being done by the R.E.  Just as we were marching off Cap^t. Ratcliffe was brought in.  Shot in the stomach (he recovered).  No work had been done to the trenches since we were last there except that the wooden cases of the ammⁿ boxes we had carried up had been burnt for firewood thus exposing the cartridges to the weather.  I sent in a report.  The trenches were filthy tho’ we had left them clean.  I arranged for a certain proportion of hand grenades to be prepared for use only leaving the safety pin to be drawn.  Previously it had been the custom to have a box of them somewhere, the detonators (probably the wrong size) somewhere else and nobody told off in charge.  If there had been a German attack none of them could have been used.

25^th Feb. 1915.         During the night there was a full moon and a sharp frost.  It seemed as light as day and going from trench to trench in the open to see how the work was progressing was no fun.  The Germans were about 300 yds off.

On the opposite page is a Bainsfather cartoon cut from Bystander.

26^th Feb. 1915.         I got my feet very wet.  The Germans pitched a couple of shell 25 & 50 yard from the trench I was in, otherwise all was quiet. 

27^th Feb. 1915.         During the night my listening patrols reported the Germans working in the open.  All the men were lined up ready and then I made a succession of flares burst right over them.  The men opened rapid fire and the Germans ran for cover.  During the day I was sitting in my bomb proof trying to warm my toes with a charcoal brazier when – bang – bang bang – a rapid succession of rifle shots sounded inside my bomb proof.  It was not easy to extract myself as the opening was very narrow but I muscled and pulled away the barrier.  An old battered ammunition tin was propping it up and this on examination proved to contain between 200 & 300 rounds a fortunate escape.  The following evening we were relieved and marched back to Bailleul.  I intended marching the whole way for exercise and to get rid of an attack of dysentery but after 3 miles I nearly fainted.  Luckily my horse was there and I managed to mount.  Arriving at Bailleul I could not stand and had to be taken into the nearest billet.  Here the D^r. gave me some medicine and next morning I was nearly all right again.

28^th Feb. 1915.         My toes were a little frost bitten but in the course of a few weeks that wore off.  It is curious how all the inhabitants seem to be wearing army clothing.  My landlady tells me there is a large sale of mens’ boots.  A man issued with a new pair will sell them and go on wearing his old ones.  I personally saw every article issued to my men and made certain the discarded clothing was worn out and returned any surplus to the Q^r Master.  The best boots were handed over to the Shoemaker Sg^t for repair.  The next time the Bⁿ went to the trenches.  He of course had his hands full while in Billets.  By this many hundred boots which would otherwise have been thrown away were saved.  Instead of going into the Grapperies again the men were put into dirty lofts.  The proprietor of the hothouses was claiming several hundred thousand francs indemnification if our men were to be kept there any longer as he wanted to start the vines in heat.  The French always billeted their men in schools & private houses, we never allowed men into private houses.  Major Roche went off on leave & I became Senior Major.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

26^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

143 – District Court-Martial –

            The District Court-Martial directed to assemble in Brigade Order No. 132, of February 21^st, 1915, of which Major P.B. Norris (3^rd Battalion, Tyneside Scottish) was President, is hereby dissolved.

144– District Court-Martial –

            The details of officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Orderly Room, All Saints’ Hall, Linden Roar, Gosforth, 10-30 a.m., on the 1^st day of March, for the purpose of trying by District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin:-

PRESIDENT

Major E.K. Purnell, 4^th Battalion, Tyneside Scottish.

MEMBERS

A Captain of the 1^st Battalion Tyneside Scottish.

A Captain of the 2^nd 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., 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.

Officers Commanding 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Battalions (Tyneside Scottish) will each detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.

In the margin.  No. 1451, Pte. J.T. Jackson, 23^rd Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish), and No. 1388, Pte. J. Sparks, 23^rd (Ser.) Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish).

145 – Stores – Local Purchase of –

            With reference to Northern Command Memo. No. C.R.N.C. 38485/1/5(G) of 24^th inst. (copies of which have been issued to all units) Officers Commanding will forward without delay to this office a list of the articles referred in para. 3 which they are unable to obtain from Ordnance Stores.  Arrangements will be made in this office to purchase locally.

