| The Somme 07:56 - Jul 1 with 814 views | Churchman |
Today marks the 110th anniversary of the opening of the Somme campaign. On this day the British 4th army suffered 57,470 casualties, 19,240 killed. The French lost 1,590 men and the Germans about 10,000.
During the campaign which lasted until 18th November, 3 million men took part of which a million were killed or wounded. Numbers beyond imagination.
Because of the scale of this war, attached is the story of an RE Field Company written around 7 Norfolk policemen. It’s quite long but if you are interested it’s worth a read.
https://norfolkinworldwar1.wor
So why attach this story in particular? Because it is also the story of my grandfather who volunteered at the same time and in the same place as those men and went to war with them. His best friend was the last to die on 1st September 1917.
They were at a place called Cologne Farm, Hargicourt. Shrapnel from a shell killed the officer and his friend Harry (Henry). A piece went through his temple. My grandfather was next to him and was hit in the face. The 208th Company record shows that they were the only three casualties that day, the officer being the only one named in it (‘O/R’ was used for other ranks).
They did a remarkable job repairing my grandfather’s face. The scars only showed when it was cold or he was annoyed, according to my mum. What could not be repaired was the the effect on his mind. Shell shock hospitalised him until April 1918 when he was discharged. He returned to work the following day. Different times. He died in the early 1950s.
It is easy to dismiss events like WW1 battles. Their scale is beyond comprehension. The army that attacked in 1 July 1917 was mostly volunteers. The north east had raised 4 battalions for the Northumberland Fusiliers. 2 were called Tyneside Scottish, 2 Tyneside Irish.
The fashion for things Irish and Scottish was as strong then as it is now, given all 4 were Geordies/north east men. People from the area even raised money for bagpipes. The 208 RE Field Company (all volunteers) was attached to the 102 Tyneside Scottish.
Those who were caught up in that conflict should be remembered. It and round two (WW2) defines our world. On a personal note it defines us. I for one would not be here had my grandfather stooped or stood two inches lower on a September day in 1917. |  | | |  |
| The Somme on 08:53 - Jul 1 with 717 views | Guthrum |
We discovered, quite by accident and decades after he died, a press cutting reporting that my grandfather had been wounded (near Ypres in 1917). My father, who was also gone by then, may not have known - he never mentioned it.
My grandfather volunteered in 1914, serving in the heavy guns of the Royal Garrison Artillery. I believe he took part in the later stages of the Somme, was certainly at Ypres and finished the war in the vicinity of Mons. Two of his brothers also joined up. All three survived, tho one was said to have had a very rough time.
The fact the army was composed of Kitchener's volunteers was why such a basic attack method was used. Commanders didn't think their new troops has the fieldcraft skills of the pre-war professionals. So the assault plan was simplified as much as possible. Which increased casualties when things went wrong.
Which it didn't on the whole front. In the south, a lot of the first-day objectives were achieved. It was in the north and centre where the attack foundered on strong defensive positions and some mismanagement, plus the usual issues with communications and getting reserves to the right places.
The reliance upon weight of artillery was only the same conclusion the Germans had been working on for over a year and which the French had also come to at Verdun. It just lacked the sophistication and control achieved in 1917 (at Messines and Arras) and 1918 (Bruchmuller and the final Allied push). It wasn't necessarily the wrong answer, just lacked effectiveness in application. |  |
| |
| The Somme on 12:30 - Jul 1 with 556 views | Churchman |
| The Somme on 08:53 - Jul 1 by Guthrum |
We discovered, quite by accident and decades after he died, a press cutting reporting that my grandfather had been wounded (near Ypres in 1917). My father, who was also gone by then, may not have known - he never mentioned it.
My grandfather volunteered in 1914, serving in the heavy guns of the Royal Garrison Artillery. I believe he took part in the later stages of the Somme, was certainly at Ypres and finished the war in the vicinity of Mons. Two of his brothers also joined up. All three survived, tho one was said to have had a very rough time.
The fact the army was composed of Kitchener's volunteers was why such a basic attack method was used. Commanders didn't think their new troops has the fieldcraft skills of the pre-war professionals. So the assault plan was simplified as much as possible. Which increased casualties when things went wrong.
Which it didn't on the whole front. In the south, a lot of the first-day objectives were achieved. It was in the north and centre where the attack foundered on strong defensive positions and some mismanagement, plus the usual issues with communications and getting reserves to the right places.
