After training for a year in the South
of England the battalion embarked for France on 11 September 1915 as
part of the 64th Brigade of the
21st Division. The
brigade by then consisted of 1st Btn, the
East Yorkshires.
2nd Btn, the South
Lancashire. 9th (Service) Btn, the
KOYLI. 10th
(Service) Btn, the KOYLI. 14th (Service) Btn, the
Durham Light Infantry.
15th (Service) Btn, the
Durham Light Infantry.
Into
the Line, Out of the Line.
Leaving Folkestone the battalion
landed in Boulogne and entrained on the 12th for the St Omer
district, where most of the new divisions were prepared for services
in the line. The battalions first experience of total war took place
10 days later on the 25th September 1915 when the 14th were moved up
into reserve trenches on the Loos battlefield. Casualties suffered
by the battalion during this period were horrific with 3 officers
being killed and 12 officers wounded. Amongst the other ranks 270
were killed, wounded or listed as 'missing'.
Towards the end of November 1915 the
14th transferred to 18th brigade of the
6th Division. The
brigade consisted of, 1st Btn, the
West Yorkshires.
1st Btn, the East
Yorkshires. 11th (Service) Btn, the
Essex. 2nd Btn, the
Sherwood Foresters.
2nd Btn, the Durham Light
Infantry. 14th (Service) Btn, the
Durham Light Infantry
1/16th (County of London) Btn, the
London Regiment.
18th Brigade Machine Gun Company. 18th Trench Mortar Battery.
The 14th would remain with this
division until the battalion was disbanded under army reorganisation
on the 1st February 1918.
By the end of the November 1915 the
14th. were firmly embedded in the
6th Division, and
found themselves defending Potijze. During this time the battalion
endured a gas attack near Wieltje. Casualties amongst the ranks
amounted to 149 with a number of officers also being gassed and
wounded.
The battalion remained in and
around the Ypres Salient up until mid March 1916 with varying spells
in the front and in support. At this time the Division was relieved
by the Guards and the battalion left for Calais and a period of
training which was followed by a 3 day march on the 5th April back
into the Ypres Salient, and took over the line between the Picklem
Road and the Yser Canal. Here they stayed until mid June 1916 when
the Guards again took over the line. The 6 months in the Ypres
salient had been costly with 260 casualties in the ranks.
On July 1st, as the Battle of the
Somme was getting underway, the 14th Durham Light Infantry were
marching back into the Ypres Salient. The 6th Division relieved the
20th Division in the line on July 15th, supporting positions on the
banks of the Yser canal, this was a relatively quiet tour. The 6th
division pulled out of the Salient on the 2nd of August 1916 and
moved into the line North East of the village of Hamel in the Ancre
Valley. Moving back to billets in Englebelmer nightly working
parties ruled and raiiding parties were trained under the command of
Capt JB Rosher. On the 30th August the battalion moved to Vignacourt
and began training for the move to the Somme battle front.
The
Battle of the Somme
At the beginning of the Battle of
the Somme the battalion were held back in reserve at the start of
the battle and moved into the battlefield in August at Le Hamel and
carried out two tours at the cost of 44 casualties. Pulled back to
billets again for drill and training the Battalion next saw action
in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette during September.
The 6th Division were tasked with
attacking and securing a system of trenches known as the
Quadrilateral. Having resisted several earlier attempts at capture,
the 14th Battalion were sent forward to consolidate a position where
a railway crossed the Ginchy / Leuze wood road in preparation for
the attack. Arriving in total darkness the battalion found the
trenches full of dead and wounded Norfolk and Suffolk regiment
soldiers and worked until dawn to move the wounded to first aid
stations.
During the attack to capture the
Quadrilateral
2nd/Lt Arthur Moore Lascelles was wounded. Lascelles would,
later in the war go on to win the
Victoria Cross
The next day, 17th September 1916,
the battalion moved forward into the assembly trench ready to
attack. At 0530 hours on the 18th September under a creeping barrage
the battalion attacked. The objective was stormed and hundreds of
German prisoners taken, but the price was high the 14th 4 officers
and 31 other ranks killed with 5 officers and 161 other ranks
wounded. At the end of September 1916 the battalion marched to
billets in Ville-sur-Ancre and underwent training and reorganising.