146 – Expenditure –Hitherto unauthorized –

            In future Commanding Officers will forward to Brigade Headquarters all recommendations which entail expenditure not hitherto authorised.

Such recommendations will on no account be forwarded direct to the Tyneside Scottish Committee.

147 – Army Orders –

            The attention of Commanding Officers is called to the following Army Orders:-

Army Order 54, of 1915 (Appendix) –

“War establishment of an Infantry Battalion,” which authorizes certain increases in Establishment.

The note (b) in column of remarks does not apply, at present to the Battalions of this Brigade.

Army Order 68, of 1915 –

Arms and equipment of Officers.

Army Order 75, of 1915 –

Pay.  “How a soldier should get his pay.”

148 – Depot Companies – Transfer to –

            Officers Commanding Battalions will take immediate steps to transfer to their Depot Companies the following, who will be shewn as “extra to establishment.”

1. All N.C.O’s and men found by the Medical Inspector of Recruits, Northern Command, to be unfit for service in the field, but fit for home service.
2. All enlisted boys under the age of 19.  All vacancies thus caused in the Headquarter Companies will be at once filled up by drafts from Depot Companies.

149 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

BILLS FOR SUPPLIES – METHOD OF PASSING FOR PAYMENT –

It has been brought to notice that much inconvenience and delay has been caused both in the office of the Command Paymaster and this office, on account of bills for supplies, etc., obtained by local purchase not being properly endorsed before transmitting same for payment.

It should be noted for future guidance that such bills should be marked “Special Purchase – No Contract,” and when there is no Headquarter authority same must be obtained before passing the bills for payment in accordance with Command Order 1622, dated 16^th November, 1914, to which attention is drawn.

Bills for supplies obtained under contract, and bills for supplies the offers for which though not under contract have already been actually approved under Headquarter authority, do not require any further approval, but the authority, i.e., the Command Headquarter number and date must be inserted on bills before transmission to Command Paymaster, Northern Command, York.

C.R. No. 45286 (S.T.).  Northern Command Order No.265.

BADGES OF RANK – WARRANT OFFICERS, CLASS II –

For the present the badge of rank of Warrant Officers Class II., remain as they were before the publication of Army Order 70 of 1915.

Authority, War Office letter No. 54/General No./1801 (Q.M.G.7), dated 13^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 43000 (A).  Northern Command Order No.266.

MOBILIZATION STORES TABLES – AMENDMENTS TO –

The following amendment is to be made to all copies of Mobilization Store Tables detailed:-

Army Form G. 1098 – 3, Headquarters of an Infantry Brigade.

Army Form G. 1098 – 3A, Headquarters of an Infantry Brigade (T.F.)

Army Form G. 1098 – 112, Headquarters of an Infantry Brigade (New Armies)

Insert under Section No. 27:-

Pistols, signal, Very cartridge, 6*

*Cartridges will not form part of unit equipment, but will be issued overseas as required.

Authority, War Office letter No. 121/Stores/915 (Q.M.G.10), dated 17^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 44616 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.273.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

NOTICE.

            On and after the 27^th instant the Headquarters of the 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade will be –

“ALNBANK”

ALNWICK.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

25^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

142 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

            The following extracts are published for information:-

            From the Second Supplement to the “London Gazette”, of Friday, the 12^th February, 1915 –

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

20^th Battalion (1^st Tyneside Scottish), Stanley James Elliott to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 7^th January, 1915.

21^st Battalion (2^nd Tyneside Scottish), William Travers to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 11^th January, 1915.

From a Supplement to the “London Gazette”, of Friday, the 19^th February, 1915 –

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

21^st Battalion (2^nd Tyneside Scottish), Ernest Arthur Scott to be temporary Captain.  Dated 28^th December, 1914.

The undermentioned to be temporary Lieutenants:-

Wallace Marrs.  Dated 7^th November, 1914.

Temporary Second Lieutenant William Travers.  Dated 18^th January, 1915.

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish), Temporary Captain Stanley H. Mackintosh to be Adjutant.  Dated 21^st December, 1914.

The undermentioned to be temporary Lieutenants:-

Hector Fraser Whitehead.  Dated 22^nd December, 1914.

Thomas Ward.  Dated 6^th January, 1915.

The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants:-

Alfred Edwin Shapley.  Dated 6^th January, 1915.

