Chapter 20: The Somme 27 Oct to 31 Dec 1916

From 11th Battery, 4th F.A.B Brief History 24 October 1916 Left Cassel, arrived Polincove 27 October Left by road for Audruicq, entrained 28 October Arrived Lounque (?) Siding (Amiens), road to La Napelle, arrived 6am, left for Albert 10am, arrived Albert 29 October Left Albert 30 October Arrived Longueval where Wagon Lines set up. 30 October-24 November Longueval. Guns in action north of Flers. 25 November Left Longueval by road, arrived Vielle-sur-Corbie 26 November Left Vielle-sur-Corbie, arrived Bonnay 27 November Left Bonnay, arrived Naours. 27 Nov – 21 Dec Billeted Naours Photo of soldiers in Naours, 12 July 1916, on their way to the Somme (AWM EZ0163) 21 December Left Naours, arrived Buire-sur-Corbie [also Ancre] 22 December Left Buire-sur-Corbie, arrived Montauban. Wagon Lines established there. Gunners to Ginchy Leaving here on Oct 23rd we went to Cassel and stopped on the outskirts of the town for one night; next day going on to Polincove where we remained until the 27th when we entrained at Audruicq and arrived at Amiens the same day and moved to Berne sur Ancre where we camped for the night. The next day we took up wagon lines at Longueval and gun positions north of Flers. This position was practically under direct observation and consequently was heavily shelled. We had several casualties here, three men killed and others wounded. The transport conditions were very severe, the roads being muddy and full of deep shell holes, everything had to be packed and this combined with the weather and shelling made things very uncomfortable for the drivers. While in this position Major Derhani (???) was called to England to the 3rd Div. Major (then Capt) Milford took command of the battery. Leaving Flers on Nov 25th we stayed one night at Ville-sur-Corbie, one night at Bonnay and then arrived at Noaurs where we remained until Dec 12th [perhaps 21st – as per document Positions Occupied by the 4th A.F.A. Brigade in France and 11th Battery Brief History, first part] Left Noaurs Dec 12th [21st] and stopping at Buire-sur-Ancre, one night, arrived at Montauban where our wagon lines remained while the gunners went to Ginchy. The right section being attached to the 12th battery and the left to the 10th to form six gun batteries. Very little shooting other than harassing fire was done while in this area. Letter to sister Maud Lade December 1st 1916 Somewhere in France Dec 1st 1916 Dear Maud I am writing this in comfort thanks to a young French lady who very kindly invited me into write by the fire. Our billet [Sally: Naours] is very good to sleep in but there is not much convenience for writing. We have been out of action since last Saturday and although we had a rotten time for three days travelling about I am not sorry to be away, but am afraid it won't be very long before we are back again. We went into action on the 29th Oct and spent over three weeks in the mud and rain to say nothing about the frost and snow. We only had one day's snow, and I must say it was better than the rain and rather nice once ones feet got a bit warm, although it is hard to see much beauty in anything at four in the morning when your feet are several degrees below zero. Then one or two mornings when the wind was favourable Fritz decided to make things a bit more unpleasant by sending over a large number of gas shells in addition to his usual supply of 5'9" + 4:2'. However the bad weather didn't affect me very much, as I didn't even get a cold. Some of the chaps suffered a good deal though with swollen feet and bad colds. After coming out of action we travelled by road for three days and are now billeted in a village well behind the line. I am beginning to think lately that we are descending into something like the savages - go into the line and fight for a time, then out again and off some-where else to fight again. Yesterday I spent a most enjoyable day in a large town close by (eleven miles). ? they ? ? got the enjoyment was three good meals and a bath. Also I went through a fine old church which is quite as good if not better than the one I saw in Malta. I have been getting my mail very regularly lately and the day before coming out of action had one from you, mother, Laura, Bill + Cila. ? ? were all written about the 26th of Sept. This is the first time I have done any writing for some time so you mustn't blame the postal people if you don't get any letters for a week or two. During the time we were in action it was quite impossible to do much writing. Must close now Love to all Percy. Photo of wagon transport at Montauban on the road to Longueval. 