A further 18 soldiers had lost their lives and 72 ad been wounded.
Battalion strength now consisted of 15 officers and 459 other ranks.
By the beginning of October 1916
the 14th Battalion had moved into Trones Wood in preparation for
attack on a trench system known as Rainbow and Shine. Extracts from
the 14th's War Diary for October detail the attack.
|
11th
October 1916. 0730 hours:-
Battn. moved into Reserve
trenches between GUIDECOURT and LESBEOUFS. Orders were
received to move into assembly trenches and attack the next
day. Some difficulty was expected in keeping direction in
the attack owing to the fact that the West Yorks held part
of the enemy trench, and the part we were to attack was on
the left of the West Yorks, whereas the assembly trenches,
from which the attack was to be launched, lay directly
behind the West Yorks. The direction of the attack would
therefore be half-left. To obviate this we laid a tape from
the West Yorks extreme left to the extreme right of the
assembly trenches.
The first objective was to be
this trench from the West Yorks right as far as a sunken
road ( about 350 yards of trench),
the 12th Division attacking from the sunken road
to the left. After attaining the objective we were to
advance on a 100 yards front with our left on the sunken
road until we reached the the enemy trench 300 yards in
front. This was to be captured and , if possible, a new line
to be dug about 300 yards in front of this trench; the 12th
Division on the left and the West Yorks on the right were to
continue the line.
B and D Coys B on the
left, D on the right were ordered to advance in extended
order in two waves on a front of 300 yards at ZERO hour, D
directing with their line on the tape, and capture the first
objective. At ZERO plus 20 B Coy. was to advance on a
front of 100 yards with its left on the sunken road, D
Coy. following 100 yards in the rear with its left on the
sunken road with 1 Section R.E. and 2 Brigade Machine Guns
attached. At the same time C and A Coys. were to
advance in artillery formation from the Assembly Trenches
and occupy the place of B and D Coys in the captured
trenches.
Strong opposition was
expected from enemy dug-outs in the sunken road. The left of
B Coy was therefore composed of 2 Headquarters Bombing
Sections to deal with these dug-outs and a squad of 10 Rifle
Grenade men, with an ample supply of rifle grenades, who
were to bombard these dug outs in the sunken road prior to
the advance at ZERO plus 20 MINUTES. Lieut. Batty was in
charge of these parties. Each advance was to be preceded by
a creeping barrage and a stationary barrage which was to
left when the creeping barrage reached it. Batt. Hdqrs. were
established in the West Yorks line next to the West Yorks
Hdqrs.
By 1405
hours:-
Attack commenced. Almost at
once the enemy opened a very heavy barrage on the Assembly
Trenches and on the trenches already held by the West Yorks.
B and D Coys however advanced steadily through the
barrage and captured their first objective, taking about 15
prisoners and killing several. The 12th Division
on the left also attained their first objective. During this
advance B Coy lost both its officers Capt. Hellier
killed and 2nd/Lt Gillott wounded. Many Germans
retired down a communication trench and the sunken road, but
few escaped owing to the efficient handling of the Rifle
Grenade Section by Lieut. Batty.
B and D Coys adavanced,
Bombing Sections and Rifle Grenade men cleared dug-outs on
the sunken road.The advance again came under heavy barrage
and a good deal of Machine Gun fire. The Lewis Guns were
pushed forward, and they and the Rifle Grenade men did
excellent work in facilitating the advance. C and A Coys
moved forward in artillery formation and took the place of
B and D , losing only a few men; but 2nd Lt.
Swindell was killed and 2nd Lt. Dunn wounded.
Lt. Newsome in command of
A Coy, seeing that B Coy had lost all their officers and
were becoming disorganized, handed his Coy. over to his Coy.
Sergt. Major, and went forward and took command of B Coy.
B and D Coys. ably led by Lt. Newsome and Capt.
Richardson, then captured the German second line trench and
established communication with the West Yorks on the right.
Lt. Batty had materially assisted the advance by bombing up
a communication trench, capturing a German officer prisoner;
he was wounded on getting to the second line.
No further advance was
possible owing to the fact that the 12th Division
had not advanced on the left, and the West Yorks, who had
been mowed down by Machine Gun fire on the right, had been
unable to advance any further.
