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1/1st Northumbrian Field Company, Royal Engineers    1st Northumbrian (Newcastle) Field Company, Royal Engineers was a unit of the Territorial Force with its HQ at Barras Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It was later renamed 446th (1st Northumbrian) Field Company. 19th of April 1915 Establishing HQs 22nd of April 1915 Germans Attack 22nd of April 1915 Standing by 23rd of April 1915 Under attack 23rd of April 1915 Northunberlands Transferred 23rd of April 1915 Occupying the Line   23rd April 1915 Orders 23 April 1915 Ordered to Move  Operation Order No24 by Brigadier General J.F. Riddell Commanding Northumberland Brigade Winnezeele 23rd of April 1915 1. The Brigade will move off at once by march route to Brandhoek via Watou and Poperinghe. 2. Troops will move as per margin, the head of the 5th Bn will pass the cross roads at Droglandt at 1.15 pm H.Q. Northumberland Brigade 5th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers 6th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers 7th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers 4th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers 1st Northumberland Field Coy R.E 1st Northumberland Field Ambulance No 2 Coy A.S.C. Train 3. First line transport will be brigaded under the Senior transport Officer and will follow the Field Coy RE in the order of march of their respective units. 4. Baggage and Supply wagons will join the train. 5. Reports to head of 5th Northumberland Fusiliers. Issued at 12.45 pm to representatives of units 24th of April 1915 Positions of Northumberland Division   24th April 1915 On the Move 24th April 1915 On the Move  149 Brigade HQ at Brandhoek report "At 3.45 pm Orders received from 5th Corps for Brigade to move via Ypres to Potjze where it will form a corps reserve. 4.35 pm Orders issued for move to Potjze movement to commence at 6 pm 10.30 pm Brigade arrived at Potjze being heavily shelled whist passing through Ypres. Several casualties. Night rainy and cold." 26th Apr 1915 In Action 26th Apr 1915 In Action  Report on the action at St Julien on Monday 26th April 1915 Reference 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. 3rd of May 1915 Divisional Area Allotted 3rd of May 1915 Orders 3rd May 1915 Wagon Lost 3rd May 1915 Wagon Lost  149 Brigade HQ reports: 5am. Brigade less 4th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers arrived Poperinghe. An uneventful march. A few shells fired at column just at starting, one of which wounded 5 men of the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Night fine & cool. Transport proceeding through Ypres came under heavy fire & suffered some loss the limbered wagon belonging to GHQ with Brigade Majors Confidential dispatch box having had to be abandoned. The box contained B.M's war diary & other confidential papers & censor stamp. 6am. A search party was immediately sent back to Ypres to look for the box and its loss was reported personally to a staff officer 2nd Army. A telegram was also sent to GHQ regarding loss of censor stamp No. 1540. 7am. 4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers arrived and reported 2 casualties coming through Ypres. 11.30am. Search party sent to Ypres to look for confidential box reported that the wagon had been discovered but that it had evidently been looted of everything it contained. 2pm. Orders received from Northumberland Division for the Brigade to march via Watou to this new area west of and exclusive of that village. 4pm. Orders issued for the Brigade to move at 8pm. 11.30pm. Watou. Brigade arrived and went into billets. HQ in farm house in K--- 4th of May 1915 Orders 4th May 1915 Parade 4th May 1915 Parade  149th Bridage HQ report from Watou: 7am. Message form Northumberland Division. The C in C will speak to the Brigade at 11.30am. 11.30am. Battalions assembled just west of Brigade HQ and was addressed by C in C in complimentary terms on work they have done during the period they were attached to the Canadian Division. 7th May 1915 Ready to Move 7th May 1915 Ready to Move  At 8.30am Orders received from the Northumbrian Division that 149th Brigade is to hold itself in readiness to move at two hours notice. At 9am Units informed and instructions issued to the points that the several Battalions are to assemble on receipt of order to move. 8th May 1915 In Bivouac 8th May 1915 In Bivouac  149th Brigade remained in bivouac in Near Watou. 9th May 1915 Orders 9th May 1915 Ordered to Move  At 10.30pm Orders recieved for 149th Brigade to move by omnibus to the neighbourhood of Brandhoek. At 11pm Orders issued to units in accordance with above. 