Divisional History The 12th (Eastern) Division in 1914-1918
The history of 12th (Eastern) Division
The Division came into existence as a result of Army Order No. 324, issued on 21 August 1914, which authorised the formation of the six new Divisions of K1. It was formed of volunteers, under the administration of Eastern Command. It was assembled from late August 1914: 35th Brigade and artillery in the area of Shorncliffe, 36th Brigade at Colchester, 37th Brigade at Purfleet, Engineers and RAMC at Hounslow, ASC initially at Aldershot and then at Lord's cricket ground.
Divisional training was completed near Aldershot from 20 February 1915, where the cavalry, motor machine gun battery, sanitary and veterinary sections joined. The Division moved to France on 29 May - 1 June 1915 and after two days rest near Boulogne, moved to concentrate near St Omer and by 6 June had moved to the Meteren-Steenwerck area. Next day Divisional HQ established at Nieppe. Units of the Division were placed under temporary orders of 48th (South Midland) Division for the purposes of instruction. The third of the New Army formations to go to France (after 9th (Scottish) and 14th (Light) Divisions) the 12th Division served with distinction on the Western Front throughout the rest of the war.
1915
On 23 June 1915 the Division took over a sector of the front line for the first time, at Ploegsteert Wood, relieving 46th (North MIdland) Division. 6th Queen's, 6th Buffs and 11th Middlesex were the units that first entered the trenches. By 15 July the Divisional front had extended south to reach east of Armentieres; the 12th was now holding 7000 yards. In just holding this relatively quiet sector, in July alone the Division suffered the loss of 7 officers and 64 men killed, 18 officers and 413 men wounded.
The Battle of Loos
On 26 September, after this battle had started, the Division was relieved by the 1st Canadian and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions and moved towards the Loos front. It arrived on 29 September and relieved outgoing units in the Gun Trench - Hulluch Quarries sector on the night of 30 September - 1 October. The Division commenced consolidating the position, under heavy artillery fire. The Officer Commanding, Major-General Frederick Wing CB, was killed in action on 2 October 1915. His ADC, Lieutenant Christopher Tower DSO, was killed by the same shell. On 8 October, the Division repelled a heavy German infantry attack. Five days later the Division took part in a large scale action to renew the offensive, now called the "Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt". The Division succeeded in capturing Gun Trench and the south western face of the Hulluch Quarries. During this period at Loos, 117 officers and 3237 men were killed or wounded. By the end of 21 October the Division had been relieved and moved to Fouquieres-les-Bethune. It took over the Hohenzollern Redoubt front after a very short rest of five days and spent a cold, wet and miserable month here before being relieved on 15 November by 15th (Scottish) Division, whereupon it moved into reserve at Lillers.
On 9 December, 9th Royal Fusiliers was given the unusual task of assisting in a round-up of spies and other uncertain characters in the streets of Bethune. Next day the Division moved up and relieved 33rd Division in the front line north of the La Bassee canal at Givenchy.
1916
Between 12 December 1915 and 18 January 1916 in a quiet period of trench-holding, the Division nonetheless suffered the loss of 102 officers and 670 men killed, wounded or missing. Relieved on 19 January and moved to Busnes, the Division had a spell of training in open warfare. Units moved back into the Loos trenches at the Quarries on 12-13 February 1916 and by 15 February held the line from there to the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
The area of the Hohenzollern Redoubt had in the meantime become one where underground mine warfare was very active. A plan was evolved that required 4 mines to be blown under the enemy positions, which would be followed by an infantry assault aimed at capturing the enemy front trench called "The Chord". 36th Brigade made the attack after 170 Tunnelling Company RE detonated the mines at 1745 on 2 March 1916, successfully capturing the craters and gaining important observation over enemy lines as far as Fosse 8. Severe fighting in the crater area continued for some weeks, with the Division suffering more than 4000 casualties until being finally relieved on 26 April. A period of rest and training began, until finally - beginning with the RE Field Companies - the Division moved to the Somme.
The Battles of the Somme 1916
The Battle of Albert
By 18 June 1916 the Division was based at Flesselles. It immediately carried out a training exercise to practice a planned attack to capture Martinpuich. This action never materialised. The Division moved up to Baizieux on 30 June and reached Hencourt and Millencourt by 10am on 1 July, in reserve to the British infantry attack that had begun earlier that morning. It moved to relieve 8th Division, which had suffered a severe repulse at Ovillers-la-Boisselle, during the night of 1-2 July.