21 December 1916. [AWM E00627] Photo of cleaning off winter mud at Montauban Dec 1916 [AWM E00016] Photo of Australian Comforts Fund canteen, Longueval, December 1916. [AWM E00034] Photo of sandbagged Australian cook house. Longueval, December 1916. [AWM E00032] Photo of driver giving his horse a drink at Australian Comforts Fund canteen, Longueval, Dec 1916. [AWM E00076] Photo of mule transport in winter mud, Montauban, Dec 1916 [AWM E00036] From: Gunner Day's diary: 10/11/16 Went back into action again; on our way we passed through Contalmaison, Freicourt, Mametz, Montauban, Bazentin and finished up at a place called Flers. It is a very hot corner and we had to leave our guns several times as the Germans got to know where our battery was located. We also had a good few killed and wounded - horses included. 24/11/16 moved out at 7 a.m. and drove back to the Brickfields again, six miles away, as we only had half our horses left and they were in poor condition. 25/11/16 Moved on the next day…..(Day went to hospital with a cold then had to find and rejoin his Battery) 28/11/16 I met one of our boys and he told me our Batteries were at Naours…. 22/12/16 After a stay of a few weeks we went back into action, to a place called Ginchy, or just alongside. We are on the main road between Flers and Ginchy. There are a good few 9.2 and 8 inch Howitzers, and a bit further on there are a few 15 inch Naval Guns, so there is plenty of row (noise) going on. 25/12/16 Christmas day, raining up till 9 a.m., and then by way of a change we had Sun for the first time in two weeks (we usually have grey days). We worked all day on Bully stew and strong tea, and got a Xmas box of an extra dose of rum. [insert awm pic support line in front of flers dec 1916] From John Laffin Guide to Australian Battlefields of the Western Front 1916-18. Kangaroo Press and Australian War memorial, 1992, p 83-84 The Australian divisions, except the 3rd, were ordered back to the Somme from the Ypres sector in October 1916 and took over the Flers front. There were dreadful conditions. There was cold, rain and mud. Flers was not shelled as often as neighbouring Gueudecourt and some other places but several units reported it too dangerous for occupation. Nevertheless the AIF used Flers as a HQ and sometimes reserve troops were sheltered in the ruins. On October 30 a brigade commander in the front trenches reported that his men remained cheerful but were worn out with exposure and that their rifles were covered with mud, despite all efforts to keep them clean. German and British troops, he said, were equally exhausted, hungry and cold and were walking about on the parapets looking at each other. Conditions steadily deteriorated and men waiting to make an attack were lying in mud and rain. On the night of 4th November three waves of Australian attackers were using a trench at the same time. The first wave of men arched their bodies over the trench to make room for their mates beneath them and lay there strained and uncomfortable in the rain. On the morning of 5 November, short-shooting heavy British or Australian batteries killed ten men of the 3rd battalion and wounded seventeen others. They had been ordered to fire during a gale and the wind affected the flight of the shells. In the confused and sometimes desperate fighting the 7th Brigade, which was the most heavily involved formation lost 819 officers and men. Four attempts to advance in this sector had failed but Fourth Army HQ ordered another assault. The earliest it could be made was 14 November and as winter wore on life became harder. Heavily, burdened, the soldiers reached the trenches exhausted. The mud was so sticky that men had to be dragged out by mules or horses. A rescue party broke the back of an officer whom they were trying to haul from the mud. It was not unusual for wounded men to be left lying in the mud for twelve hours because not enough bearers were available to carry them out. The trenches were nothing more than muddy drains where the men stood and shivered and waited for their two days in the firing line to pass. After that they spent two days in the support line where life was a little safer but no less uncomfortable. The attack of 14-15 November was only partly successful and led to the usual German counter-attack. Apart from the casualties, men were being steadily evacuated with illness, trench feet and sheer exhaustion. One soldier of the 24th battalion shot himself dead rather than face another spell in front trench. Some men suffering from trench feet crawled back to the dressing station to allow the stretcher-bearers to carry men with greater need than themselves. The First battle of the Somme ended on 18 November. Photo of support line in front of Flers, December 1916. [AWM E00576]

