- 10th Infantry Brigade during the Great War -
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10th Infantry Brigade
18th Aug 1914 Concentration
19th Aug 1914 Concentration
20th Aug 1914 Huts Erected
26th Aug 1914 Shellfire
27th Aug 1914 Enemy Advance
27th August 1914 On the Move
28th Aug 1914 Enemy Advance
28th Aug 1914 On the March
29th Aug 1914 In Action
29th Aug 1914 On the March
30th Aug 1914 Rear Guard
30th Aug 1914 Under Fire
30th of August 1914 A Hot March
30th Aug 1914 On the March
31st Aug 1914 Rear Guard
31st August 1914 Continued withdrawals
31st Aug 1914 On the March
1st Sep 1914 Rear Guard
1st Sep 1914 Fog
1st Sep 1914 On the March
1st Sep 1914 On the March
2nd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
2nd Sep 1914 On the March
3rd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
3rd of September 1914 Across the Marne
3rd Sep 1914 On the March
4th Sep 1914 Rear Guard
4th Sep 1914 At Rest
5th Sep 1914 Rear Guard
6th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
6th Sep 1914 On the March
7th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
8th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
9th Sep 1914 Bridging
10th of September 1914 Marching
15th Sep 1914 Shelling
16th Sep 1914 Reorganisation
17th Sep 1914 Shelling
18th Sep 1914 Reorganisation
30th Oct 1914 Under Shellfire
5th December 1914 Quiet
9th December 1914 Uniforms
13th of March 1915 Booby Trap
14th of March 1915 Artillery Quiet
16th of March 1915 No Hostile Patrols
20th of March 1915
12th Apr 1915 Into the Trenches
23rd Apr 1915 Instruction
25th of April 1915 Considerable losses
25th Apr 1915 In Support
25th of April 1915 Reliefs
26th of April 1915 Report on St. Julien
26th Apr 1915 In Action
26th Apr 1915 In Action Report on the action at St Julien on Monday 26th April 1915Reference Belgium sheet 28 1/40,000
1. On the morning of the 26th April 1915 the Northumberland Brigade (4th, 5th, 6th & 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers) were concentrated at Wieltje and placed under the orders of the 1st Canadian Division as Reserve. At 10.15 am General Riddell commanding the Northumberland Brigade received orders from the G.O.C 10th Sub Brigade to verify a report received from the 28th Division that the enemy were breaking through the first line trucks in D 13 c & d and to counter attack with whatever force he considered necessary. The 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers was directed at 10.45 AM to send forward an officers patrol to verify the report & to proceed with his Battalion to Fortuin with a view to counter attacking if the enemy were discovered breaking through. By 12 noon the officer commanding this Battalion was satisfied that no attempt was being made by the enemy to break through at the place indicated and so his battalion has being heavily shelled to proceed to dig in and remained in the position he had reached and consequently took no part in the subsequent operations.
2 At 1.30 pm operation orders from the 1st Canadian division were received. It will be seen from these orders that the Brigade was to attack St Julien in cooperation with the Lahore Division and one battalion of the 10th Infantry Brigade and that the assault was to take place at 2.5 pm.
The distance from Wieltje to St Julien is approximately 1 3/4 miles and the ground had not previously been reconnoitered by the staff or any of the officers of the Brigade. No information was received or could be obtained as to the actual position of either our own or the enemys trenches nor was it known that the G.H.Q line was strongly wired and that there were only certain places through which the troops would be able to pass.
No communication was ever made with the artillery and no artillery officer got in any way into touch with the Brigade. The time was short, the order to attack being received at 1.30 pm. Nevertheless considering that any failure to attack on the part of the Brigade might seriously hamper the operations General Riddell decided to carry out the orders he had received impossible as they seemed.
By 1.50 pm the Battalions were on the move the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers attacking with the right Wieltje - St Julien road and the 4th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers with their left on the road. The 7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers was ordered to follow the 4th bn in the second line.
At 2.5 pm the leading battalions reached the G.H.Q in C22b and C23c and came under very heavy shell and rifle fire. The Battalions deployed on both sides of the Wieltje - St Julien and lost very heavily by not having reconnoitered the openings to the wire entanglements in front of the line of trenches.
However they found places and the advance towards St Julien continued steadily both battalions in the front line suffering heavily from machine gun fire apparently coming from the wood in C17 A on their left flank.
By 2.45 pm both of the leading Battalions had reached the front line of our trenches in C17b and the 7th Battalion had been absorbed in the attack.
At 3.10pm isolated parties of the 6th Northumberlands on the left of the road pushed forward about 250 yards in front of our first line trench and occupied some small trenches from which the enemy had apparently retreated. The 4th and 7th Northumberlands were unable to make any advance. During the whole of this period no signs of the Lahore Division or the battalion of the 10th Brigade had been observed and it was subsequently ascertained that the movement of this battalion had been cancelled although no verification has been sent to the Northumberland Brigade. The culminating point in the advance of the 6th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers was reached at about 3.45pm when unsupported on their left flank and heavily shelled with high explosive shells they were compelled to dig themselves in and remained in possession of the ground they had gained until dusk when they returned to the first line trenches.
At 3.30pm Bigadier general Riddell accompanied by his Brigade Officer left his HQ in C23a and proceeded towards Farm Vanchule in C17d for the purpose of getting into closer touch with his battalion Commanders and was shot through the head 150yards to the south of the farm at 3.45pm. The command devolved to Colonel Foster 4th Northumberland Fusiliers, the senior officer present with the battalions and a message was sent to Col Coles CMS DSO commanding t he 5th Northumberlands informing him of General Riddell's death and that the command of the Brigade had devolved to him.