10th May 1915 On the Move 10th May 1915 On the Move  At 7:30am. 149 Brigade H.Q. 5th and 6th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers left billets near Watou in 73 omnibuses. At 9am. 149 Brigade H.Q. 5th and 6th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers arrived at cross roads in G5d and marched to bivouac in wood A30a. Day very hot and dusty. Transport did not all get in until 16:30. Was very bad. 11th May 1915 In Bivouac   12th May 1915 Orders   12th May 1915 Operation Order No. 12   16th of May 1915 Troops assigned to Cavalry Corps 16th of May 1915 Report 1st of June 1915 Preparation for relief 17th of June 1915  18th of June 1915 Appreciation of R.E. 24th September 1915 Programme 25th September 1915 Orders   26th September 1915 Reliefs Complete 26th September 1915 Work 27th September 1915 Shelling 2nd October 1915 Report 9th October 1915 Orders   16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme 16th October 1915 Orders 23rd October 1915 Work Done   30th October 1915 Work Done 1st November 1915 Warnings 4th November 1915 Training Programme 6th November 1915 Work Done 6th November 1915 Allotment 7th November 1915 Orders Issued 7th November 1915 Reliefs 12th November 1915 On the Move 13th November 1915 Training Programme 22nd Nov 1915 Pioneer Training 26th Nov 1915 Training and Route March 1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets 5th December 1915 Orders 6th December 1915 On the Move 7th December 1915 On the Move 11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment 11th December 1915 Orders 13th December 1915 On the Move   13th December 1915 Reliefs   13th December 1915 Orders   13th December 1915 Order   13st December 1915 Orders   13th December 1915 Reliefs   13th December 1915 Orders   15th December 1915 Advance Parties 11th May 1915 In Bivouac  149th Brigade are in Bivouac in A.30A. 10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens 16th January 1916 Visit 16th January 1916 Reorganisation   27th January 1916 Snipers, Sausages and Whizz-bangs   29th of January 1916 Machine Gun Emplacements   29th January 1916 Machine Guns   30th January 1916 Snipers   31st January 1916 Enemy Lines   2nd February 1916 Aeroplane Photographs   4th February 1916 Enemy Guns 4th February 1916 Enemy Artillery   5th February 1916 Shelling 5th February 1916 Shelling   5th February 1916 Snipers 5th February 1916 Uniforms 7th February 1916 Shelling   7th February 1916 Artillery Active   9th February 1916 Artillery Active   9th February 1916 Call Ups 10th February 1916 Artillery in Action   11th February 1916 Warning 11th February 1916 Enemy Active   12th February 1916 Gas Alert   12th February 1916 Quieter   21st February 1916 Snow 22nd February 1916 Gas 22nd of February 1916 Machine Guns   23rd February 1916 Warning 25th February 1916 Dangerous Wind 26th February 1916 Hostile Artillery   28th February 1916 Dummys 28th February 1916 Orders   29th February 1916 Report 1st of March 1916 Bombardment   7th of March 1916 Orders   7th of March 1916 Orders 8th of March 1916 Mining   10th of March 1916 Reliefs Completed   10th of March 1916 Orders   18th of March 1916 Orders   20th of March 1916 Orders   23rd of March 1916 Reliefs   25th of March 1916 Trench Work 31st of March 1916 Orders   1st of April 1916 Orders   30th of April 1916 Stand To 30th of April 1916 At Rest   14th of May 1916 Training & Sport 18th of May 1916 Orders 20th of May 1916 Orders   14th of June 1916 Tinme 1st of August 1916 Gas 2nd of August 1916 Alert 1st of September 1916 Locations 1st Sep 1916 Flies   2nd Sep 1916 Wet Day   7th Sep 1916 Conference   8th Sep 1916 Water Treatment   9th Sep 1916 Arrangements Made   10th Sep 1916 Moves   11th Sep 1916 Return to Duty   13th of September 1916 Instructions   13th of September 1916 Orders   21st Sep 1916 Poor Sanitation   24th of September 1916 Reliefs   24th of September 1916 Orders   25th of September 1916 Attacks   27th of September 1916 Instructions 29th of September 1916 Orders   3rd of October 1916 Reliefs   3rd of October 1916 Congratulations 9th of October 1916 Working Parties 19th of October 1916 Orders   22nd of October 1916 Situation 22nd of October 1916 Orders   22nd of October 1916 Signals 23rd of October 1916 Orders 26th of October 1916 Orders   26th of October 1916 Orders 28th of October 1916 Orders 28th of October 1916 Artillery in Action   30th of October 1916 Enemy Aircraft   30th of October 1916 Orders   31st of October 1916 Orders 31st of October 1916 Orders   1st of November 1916 Thick Mud   1st of November 1916 Enemy Active   2nd of November 1916 Instructions 2nd of November 1916 Orders   2nd of November 1916 Shelling   3rd of November 1916 Orders   3rd of November 1916 Orders   4th of November 1916 Secret   5th of November 