Chapter 21: The Somme January 1917

From 11th Battery, 4th F.A.B Brief History

21 Dec 1916 Moved from Billets in Naours to establish wagon lines at Montauban and gunners in action at Ginchy

Photo of Australian wagon transport at Montauban 21 Dec 1916. [
AWM E00627]
Photo of Australian artillery column moving up the line on Mametz-Montauban road , towing 18-pounder field guns and attached ammunition limbers. Dec 1916. [AWM E00054]
Photo of soldiers and artillery pack horses loaded with ammunition for field guns, on Mametz-Montauban Rd. Dec 1916. [AWM E00090]

21 Dec 1916- 19 Jan 1917 Wagon lines at Montauban, guns at Ginchy

19 January To Buire-sur-Ancre

26 January To Rainneville. Joined by part of 19th Battery to form a six gun bty.

From Diary of Gunner Day, 11th Battery

1/1/17 New Years Day. Like last New Years Day, nothing to eat and very cold and muddy. We got a good bit of snow now is not so bad after you get used to it.

18/1/17 I do not write every day as there is nothing to put down. We have a few killed or wounded now and then, but that is nothing to write home about, after you have been in the trenches for a few months you don't take any notice of it. Had a very heavy fall of snow today, it is past your knees, off the beaten track, but not very cold. We came out of action and went to our wagon lines for a couple of days.

[Note: The contrast between the mention of “a few killed and wounded now and then, but that is nothing to write home about…” with the rather more graphic description from July 1916: “On the second day (probably July 5th) I had my first experience with death. There is a 12 " Howitzer Battery each side of us, they roar all night. The germans send back 5.9s trying to hit them. I was standing near the road watching them, when a shell landed 100 yards from me, and went in between some A.C.C. men they can thank their lucky stars that it hit a tree first. It cut the tree into matchwood (a very tree at that). Two men were killed and two were wounded. Two of us carried one of the dead men down to their camp, and I must say I never thought a dead man could be so heavy. All the time they were sending over shells pretty thick, and when you are in the middle of the road, carrying a man that you cannot drop too quickly, you feel just a bit shaky in the knees.”]

20/1/17 Left wagon lines at 11 a.m. and went to Burie for five days, from there we went to Rainville, where we stopped for one week; all these French villages are the same, most of the houses have thatched roofs and they all have sort of dams for watering the horses and cattle. The fields are very nice in the Spring, as amongst the corn and wheat there are a lot of red poppies, which is a fine sight to see.

Photo of Buire-sur-l'Ancre, April 1917. [AWM E02215]

All women work in the fields and can plough very straight, up and around Ypres; they go in for a lot of vineyards, and make some fine wines.

From CEW Bean Vol IV, The AIF in France 1917, Preface.

“…four of the five Australian infantry divisions expect(ed) relief after their most depressing experience, the winter of 1916-17 on the Somme. Before that relief came, the Germans carried out, under the eyes of the two British armies, an evacuation more extensive, if much less dangerous, than that executed by the Australian and other forces in Gallipoli. The Australians were responsible for nearly a month for about half the front affected…There follow(ed) the “pursuit” of the enemy by two small columns and three weeks’ village-fighting under conditions of semi-open warfare; then on arrival at the Hindenburg Line, the two terrible attempts to force that line at Bullecourt, one of these being the first experiment with massed tanks, and each involving a “soldiers’ battle” of extraordinary interest, fought under highly adverse conditions. After this these there comes at last, for most of the Australian infantry, its promised rest, generous beyond all hopes, while the hardest grained of the divisions, the 4th, together with the youngest and least tried, the 3rd, engag(ed) in an offensive very differently conducted from any within previous experience of the Australian infantry in France, the Battle of Messines…ends with the participation of the two Anzac corps as the central striking force in the second battle of the three phases of what is popularly known as the “Battle of Passchendaele”. the story of this phase was for the most part one of unimpeded success…the reason, which is not, it is contended, to be found merely in the fine weather or the effectiveness of the two Anzac corps, although they now formed a highly expert and formidable force.

In all this severe fighting the Australian divisions lost heavily. As only small reinforcements were now arriving from Australia, a serious problem of maintenance lay ahead; …(1917) ends with the necessary withdrawal of the divisions to a quiet front.”


Somme poppies, May 2003

From John Laffin Guide to Australian Battlefields of the Western front 1916-18. Kangaroo Press and Australian War memorial, 1992, p 84:

Gueudecourt

The AIF 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions were all in the front line south of Gueudecourt in January and February 1917. The weather was often bitterly cold but sometimes not cold enough to freeze the mud, which made operations difficult. The Germans fired a single 5.9 inch shell punctually at the rate of one a minute, night and day, into the ruins of Gueudecourt. This continued throughout the winter of 1916-17. The object was to prevent the British and Dominion troops from using cellars and dugouts in the village, and the tactic succeeded.