The position of Colonel Cole's HQ was not actually known and it was not until about 7pm that he arrived at Brigade HQ. Orders had however been issued by Colonel Foster for the battalion to remain where they were until dusk and at 7.30pm Col Coles having ascertained that the services of the Brigade in the first line trench were not required, ordered the troops to return to bivouac at Wieltje.
149th Brigade war diary
28th April 1915 Recce
28th April 1915 Recce 149 Brigade Hq reports from Wieltje:"11.30am. Orders received from 1st Canadian Division for the Brigade to take over the GHQ line in C29 and C23.
11.45am. Cap't North 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers ordered to reconnoitre the extent of the line allotted to the Brigade and to report as to the numbers required to hold it.
1.30pm. Cap't North reported that the line was about 700 yards long and would require 3 companies to hold it. It extended from about the second 'E' in Wieltje C29(a) to the 'E' in Route C23c. The 4th Cavalry Bde. occupied the line south of the 'E' in WieltjE, but there appeared to be no troops occupying the trenches to the north of the 'E' in Route C23c.
2.15pm Colonel Feildy went to the HQ 10th Infantry Bde. and was informed that troops would occupy the trenches during the night of 28th/29th.
? pm. Orders issued to 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers to occupy the section of the GHQ line allotted to the Brigade & for the other Bde's to remain in their present positions.
7.5pm. Aeroplane Taube passed over the lines occupied by the Brigade & was brought down by rifle fire just outside the GHQ line. Pilot and observer both wounded and captured by the 2nd Cav. Brigade.
7.30pm. Orders Received form Canadian Div. that the portion of the Brigade not required in the GHQ line may be placed in the dug-outs previously occupied by the Brigade. Day and night both fine."
149th Brigade war diary
28th of April 1915 Report
2nd May 1915 Shelling
2nd of May 1915 A Suspected Spy
2nd May 1915 Gas
5th of May 1915 HQ Report
6th of May 1915 Another Attack Fails
14th May 1915 Orders
14th May 1915 Instruction
14th May 1915 Divisional Reserve At 11:30am Orders received from 50th Division placing 149th Brigade under the orders of the 4th Division. Brigade Major to report at 4th Division H.Q. for orders.At 1.30pm In accordance with verbal instruction from 4th Division Battalions of the Brigade were attached as under G.Brigades of the 4th Division. 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers to the 11th Brigade. 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers to the 12th Brigade. 5th Border Reg. to the 10th Brigade. The 6th and 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers had proceeded during the preceding night to join their respective Brigades and orders for the move of the 5th Border Reg. would be issued later in the day also instructions as to the disposal of the remaining two Battalions (4th and 5th Northumberland Fusiliers ) of the Brigade.
At 5.40pm Orders received for movement of 5th Border Regiment One company to report at 1900 with machine gun section to R. Warwick Regiment in chateau grounds H2b. One Company to Argyll and Sutherland in Vlamertinghe. One company to Seaforth in B27A. Orders for more of remaining Companies would be sent next day.
At 5.50pm Orders issued personally to O.C. 5th Border Reg. as to above moves. Orders issued to 4th and 5th Northumberland Fusiliers to supply the following working parties to report at 8pm at level crossing in H11 centre where they would be met by guides. 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Party B 200 men with 180 shovels and 20 picks. 5th Battalion N.F. (Party A 150 men with 140 shovels and 10 picks. (Party C 50 men with 45 shovels.) Also at 5.50pm Orders received from 4th Division confirming verbal orders given to Brigade Major at 1.30pm and placing the 4th and 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in Divisional reserve under Brigadier General Feilding D.S.O.
At 7pm Orders were issued in accordance with above.
149th Brigade war diary
15th May 1915 Orders
24th May 1915 7th Northumberlands in Action
24th of May 1915 Attempts to force enemy out
24th May 1915 On the Move
24th May 1915 On the Move At 3:50am Orders received from 4th Division for the Brigade to be prepared to move at once if ordered. Enemy using gas.03:55 4th 6th and 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, the other two Battalions of the Brigade being detached, were ordered to get ready to march at once.
04:10 Orders received from 4th Division to direct the three Battalions of the Brigade to march at once via Reigersburg Sq. H6B to Canal bank at No 2 Bridge. Commanding officers to ride on and report to G.O.C. 10th Brigade for orders.
04:15 Orders issued in accordance with above.
05:00 7th Battalion moved off via dug outs in B27d to Reigersburg and joined 4th Battalion there. 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers followed 7th Battalion and arrived 06:35.
06:35 4th Battalion received orders to move to canal bank.
06:45 message sent to 10th Brigade to say that both 6th and 7th Battalions had arrived at Reigersburg. Both Battalions remained in dug outs along the railway line H6B.
10:30 O.C. 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers received orders from 10th Brigade to proceed to Canal Bank.
13:30 O.C. 6th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers received orders from 10th Brigade to proceed to Canal Bank.
H.Q. remained at Reigersburg Chateau until 21:30 when they returned to Hopital Farm.
149th Brigade war diary
25th May 1915 In Support
25th May 1915 In Support
26th May 1915 In the Trenches
27th May 1915 Orders
28th May 1915 Instruction
29th May 1915 Instruction
30th May 1915 Instruction
2nd of June 1915
July 1915 Appointments
27th Oct 1915 Instruction
1st of November 1915 Marching Orders
4th of November 1915 More Moves
26th Apr 1916 Trench Work
1st of June 1915 Appreciation
1st Jul 1916 Attack Made
1st July 1916 Bombardment
19th August 1917 Operational Order 125
4th February 1918 Operational Order 2/18.
5th February 1918 Billets in Granary & Museum Arras
14th Apr 1918 Change of Command
29th Sep 1918 Church Parade
30th Sep 1918 Training
30th Oct 1918 In Action
31st Oct 1918 In Action
7th Nov 1918 Training & ConcertIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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