We therefore consolidated
the position, and as our left was 400 yards in the air,
formed a defensive flank. These operations were carried out
successfully, and the Battn. was relieved the same night."
On the 19th of October 1916,
the Battalion moved on to the Citadel area and began
re-grouping and reorganising for the remainder of the month
drafting in new men and officers to replenish those lost and
wounded in battle.
Transcribed from the 14th
(Service) Battalion War Dairy for October 1916.
WO95/1617. Available from
National Archives. |
Moving North
Towards the end of October the 14th
left Ville-Sur-Ancre and reached Oisemont by train and continued to
keep moving until they reached Lapugnoy on the 29th October. The
18th Infantry Brigade moved into the Cambrin sector and the 14th
worked with the tunnelling companies. Major JB Rosher took over
command of the battalion from Colonel Menzies who moved to the First
Army School. By the end of November the 14th were in brigade reserve
at Annequin.
Moving into the front line on December 6th 1916 just
south of the La Bassιe canal the battalion relieved the 1st West
Yorkshires. They remained in and out of the line in this area until
the middle of February 1917. At this time Colonel Menzies rejoined
the battalion and by early March the battalion were back in the
reserve trenches in the Loos salient. Colonel Menzies vacated his
command in totality and was succeeded once again by Major JB Rosher,
Two tours in the front line followed before the battalion went into
divisional reserve at Mazingarbe.
Battle of Arras
The battle of Arras opened on the
morning of the 9th April 1917. The 14th were working in the
"Village" Line, going into the trenches on the 5th of April. Coming
out of the line the battalion came under the orders of the 16th
Brigade on the 18th April and two days later went into the line
South East of Loos occupying Netley Trench from the railway on the
right to Novel Alley. The following day orders were issued to
capture Novel Alley and take Nero Trench. The extract from the
battalion war diary for April 1917 describes some of the action.
| 21/4/1917. Loos and
Lens Sector. 5pm The battalion was ordered to attack & capture the remainder
of Novel Alley & Nero Trench and a very strong concrete
point at N.I.C. 45.35. This point had already held up 3
previous attacks.
At 5 pm 1 platoon under 2nd
Lieut. LW Mansell attacked up Novel Alley & 1 platoon under
2nd Lieut. W.Severs up Nero Trench and 1 platoon between
Novel & Nero trench.
The strong point was dealt
with as follows:-
2nd Lieut CR Gold with 18
men crawled round amongst the houses in NO MAN'S LAND at
N.I.C. 20.10 & eventually 2nd Lieut Gold with number 15667
Sergeant W. Simpson, No. 6121 Cpl. S. Cable, No 15469 L/Cpl
T. Pearson & No.18/467 Pte N. Colwell, rushed this post at
zero hour from the rear, just getting there in time to kill
the enemy as he rushed out of his dug-outs with machine
guns. They disposed of 20 and took 22 prisoners from this
strong point and 2 machine guns.
2nd Lieut Gold then under
heavy machine gun fire from NOVEL TRENCH, moved along the
top of the railway embankment and called up reinforcements
form NERO TRENCH.
All the other bombing
attacks had been successful and in all 33 unwounded
prisoners had been taken and several wounded. The objectives
were consolidated with 2 blocks at N.I.C 90.55, N.I.C. 85.40
and the whole of NOVEL ALLEY.
Our casualties were slight
during the attack but we suffered heavily during the
preliminary bombardment & throughout the day. During the
night the enemy launched 2 heavy counter attacks on the line
bombing posts at N.I.C. 90.55 and N.I.C. 85.40 which were
repulsed with great losses to the enemy.
WO95/1617. Available from
National Archives. |
The above action is
only a part of what went on over the next 48 hours. The 14th Durham
Light Infantry came out of the line on the 23rd April and whilst the
enemy had suffered heavy losses they continued to attack and be
repulsed. Heavy bombardments continued with loss of life and heavy
casualties. During the month of April the 14th suffered the
following losses:-
1 Officer killed
:- 2nd Lieutenant LW Mansell
34 Other ranks
killed
10 Officers
wounded
173 Other ranks
wounded
24 other ranks
missing.