Photo of horse transport amongst ice and snow, Somme, January 1917. [AWM E00130]
Photo of horse losing a foothold on icy road, Somme January 1917 [AWM E00132]

Chapter 29: Flanders October 1917 to 8 April 1918

From Unit War Diary 2nd DAC Located at Busseboom. 3 October 2nd Australian Division YMCA established for convenience of troops at 1. Menin Gate. 2. A.D.S 3. Lille Gate 7 October Congratulatory message was received from the Commander-In-Chief respecting the notable achievements of the 2nd Australian Division in the operations of 4 /10/17. Similar messages were also received from the Army Commander and 5th Australian Division Commander. 9 0ctober General Birdwood despatched the following message:- “Well done again 2ND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION! Please convey my heartiest congratulations to Brigade and Battalion Commanders, and to all officers and men alike on magnificent work done after the hardship they have suffered.” Other messages of a similar nature were received from the Prime Minister of Australia. An appreciative reply, with further highly complementary references to the achievement of Australian Troops sent by General BIRDWOOD. 19 October 100 Other Ranks transferred to 4th and 5th Bdes respectively – 50 to each Bde. From Service Record 19 October 1917 Transferred to 4th F.A.B from 2nd D.A.C 20 October 1917 T.O.S. posted to 11th Battery 4th FAB ex 2nd D.A.C. 9 November 1917 Letter to 3rd echelon re-conf of rank. 8 January 1918 To England on leave [Sally - did he visit the family in Cornwall again?] 27 January 1918 Rejoined ex leave 8 February 1918 Crime: England 23 Jan 1918 W.O.A.S. Absent without leave (overstaying leave) From 7.30am 23.1.18 till reported to AIF Hdqrs on 24.1.18 Award: Forfeits 2 days pay by C.O. 4th Aust F.A. Bde, on 8.2.18 Total forfeiture: 4 days pay. From 11th Battery, 4th F.A.B. Brief History 11 September Left Dickebusch and arrived Ouderdoorn. Wagon Lines made at Howe Dump (Belgian Battery Corner), taking 5 days to establish. Rest of September, October to 20 November Wagon Lines at Howe Dump 4 October Took part in Broodseinde attack 8 October – 21 November Hannebeke Wood. Positions at Zonnebeke 21/22 November Guns Left Howe Dump, arrived Le Petit Mortier (outside Sailly). WL remained at Howe Dump 22 November Left Le Petit Mortier, arrived Le Romarin 22 November – 21 December Le Romarin. 4th FAB Camped Sailly 21 December – 31 January 1918 Wagon Lines at Le Romarin. Guns In Action “Stinking Farm” near Messines Photo of 4th Field Artillery Brigade' camouflaged 18 pounders near Ploegsteert, 26 Dec 1917 [AWM E01454] 31 January 1918 Left Le Romarin, arrived Vieux Berquin 3 February Left Vieux Berquin , arrived Le Croix 4 February Left Le Croix, arrived Wauraus (?) 5 February Left Wauraus, arrived Jourry 5 February – 7 March Jourry – billeted 8 March Left Jourry, arrived Wauraus 9 March Left Wauraus, arrived Malt House Farm 10 March Left Malt House Farm, arrived outside Ballieul 12 March Left Ballieul, arrived Le Romarin 12 March – 3 April Le Romarin. 4th F.A.B. in action Messines Messines road sign [AWM RELAWM10718] 4 April Left Le Romarin, arrived Vieux Berquin. Movement back to The Somme 8 April 2am. Left Vieux Berquin, entrained at Strazeel railway station, arrived St Roch station (outside Amiens), disentrained, by road to Villers Bocage, arrived same day “The attack on Sept 20th being successful we moved forward to a position in rear of Westhoeke Ridge and remained there until Oct 8th, taking part in the Broodseinde attack on Oct 4th. We then moved forward to Hannebecke Wood where we remained until Nov 21st. During this time positions were taken up near Zonnebeke, but it was impossible to use them owing to the intense evening fire and we returned to the Hannebeke Wood position. Returning to the Wagon Lines , which had been moved up to Howe Dump, on Nov 21st, we moved from there to Sailly the next day and remained there until Dec 22nd, when the WL was established at Le Rom… [Sally: Messines in margin note] the guns going into action at “Stinking Farm” near Messines where they remained until Jan 31st on which day we moved to Vieux Berquin and from there moved, on Feb 3 to Le Croise, near Staples, stayed there one night, and for the next night at Wouvraus, arriving at Jourry on Feb 5th, were billeted there until March 8th. Leaving jourry on march 8th and staying that night at Wovraus and the next night at Malt House farm and two days near Balieul, arrived back at Ros… (Messines) on the 