1916 Hostile Barrage   1st of February 1917  10th of February 1917  12th of February 1917    10th of March 1917    2nd of September 1917 Intelligence   3rd of September 1917 Intelligence   3rd of September 1917 Intelligence 4th of September 1917 Intelligence   5th of September 1917 Intelligence   6th of September 1917 Intelligence   7th of September 1917 Intelligence   8th of September 1917 Intelligence   9th of September 1917 Intelligence   9th of September 1917 Intelligence   10th of September 1917 Intelligence   11th of September 1917 Intelligence   12th of September 1917 Intelligence   13th of September 1917 Intelligence   14th of September 1917 Intelligence   15th of 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1917 Orders   13th of November 1917 Dispositions   18th of November 1917 Quiet 18th of November 1917  19th of November 1917 Training 29th of November 1917 Training 18th of December 1917 Intelligence   19th of December 1917 Intelligence   19th of December 1917 Intelligence 20th of December 1917 Intelligence   21st of December 1917 Intelligence   22nd of December 1917 Intelligence   23rd of December 1917 Intelligence   24th of December 1917 Intelligence   25th of December 1917 Intelligence   25th of December 1917 Intelligence   26th of December 1917 Intelligence   10th of January 1918  21st of January 1918  24th of January 1918  15th of February 1918 Orders   26th of February 1918 Orders 15th of March 1918  3rd of April 1918 Orders 3rd of April 1918 Orders 13th of April 1918 Report   5th of May 1918  1st of June 1918  24th of June 1918  11th of July 1918  27th of September 1918 Orders   1st of October 1918 Orders   10th of October 1918 Move   12th of October 1918    19th of October 1918    12th of November 1918 Casualties 12th of November 1918    12th of November 1918    14th of December 1918    20th of January 1919    If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about the Royal Engineers? There are:8880 items tagged Royal Engineers available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 1/1st Northumbrian Field Company, Royal Engineers during the Great War 1914-1918. Bottomley Herbert. Spr. Maude MM.. George W.. Dvr. (d.2nd Jan 1918) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of 1/1st Northumbrian Field Company, Royal Engineers from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 221602 Spr. Herbert Bottomley 461 Field Coy Royal Engineers I have a notebook from my Grandfather Sapper Herbert Bottomley detailing his movements from 13th of January 1917 until 30th January 1919. According to his records he originally of 461 Field Coy regrouped to the 446 Field Coy in 1918. Personally I find it difficult to decypher the (neat) 'copper plate' handwriting. Richard Bottomley Add to this record. 219860 Dvr. George W. Maude MM. 446th (1st/1st Northumbrian) Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.2nd Jan 1918) My mother knew that at least one of her great uncles George Maude had died in the Great War but she was never quite sure because none of the family really talked about it. After some digging around I found that he had been killed on 2nd January 1918, but this information then led me to find two other brothers, Ernest and John Blackburn Maude, sadly none of them survived the War. George W died of bomb wounds on the arm and thigh at a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in January 1918 aged just 23 he is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He did win a Military Medal but unfortunately I have no idea how, that has been lost forever in history. Ernest was the younger brother, aged just 18, he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1915 he was wounded by a bullet to the head after just five days in France, he died a year later in the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, he was transported home to Newcastle where he is now buried. I have actually found his war grave and now it is tended to frequently. L/Cpl. John Blackburn was the eldest at 28 years, he was in the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers he was killed in action on Monday 26th February 1917 with a few ofhis comrades. He is buried in Vermelles, but remembered on Blaydon Cemetery Memorial. That is about as much as I have been able to gather. The information has now dried up, their service records being destroyed by incendiary bombs during WW2. I have no photographs to see what they looked like, nothing to suggest what their personalities were like but at least we have found them and they are no longer forgotten which to me is very very precious. Lynn Ternent Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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