Ordered to continue the attack on Ovillers, 35th and 37th Brigades went in at 0315 on 2 July (just before this, Divisional HQ received information that a British attack on their left, by X Corps against Thiepval, was cancelled). Unlike the troops of 8th Division who had to cross a wide no man's land in the bright morning sun, the 12th Division attack, at night, adopted sensible tactics of advancing across no man's land while the artillery bombarded the enemy and rushed the last few yards when it lifted. The first wave of the attack met with mixed success: for example the 9th Essex came under heavy shellfire before it had reached even the British front line; it was difficult to keep direction in the deep shellholes; yet the 5th Berkshire and 7th Suffolk crossed, finding the enemy wire was well cut, and took at least two lines of German trenches before becoming bogged in intense bombing fights in the trenches. 6th Queen's were held up by wire and machine gun fire from Mash Valley. Heavy fire from the Leipzig salient - where X Corps would have been attacking - halted supporting units in no man's land, and the attack failed to achieve its objective.
On 7 July 36th Brigade, with 74th Brigade attached to the Division for the purpose, attacked again and in spite of heavy casualties from German artillery and machine guns in Mash Valley, succeeded in holding the first and second lines that they captured on the spur on which Ovillers stands. By the time the Division was withdrawn to the area on Contay on 9 July, 189 officers and 4576 men had become casualties.
The Battle of Pozieres
After short spells at Bus-les-Artois and in the front line at Beaumont Hamel, the Division moved back to the Ovillers area for an operation north and northwest of Pozieres designed to destroy the enemy garrison holding Thiepval. On 3 August, an attack aimed at capturing 4th Avenue Trench was successful and pushed on to Ration Trench next day. German counter attacks including flamethrowers were beaten off over the next few days. An attack on 8 August to finally capture the stubborn enemy Point 77 failed with heavy casualties to 7th Sussex. Severe local fighting continued for five more days, when the Division was relieved and moved to the area of Doullens. Casualties since 28 July amounted to 126 officers and 2739 men.
The Battle of Le Transloy
Marched for five days after leaving Somme and relieved 11th (Northern) Division on the Arras front on 22 August. A comparatively quiet time, punctuated by trench raids. Relieved on 26-7 September and moved back to Somme, taking over forward positions in appalling conditions at Geudecourt, Grid and Grid Support on 1-2 October. Fourth Army mounted an attack on 7 October: the objective for the Division was Bayonet Trench and 500 yards beyond. A small gain was made in spite of heavy enemy fire. So few men made it to Bayonet Trench that it could not be held. Troops came under machine gun fire from German aircraft on 9 October. More efforts were made on 12 and 19 October, that got no further. The Division - except its artillery - was relieved on 19 October and returned to Arras. Another 135 officers and 3176 men had become casualties. In all, almost 11000 casualties had been sustained in a total of just 43 days fighting on the Somme.
Again, Arras proved to be a relatively quiet sector although there were frequent trench raids and shellfire. On 17 December 1916, the Division moved out of the front line for rest - its first since June - in the Grande Rullecourt and Ambrines areas.
1917
The Arras Offensive
The First Battle of the Scarpe
As early as January 1917, the Division received notice that it would take part in an offensive at Arras. It moved to the front in that sector on 14 January. It did not leave other than for periods of rest until towards the end of 1917. The position held at Arras was not affected by the German withdrawal from the Somme to the Hindenburg Line in March
The task of the Division, now part of VI Corps, in the Arras attack was to capture the enemy's "Black Line" (forward position) then go on to the "Brown Line" (the Wancourt-Feuchy trench including the strong point at Feuchy Chapel). The artillery bombardment opened on 4 April 1917, and the infantry - many of whom had been able to approach the front line in the long tunnels and subways reaching out from Arras itself, advanced behind a creeping barrage on 9 April. Resistance was rapidly overcome; fine counter-battery work had stifled the German guns. The leading troops quickly captured the Black Line, but German fire increased as successive waves came through to advance on the Feuchy Switch trench, notably from Observation Ridge. In places, the German soldiers were seen retreating at a run and by noon, 37th Division had pushed through with orders to capture Monchy le Preux. The 12th Division remained in position, as snow and sleet fell.