12th, the guns again going into action at Stinking Farm where they remained until April 4th, when we moved back to L-Vieux Buquin and entrained at Strazeel on April 8th, detrained the same day at Amiens and went by road to Villers Bocage …” From John Laffin Guide to Australian Battlefields of the Western front 1916-18. Kangaroo Press and Australian War Memorial, 1992: Battle of Broodseinde Ridge, Ypres 4 –5 Oct 1917 This was the most important of the Australians’ actions of late 1917 and potentially the most decisive. After the Battle of Polygon Wood the 1st and 2nd Divisions replaced the 4th and 5th in the front line and were joined by the 3rd. The 4 Aust and NZ Divisions were in the centre of a line of 12 divisions. Broodseinde Ridge was the Germans’ main defensive line and from its greater height the German staff viewed most of the Allied salient. The Australians reached their start positions on the night of October 3 and lay in shell holes under a steady drizzle. Unknown to the British command, the Germans had planned an attack for 4 October at precisely the same time as the British attack. At 5.20am the German guns opened, to be followed by a trench mortar bombardment. About one Australian in seven was hot. The Australian barrage began at 6 am and the surviving Diggers scrambled up and moved forward. At that moment 30 metres in front of them, infantry of the German 212th Regiment rose in front of them to begin their advance. The Australian Lewis gunners fired first, the enemy broke and few survived the Australian bayonet charge. The action continued, and the taking of the ridge was one of The AIF’s great successes, despite losses. (p 25-26) Battle of Passchendaele (Passendale) 9-12 October 1917 NB The entire Third Battle of Ypres is sometimes called the Battle of Passchendaele. For the AIF the battle began on 9 October when the 2nd Division formed the flank for an attack by the British 66th Division. It was a desperate fight and there were many casualties. The Australians were forced to withdraw that night. The second phase began on 12 October with the 3rd Division and the NZ Division attacking side by side. One unit carried an Australian flag to be planted in Passchendale when they captured it. After a night of rain and gas-shelling the attack went in after inadequate British shellfire. After much confusion, great loss and great gallantry, the attack came to a halt. About 20 Australians, mostly of the 38th Battalion, actually reached Passchendaele Church. Completely isolated and unsupported they were forced to withdraw to their own lines. The 4th Division, itself under great pressure and having suffered terribly, pulled back. The attack had failed. The 3rd Division suffered 3199 casualties in 24 hours. (p 35) Photo of Australians resting on Menin Road with a cup of cocoa at an Australian Comforts Fund canteen 21 oct 1917. [AWM E01083] Photo by Frank Hurley of Australians on the way to the front line with the ruins of Ypres in the background 25 Oct 1917 [AWM E04612] Photo by Frank Hurley of 10th Field Artillery Brigade soldiers on duckboards in Chateau Wood near Passchendaele 29 oct 1917 [AWM E01220] Photo by Frank Hurley of soldier rescuing a comrade on duckboards, Chateau Wood, 29 Oct 1917. [AWM E04599] Photo by Frank Hurley of debris lined road through Chateau Wood 5 Nov 1917 [AWM E01233] From CEW Bean The Australian Imperial Force in France during the main German offensive, 1918. C.E.W. Bean. University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, 1937: 16 Dec - 29 Jan and 8 Mar - 3 Apr 2nd Division : Ploegsteert “Throughout the winter of 1917-18, the back areas at Messines were extremely quiet. The British were expected to have a renewed offensive in spring, and the artillery were ordered to harass the enemy by all means. Also meant to push on with a system of defences. But the attitude of the British command suddenly changed. Instead of themselves training for an offensive, all corps were to prepare for a German offensive in the spring. Order from Haig Dec 14th - construction of a formidable defensive system, and conservation of the troops and training of them for a defensive battle.” (p 36) “On March 9th and 10th the activity of the German artillery on the Messines front began noticeably to increase, and the impression spread that this activity was connected with the approach of the date for the main German offensive.” (p 48) Photo of two soldiers in Ploegsteert Wood, in front of a sign reading "Picadilly". 1917 [AWM H02093]