The reliance upon weight of artillery was only the same conclusion the Germans had been working on for over a year and which the French had also come to at Verdun. It just lacked the sophistication and control achieved in 1917 (at Messines and Arras) and 1918 (Bruchmuller and the final Allied push). It wasn't necessarily the wrong answer, just lacked effectiveness in application. |
How interesting. Ypres was known as Wipers or ‘the salient’ and was fought over throughout the war, including 3rd Ypres known as Passchendaele after the ridge the British were assaulting late 1917. The area is well worth a visit for those interested. That all three survived was good going for the time.
My grandfather’s brother joined the RFC/RAF in 1918 as a fitter and of course survived. My other grandfather served in the TA from 1913 and never went to France. Two of his brother in laws died - one at Loos and the other in the Middle East.
Kitchener’s volunteer ‘New Army’ (Pals Battalions) was remarkable in scale and despite the appalling casualties did learn. Training was anything up to a year. Northumberland Fusiliers and associated RE Field Companies for example were in training from early 1915, going out to France early 1916 in many cases then spending time further training in quiet sectors.
Haig didn’t want to fight the Somme battle either at that time or place. He was forced into it by Foch and the press on the French army at Verdun. A real meat grinder. The New Army was not considered trained enough, yet there was nothing wrong with how it fought in the Somme battle.
The issue was less with the men than the leadership. Orders were rigid and not to be deviated from which meant any breakthroughs could not be taken advantage of. Initiative was discouraged.
The other aspect was that the bombardment in the run up was thought to be so devastating that all the infantry would have to do was take possession of devastated trenches. To do that, they were ordered to carry all their kit, food and materials to secure what they captured. Over 60lb of kit plus rifle. You cannot run with that little lot.
The depth and strength of German bunkers meant most soldiers survived the terrifying bombardment. The shells were no good at cutting wire, was not concentrated enough and 30% of the shells were duds anyway. The concept of creeping barrage and coordinated attack was not yet invented.
But unlike the Blackadder programmes the reality was that the army did learn. Better use of light railway, rotation, not expecting soldiers to carry vast amounts of kit, expansion of specialists like the machine gun corps, Pioneers, REs and in particular the Tunnellers. The tank made its debut during the Somme campaign. Unreliable and no idea how to use them, but it was a start. Air power was in its infancy and at that time restricted to observation. [Post edited 1 Jul 12:35]
| | | |
| The Somme - the Tunnellers on 12:56 - Jul 1 with 507 views | Churchman |
In a static conflict, one option was for technically skilled RE's to develop underground warfare. The allies proved rather good at it, catching up and surpassing their German equivalents. They could tunnel faster, quieter and to more deadly effect by the pinnacle of their success at Messines. 10,000 Germans died in seconds when a series of mines were detonated.
Unlike the majority of the men of the Kitchener’s army, they received no military training. The immediate need was for men who could tunnel so miners, telephone engineers, people who built the sewers and drains were all recruited and sent over immediately. One day they were in England, the next they were tunnelling in France.
Their world became a subterranean stuff of nightmares. Defensive mine galleries were dug under allied trenches where possible. Their role was to intercept German tunnelling attempts and blow them up with charges called camuflets. The offensive tunnels were far deeper, galleries usually approached by a vertical shafts. The diggers were known as moles or ‘clay kickers’ and they leant against wooden frames to dig the tunnel forward.
They would not so much dig as slowly press the shovel in and ease the soil out in absolute silence. It was then moved back to their mates who shovelled it into sandbags to be hoisted to the surface and shifted far behind the lines to avoid detection from the air. Hand pumps provided air and the men took with them candles and canaries. A distressed canary or a candle going out would mean no air and time to evacuate and the tunnels.
The men lived with the threat of the enemy working out where their tunnel was and blowing it in, either killing men instantly or entombing them underground. A favourite trick was to lay a second charge further on to bury the rescue party.
Tunnels could be broken in to and fights underground take place. Weapons of choice included axes, maces, knives, bayonets, coshes, pistols, sometimes rifles with the stock and barrel shortened.
The aim was not be heard but to hear your enemy. Listening devices were invented and even water – vibration would make the surface ripple. Before proper listening kit, a stick in the wall of the tunnel, the other end in your mouth and you’d feel vibration of the enemy digging.