On the night 11-12 April, 36th and 37th Brigades moved up and relieved units of of 8th Cavalry Brigade east of Monchy. Next day, 29th Division relieved 12th Division, whereupon the units moved back to the area between Arras and Doullens. The attack had been highly successful, making an advance on the Divisional front of some 4000 yards for a total of 2018 casualties.
The Battle of Arleux
After a ten day rest the Division re-entered the Arras battlefield, 37th Brigade going into the forward positions between the north east of Monchy and the River Scarpe. On 28 April, formations north of 12th Division undertook an operation to capture Roeux. 35th Brigade took part and attacked Rifle and Bayonet Trench but owing to heavy enemy shellfire and machine guns firing from Roeux - which was not captured - fell back to its start point.
The Third Battle of the Scarpe
This action included the Division's role in the capture of Roeux. A larger effort - including the British Fifth, Third and First Armies - took place on 3 May 1917, with an artillery bombardment that began two days earlier. 12th Division's role was to make an advance of some 2500 yards, including the capture of Pelves on the left flank. A preliminary attack on the left by 36th Brigade in the early hours of 2 May, including a gas barrage fired by Livens projectors, was not entirely successful but apparently caused considerable casualties to the enemy. The main attack was of mixed fortune, although 7th Royal Sussex reached the objective and then beat off determined counter attacks. Once again, German shellfire was the primary cause of problems and and heavy machine gun fire from Roeux caused many casualties. Shellfire was heavy over the next few days and the uncertain position of the advanced troops in Devil's Trench meant that British artillery was cautious in replying on German trenches. The Division was relieved on 16 May and moved to the area of Le Cauroy, having suffered a total of 141 officers and 3380 other ranks casualties since 25 April 1917.
Between 17 May and 19 October 1917, the Division held positions east of Monchy le Preux, mounting several raids and small scale attacks and beating off some made against them, notably in the area of Hook Trench - Pick Avenue - Tites Copse. Much manual work took place, for the position held in May was of shell holes and disconnected parts of trenches, with few dugouts and no communications. When out of the line, units took part in training at Beaurains, where a scale model of the area occupied had been built for the purposes of instruction. A very successful major raid was carried out on 14 October. Five days later the Division was relieved by 4th Division, and returned to La Cauroy. (It should be noted that in holding the Arras front for as long as it did, 12th Division did not take part in the Third Battle of Ypres).
The Cambrai operations
Divisional HQ moved to Hesdin on 30 October, preparatory to a move to the Cambrai front. Commander in Chief Sir Douglas Haig watched a rehearsal attack carried out by 6th Buffs and 7th East Surrey on 13 November. Next day, a gradual move to the Heudecourt - Vaucelette Farm area began, where the Division went into III Corps for the offensive. It was the right-most formation of the attacking force.
The special role of 12th Division in the attack of 20 November 1917 was to capture its first objective and then form a defensive flank to the south east, keeping in touch with 55th (West Lancashire) Division which was not attacking. Advancing from Gonnelieu, the Division moved forward through Sonnet and Pam Pam Farms, Bonavis and Lateau Wood, and dug in a defensive flank to allow the cavalry to pass unrestricted, as ordered. On the extreme right of the attack, the 7th Royal Sussex got into Banteux, which had been subjected to gas attack from Livens projectors. The next three days were spent in consolidating as the centre of the battle moved to the north. On 24 November a local operation to move the line to Quarry Post - Bleak Quarry - to gain command of a better line of observation - was carried out by 35th and 36th Brigades, which met with mixed success.
By 29 November it had become apparent that the enemy was assembling a force in the area of Villers Guislain, south of 12th Division in area of 55th. Warning orders were issued: just in time, for on 30 November at 0645, heavy shellfire began to fall and by 0745 Divisional HQ was already out of touch with its forward units. The failure of the 24 November attack now became apparent as the enemy had invisibly assembled a considerable attacking force in the canal valley. A hard and confused fight followed as the German infantry advanced, the Division falling back across the recently won ground. By the end of the day the line had held at La Vacquerie. Further German efforts on 1 December were largely held off, although by now losses to some units had been as high as 50% of the strength they had before the counter attack. Relieved on 3-4 December, the Division - excluding its artillery which stayed a while longer - moved to Albert and from there moved by train to Aire, with billets at nearby Thiennes and Berguette.