Frederick Oswald Dunn.  Dated 12^th January, 1915.

MARCH DISCIPLINE –

In view of the fact that reports have recently been received of several accidents caused by motor vehicles being driven into troops whilst on the march at night, War Office letter 114/Gen. No./5099 (M.T.2), dated 2^nd May, 1912, is re-published for the information of all concerned:-

“When troops are moving at night or in foggy weather, whether they are in tactical formation or not, they should invariably throw out an advanced and rear guard of at least two or three men at such a distance from the main body as will ensure due notice of the proximity of troops being given to the drivers of motor vehicles.  This distance should not be less than 100 yards.”

Authority, War Office letter No. 114/Misc./3564 (M.T.2.), dated 2^nd February, 1915.

C.R. No. 27254.  Northern Command Order No.259.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

24^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

140 – Dentures – Supply of –

            With reference to Brigade Order No. 118, of the 12^th inst.  Dentures may now be supplied (free to the soldier) as laid down in Northern Command Order No. 139, of February 1^st, 1915, but in order to prevent unnecessary expense to the public, dentures will only be issued to men of good character and who will be able to utilize them at a reasonably early date.

In cases where extraction of teeth on a large scale is necessary, it will probably be found that the state of the gums will prevent the fitting of dentures for some months.  In such cases dentures will not be supplied.

Men of indifferent character will not be supplied with dentures.  The procedure will be as follows:-

When a man on visiting the Dental Surgery is recommended by a Dental Surgeon for a supply of dentures a note will be sent to the Officer Commanding the Battalion to which the man belongs, by the Dental Surgeon concerned, to that effect, stating –

1. The action it is proposed to take.
2. The time required before the dentures can be fixed.
3. The cost.

Should the Officer Commanding the Battalions consider the case meets with the foregoing conditions he will notify the Dental Surgeon that the work may be proceeded with or, if the expense involved will be over £3, refer the case to Brigade Headquarters for reference to the Commander-in-Chief.

141 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

HOSPITAL STOPPAGES –

With reference to Command Order No. 1139, of 31^st August, 1914, it has been decided that the operations of paragraph 73 (a), Allowance Regulations, shall not apply to soldiers in the field admitted to hospital on account of venereal disease.  Such cases will accordingly come under 73 (c), Allowance Regulations, for the future.

Authority, War Office letter No. 121/Finance/137 (F.2.), dated 20^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 44842 (S.T.).  Northern Command Order No.251

BAYONET FIGHTING EQUIPMENT –

With reference to Command Orders Nos. 1837, of 29^th December, 1914, 14 of 2^nd January, 1915, and 170, of 6^th February, 1915, approval has been given for the local provision and issue of sacks for thrusting practices being further extended to all units of the Regular, Special Reserve, and Territorial Force armed with Rifles and Sword Bayonets not in possession of Bayonet Fighting Equipment, in the proportion of 10 per. cent of their strength (but not to exceed 150 per unit).

Authority, War Office letter No. 54/Infantry/1101 (Q.M.G.9), dated 17^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 38467/4/2 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.254.

HORSES TRAVELLING IN TRUCKS –

It has come to notice that in some cases when open Railway Trucks are used for the conveyance of horses the tarpaulins provided by the Railway Authorities are placed on the same side as the horses’ heads, thereby causing lack of air.

Arrangements should be made when entraining horses that the side of the truck which the horses face should be left open.

Authority, Remount Circular No. 24, dated 19^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 44777, 20^th February, 1915.  Northern Command Order No.255.

BOOTS, ANKLE – PATTERNS OF –

            Notified for information of all concerned that in order to distinguish the various patterns of ankle boots now being issued to the troops, the following nomenclature has been decided upon:-

Boots ankle “B” and “N.P.”

These are regulation pattern army boots and will be known as “Boots ankle regulation.”  All men proceeding to join the Expeditionary Force must have 1 pair of this pattern, vide Command Order No. 55, dated 11^th January, 1915.

Trade Patterns.

No. 1 trade pattern will be known as “Boots ankle Standard No. 1.

No 2 trade pattern will be known as “Boots ankle trade No. 2.”

Other trade boots will be known as “other trade patterns.”

Authority, War Office letter, A.C.D./Boots/10 (R.A.C.D.), dated 18^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 44617 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.256.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.