On the Somme, the largest man made explosion in history to that point was set off at La Boisselle. 60,000lbs of ammonal was packed under the German line. The Lochnagar crater is still there. Nearby, 45,000lbs blew up an area called YSap next to La Boisselle village. The Germans had heard there was a threat that night from an intercepted phone call so evacuated before the explosion. My grandfather was just a short way away when both exploded.
The only film of a mine going up on 1 July is of Hawthorne Redoubt where 40,000lbs blew up all above it. The mine explosions could be heard in London. [Post edited 2 Jul 7:40]
| | | |
| The Somme on 16:56 - Jul 1 with 392 views | DJR |
| The Somme on 12:30 - Jul 1 by Churchman |
How interesting. Ypres was known as Wipers or ‘the salient’ and was fought over throughout the war, including 3rd Ypres known as Passchendaele after the ridge the British were assaulting late 1917. The area is well worth a visit for those interested. That all three survived was good going for the time.
My grandfather’s brother joined the RFC/RAF in 1918 as a fitter and of course survived. My other grandfather served in the TA from 1913 and never went to France. Two of his brother in laws died - one at Loos and the other in the Middle East.
Kitchener’s volunteer ‘New Army’ (Pals Battalions) was remarkable in scale and despite the appalling casualties did learn. Training was anything up to a year. Northumberland Fusiliers and associated RE Field Companies for example were in training from early 1915, going out to France early 1916 in many cases then spending time further training in quiet sectors.
Haig didn’t want to fight the Somme battle either at that time or place. He was forced into it by Foch and the press on the French army at Verdun. A real meat grinder. The New Army was not considered trained enough, yet there was nothing wrong with how it fought in the Somme battle.
The issue was less with the men than the leadership. Orders were rigid and not to be deviated from which meant any breakthroughs could not be taken advantage of. Initiative was discouraged.
The other aspect was that the bombardment in the run up was thought to be so devastating that all the infantry would have to do was take possession of devastated trenches. To do that, they were ordered to carry all their kit, food and materials to secure what they captured. Over 60lb of kit plus rifle. You cannot run with that little lot.
The depth and strength of German bunkers meant most soldiers survived the terrifying bombardment. The shells were no good at cutting wire, was not concentrated enough and 30% of the shells were duds anyway. The concept of creeping barrage and coordinated attack was not yet invented.
But unlike the Blackadder programmes the reality was that the army did learn. Better use of light railway, rotation, not expecting soldiers to carry vast amounts of kit, expansion of specialists like the machine gun corps, Pioneers, REs and in particular the Tunnellers. The tank made its debut during the Somme campaign. Unreliable and no idea how to use them, but it was a start. Air power was in its infancy and at that time restricted to observation. [Post edited 1 Jul 12:35]
|
My grandfather joined the Royal Naval Air Service which merged with the Royal Flying Corp on 1 April 1918 to form the RAF.
He trained as a pilot but didn't complete his training because of the end of the war.
His military records (and the London Gazette) show that he was granted an Honorary Second Lieutenantship after the war. Honorary Commissions were granted to the many flying cadets who, because of the Armistice and their services therefore no longer being required, were unable to complete their flying training.
The officer ranks of the Royal Air Force, as they are today, were introduced in 1919. Prior to that Army ranks were used, and I believe his honorary rank is equivalent to that of Pilot Officer today. [Post edited 1 Jul 17:07]
|  | | |
| The Somme on 19:46 - Jul 1 with 339 views | Churchman |
| The Somme on 16:56 - Jul 1 by DJR |
My grandfather joined the Royal Naval Air Service which merged with the Royal Flying Corp on 1 April 1918 to form the RAF.
He trained as a pilot but didn't complete his training because of the end of the war.
His military records (and the London Gazette) show that he was granted an Honorary Second Lieutenantship after the war. Honorary Commissions were granted to the many flying cadets who, because of the Armistice and their services therefore no longer being required, were unable to complete their flying training.
The officer ranks of the Royal Air Force, as they are today, were introduced in 1919. Prior to that Army ranks were used, and I believe his honorary rank is equivalent to that of Pilot Officer today. [Post edited 1 Jul 17:07]
|
Yes, it would have been the equivalent of Pilot Officer,
He was lucky he didn’t complete his training. The death rate from the enemy, aircraft falling apart, poor flying characteristics of aeroplanes, no parachutes (the scrambled egg wallahs thought they’d encourage pilots to leave their aircraft prematurely) meant don’t bother with a life insurance policy!
The story of the development of aeroplanes and air power in WW1 is fascinating. The people that flew in those death traps are equally fascinating. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