1918
On 5 January 1918 Divisional HQ moved to Merville and on 13 January moved again to Croix du Bac where it came under orders of XV Corps, while the brigades relieved 38th (Welsh) Division in the Fleurbaix front line. Various trench raids took place here, as did the reduction of brigades from 4 battalions to 3. On 22 March orders were received warning the Division of an imminent move. Two days later the Division, less its artillery, concentrated in the Busnes area and moved that night by motor lorry to Albert.
The First Battles of the Somme 1918
The Battle of Bapaume
On the morning of 24 March the Division arrived in the area of Senlis, Warloy and Bouzincourt. A tiring and confusing day was to follow. That afternoon, 36 and 37 Brigades moved forward to the line Montauban-Bazentin le Grand, on the old 1916 Somme battlefield. But events were moving fast as the enemy's offensive pressed forward. 35 Brigade after much marching took up a position covering Albert. 37 Brigade, in the area of Ovillers, covered the withdrawal of 47th (London) Division and then itself withdrew to Aveluy and by 0430 on 26 March 36 Brigade had also taken up a position west of the Ancre. There were no prepared trenches or wire defences and natural lines, such as the railway embankment north of Albert, were taken up to await the expected German attack. There was no touch with other Divisions to the right but contact was made with 2nd Division on the left.
26 March 1918
The First Battle of Arras 1918
Soon after midday on 26 March, Germans were seen advancing down the slopes into the Ancre valley. They were also seen in large numbers to the south of Albert moving on Meaulte and Dernancourt and by 7pm Albert itself was full of them. The 7/Suffolks had to withdraw through the ruined town to west of the railway line. On the northern side too, it seemed that the Division was in great danger of being outflanked, for enemy had got to Grandcourt and Beaumont Hamel. All units came under increasing pressure as the enemy pressed on. Many enemy attacks were repelled with heavy casualties, although the Division suffered 1634 casualties in halting their advance.
The Division was finally relieved by 47th (London) Division on 29 March and moved to Warloy. After a short rest, the Division came back to the front line on 2 April. Further enemy efforts on 5 and 6 April were beaten off, yet by the time relief came from 38th (Welsh) Division and the 12th Division had withdrawn to Toutencourt, another 1285 men were lost.
April to July were spent in the area of Auchonvillers and Mailly-Maillet, where new drafts arrived to replace the losses.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was to say in his "British Campaign in France and Flanders, January to July 1918" of the Division's role in March and April that they "withdrew from the line in glory, for it is no exaggeration to say that they had fought the Germans to an absolute standstill". He was right. The enemy offensive in Picardy had finally been defeated.
On 1 July 1918, two years to the day that the British offensive had opened on the Somme, the Division carried out an attack at Bouzincourt. After initial success, counter attack drove the attacking units back at a cost of 680 casualties. The Division was relieved on 10 July and came under orders of XXII Corps. It was moved to the area south of Amiens.
The Battle of Amiens
The Divisional artillery supported the successful attack of the French 66th Division near Moreuil on 23 July 1918. It remained in action near Gentelles in covering the 2nd Australian Division, and between 8 and 25 August played a part in the highly successful attack by Fourth Army, the Battle of Amiens. Meanwhile the infantry of the Division continued to rebuild and train. On 30 July, the Division moved to III Corps and the area of Vignacourt, Canaples and Pernois.
The Battle of Albert, a phase of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918
Under the command of III Corps and on the left flank of this Corps front along the River Ancre, the Division generally played only a holding role on 8 August 1918 when Fourth Army made its great attack. However, German withdrawal from the Ancre and from Dernancourt being observed before the attack took place, 35 Brigade - on the Division's right - became involved. The 7/Norfolk and 9/Essex advanced to their objectives, consolidating a new line from the west of Morlancourt to the Ancre, but the Cambridgeshires on the right were held up by heavy fire from the Sailly Laurette road. The battalion renewed its attack later in the day, assisted by a tank, and achieved its objectives, capturing 316 enemy, 14 machine guns and 10 mortars. 37 Brigade took up this attack later on 9 August and succeeded in further captures. By the evening of 10 August the old Amiens defence line had been recaptured: in all the Division had by now advanced almost two miles.
After a brief rest, the Division attacked again on 22 August, pushing right across the wilderness of the old Somme battlefield, capturing Meaulte, Mametz, Carnoy, Hardecourt and Faviere Wood, which was reached after a week's continuous fighting. The Division had made an advance of another 15000 yards. It was relieved on 30 August by 47th (London) Division and moved back to the Carnoy-Briqueterie area.