Such was the extent of
casualties and losses to the battalion that by the end of April 1917
there were 16 officers and 317 other ranks available, less than half
the strength of a full battalion. To that end the companies were
reorganised with A & C Companies becoming 'X' company and B & D
companies becoming 'W' Company. A draft of 181 other ranks and 1
officer were transferred into the battalion to bring it back up to
fighting strength on 30th April 1917.
Out of such a bloody
and hard battle came many acts of courage and bravery beyond the
call of duty and for which awards were received.
|
Rank |
Name |
Award |
|
Capt. |
John Potts |
D.S.O. |
|
Lieutenant |
J.H. Stearn |
D.S.O. |
|
2nd
Lieutenant |
C.R.Gold |
D.S.O. |
|
Private |
J Collins |
D.C.M. |
|
Sergeant |
W. Simpson |
Bar to M.M. |
|
Sergeant |
F. Burgess |
M.M. |
|
Sergeant |
G. Maw |
M.M. |
|
Corporal |
S. Cable |
M.M. |
|
Lance
Corporal |
J. Grayson |
M.M. |
|
Private |
H. Brook |
M.M. |
|
Private |
J.
Cawthorne |
M.M. |
|
Private |
H. Colwell |
M.M. |
|
Private |
J.W. Hall |
M.M. |
|
Private |
W. Piper |
M.M. |
Into the month of May
1917 and the 14th Battalion found themselves just north of the
action and found themselves under fire again, suggesting the enemy
had readjusted its line. The battalion dug a new trench which joined
up with the 46th division. They lost one officer and 4 other ranks killed and 14 wounded before passing into divisional reserve on the
16th May and before the end of the month coming back into the line
and an aggressive enemy. Withdrawing on June 3rd with another 50
casualties the battalion now had a strength of less than 500 men.
Moving to les Brebis, the battalion were tasked with carrying up
trench mortar ammunition whilst 'D' company were organised as a
raiding party.
Loos Sector. June 1917
June 9th 1917 and the 14th battalion
were back in the line in the Loos sector, leaving behind 'D' company
who had been organised into a raiding party. The raiding party was
planned to enter the German trenches in daylight on the 12th, but
had to be postponed because a patrol - an officer and two men - was
missing. The officer returned two days later minus his two comrades
having laid behind enemy lines for two days.
On a misty morning of June 15th,
parties of Germans were putting wire in front of their parapet. They
were left to get on with it undisturbed. Further down the line at
0630 hours a terrible commotion was heard where the 16th Brigade
were undertaking a "dummy" raid to distract the enemy. Then the
protective barrage came down and the Durham's raiding party
advanced, with 2nd Lt Bruce leading the centre, 2nd Lt Rothfield
leading the left and
2nd/Lt Arthur Moore Lascelles
leading the right.
The narrative of the raid is produced
in excellent detail in the battalion war dairy for June 1917 and
extract from which is transcribed below.
|
At zero plus 1 1/2
minutes the right party advanced.
All objectives were attained
at once with only 2 casualties.
The right party advanced and
captured the junction of NASH ALLEY and front line.
A party of 13 under Serg.
Simpson, under cover of a rifle grenade barrage, rushed
the enemy block at N.1.a.7c.20 from the flank.
The remainder pushed up NASH
ALLEY and formed their block at N.1.a.80.86. Nine
dug-outs in this area were set on fire with "P" bombs
and bombed with Mills!
A feeble counter attack up
NASH ALLEY from the direction of DYNAMITE MAGAZINE was
easily repelled with rifle grenades and lachrymatory
bombs.
Eleven of the enemy were
killed and five taken prisoner by this party.
The left party and the centre
party, which soon joined up together, worked S. and
encountered a certain amount of resistance, killing nine
of the enemy and taking three prisoners who were brought
out of two shallow dug-outs by means of "P" bombs until
they joined up with Right party at NASH ALLEY.
All parties encountered a
certain amount of opposition when they got into the
trench. This was dealt with by rifle grenades and
bayonet.
About 20 of the enemy (
probably the wiring and working party) got over the
parapets and ran away. All these with the exception of
ive were brought down by rifle grenade men and snipers
previously detailed to stay on the parapet for
this purpose.
The trench had been thoroughly
cleared 16 minutes after zero hour and parties retired
in good order - Centre party first, Left party second,
Right party last having no casualties on the way back.
All raiding parties were in by
zero plus 20.
The artillery stopped at zero
plus 30
WO95/1617 Available from
National Archives.
|
Once more the bravery
of individual soldiers came to the fore and were fittingly rewarded
for their gallantry and bravery with awards.
Bravery Awards
|
Rank |
Name |
Award |
|
Capt. |
J.P. Moffitt |
M.C. |
|
2nd Lieutenant |
A. Rothfield |
M.C. |
|
2nd Lieutenant |
A.M. Lascelles |
M.C. |
|
2nd Lieutenant |
W.R. Bruce |
M.C. |
|
Sergeant |
W. Simpson |
D.C.M. |
|
Private |
T. Thompson |
D.C.M. |
|
Sergeant |
T. Jaye |
Bar to M.M. |
|
Sergeant |
J. Milburn |
M.M. |
|
Sergeant |
B.J. Chadburn |
M.M. |
|
Sergeant |
C. Barella |
M.M. |
|
Lance Sergeant |
J.W. Jobson |
M.M. |
|
Corporal |
H. Bolton |
M.M. |
|
Lance Corporal |
W. Moore |
M.M. |
|
Lance Corporal |
A Wilson |
M.M. |
|
Private |
J.K. Brennan |
M.M. |
|
Private |
G. Wales |
M.M. |
August
1917 - November 1917
In late August the 14th were in the Loos sector
having relieved Canadians who the week previously had successfully taken the
Hill 70. The 14th now took over the front line which was a series of shell holes
which were under constant bombardment. They remained here until the 21st
September when they took over a new front line west of the Lens to La Bassee
road. 'C' Company successfully repulsed two attacks on an advance post known as
the Brickstacks. Little respite from gunfire and trench mortars did not stop the
14th from wiring the whole front during this tour. Back in the Trenches by the
1st of October 'B' company repulsed a raiding party, but the next day the
Germans put down an artillery barrage along the whole battalion front and three
parties of Germans advanced entered the trenches, took a prisoner and withdrew
before they could be engaged. After two days in support the 14th withdrew to
reserve on the 7th October. Bad weather interrupted training for further attacks
on Lens.
By 19th October
the Durham's were back in the line and sustained many casualties after a heavy
barrage of mortars, aerial darts, shrapnel and high explosives which preceded an
enemy attack. They were beaten back by Lewis gunners and riflemen and the
promptness of the gunners in responding to the S.O.S signal. Relief came on 20th
October when the 14th saw the last of the Lens Trenches. The tour had been
costly in terms of men, with 25 being killed and 133 being wounded.
The Battle of Cambrai
The months of November and December were to be
memorable for the Fourteenth battalion as they moved forward behind the tanks
which played a significant part in the battle of Cambrai. The advance began at
0620 hours on the 20th of the month and once the breakthrough of the Hindenburg
Line was achieved progress was quick. A total of 72 tanks were
attached to the 6th Division and before 1000 hours some of them could be seen
crawling up to Premy Chapel ridge. It was a wonderful experience for the
infantry to be able to push forward so quickly and at very small cost. By 1200
hours all companies of the 14th had reached their positions and had lost only 7
men wounded.
The Highlanders
came through the next morning but had failed to reach Cantaing by 1130 hours and
it was still held by the Germans. 'B' and 'C' Company of the 14th were sent out
in front with 'A' Company following in the rear. Facing hostile machine gun fire
Cantaing was carried by the 14th Durhams soon after 1300 hours and many Germans
were taken prisoner. For this exploit Lt. Col. J.B. Rosher was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order. Capt. C.R. Gold D.S.O. of 'B' Company lost his life
as he led his men forward and the battalion lost a gallant and valuable officer.
The Gordon Highlanders arrived soon after and the
Durham's pulled back to the Premy-Chapel line. Moving to cellars in the village
of Ribιcourt the 14th were employed every night carrying material for the
sappers. The enemy counter attacked on the 30th November but the line in front
of the Durham's held firm. Throughout the whole of November the battalion
casualties amounted to 25.
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