On 4-5 September 1918 the Division relieved 18th (Eastern) Division east of the Canal du Nord and just south of Manancourt, for an attack on Nurlu. Formidable wire defences and German counter attacks were overcome, Nurlu was taken. The German army retreated in haste for several miles, pursued by the Division which reached the line Sorel Wood - Lieramont cemetery. The advance was continued early on 8 September, capturing Guyencourt although in spite of heavy casualties. The movement halted 1000 yards west of Epehy and Pezieres, where the Division was relieved. It was now some 17 miles ahead of where the offensive had opened on 8 August. More than 1000 prisoners had been taken, as well as 17 artillery pieces and dozens of smaller weapons.
The battles of the Hindenburg Line
The Battle of Epehy
After a rest in the area of Manancourt, the Division was ordered to renew the attack on Epehy. This took place on 18 September. Enemy strongholds at Malassise Farm and Fishers Keep held on stubbornly and caused heavy casualties but gradually resistance was overcome. Over the next few days further attacks were made against heavily defended posts and trenches; fighting was intense and progress slow.
The Battle of the St Quentin canal
On 27 September 1918, the British Third and Fourth Armies made a heavy attack on the Hindenburg Line. The role of 12th Division, still involved in pushing through and past the Epehy defences, was to secure the vantage points up to the St Quentin Canal and to protect the left flank of the 27th Division of the United States Army which was attacking under orders of Fourth Army. Localised actions took place at first before the main attack on 29 September, in which the Division fought up through the formidable mass of enemy trenches in front of Ossus Wood before reaching the western outskirts of Vendhuile. This successful action gave the US Division, 46th (North) Midland and Australian Divisions to the right the chance to break through the Hindenburg Line on this most important day in the the final offensive. The Division was now 26 miles from where the offensive had begun on 8 August and for that ground had lost 6229 officers and men. The Division was withdrawn for rest in the areas of Savy, Acq and Aubigny and left III Corps at this point.
The Final Advance in Artois
On the night 6-7 October 1918, the Division relieved 20th (Light) Division in Third Army, taking over the front sector between Oppy and Eleu dit Leauvette. It became apparent that the enemy was in the process of withdrawing from this area, leaving only stubborn outposts. Patrols pushed out and a general advance began through Drocourt, Mericourt and Billy-Montigny (east of Lens), in which the strong Drocourt-Queant Line was occupied by the Division. The advance had now assumed the characteristics of open warfare: the trenches were of the past and this battle became one of pursuit, communications and logistics. The advance pushed on through Courcelles, Henin-Lietard, past the Canal de la Haute Deule. By 23 October, the Division was crossing the River Scarpe at St Amand and four days later were at the Scheldt Canal. The Division was withdrawn for rest on 30 October and as events turned out, had finished its war.
Once the enemy had signed the Armistice, the Division - not selected to advance into Germany - moved to the area east of Douai. Main activities were battlefield salvage and sports, as demobilisation began. On 22 March 1919, the Division ceased to exist.
The order of battle of the 12th (Eastern) Division
35th Brigade
- 7th Bn, the Norfolk Regt
- 7th Bn, the Suffolk Regt left May 1918
- 9th Bn, the Essex Regt
- 5th Bn, the Royal Berkshire Regt left February 1918
- 35th Machine Gun Company formed 1 February 1916, left to move into 12th MG Battalion 1 March 1918
- 35th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 25 June 1916
- 1/1st Bn, the Cambridgeshire Regt joined May 1918
36th Brigade
- 8th Bn, the Royal Fusiliers disbanded February 1918
- 9th Bn, the Royal Fusiliers
- 7th Bn, the Royal Sussex Regt
- 11th Bn, the Middlesex Regt disbanded February 1918
- 36th Machine Gun Company formed 1 February 1916, left to move into 12th MG Battalion 1 March 1918
- 36th Trench Mortar Battery formed 15 June 1916
- 5th Bn, the Royal Berkshire Regt joined February 1918
37th Brigade
- 6th Bn, the Queen's
- 6th Bn, the Buffs
- 7th Bn, the East Surrey Regt disbanded February 1918
- 6th Bn, the Royal West Kent Regt
- 37th Machine Gun Company formed 4 February 1916, left to move into 12th MG Battalion 1 March 1918
- 37th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 15 June 1916
Divisional Troops
- 5th Bn, the Northamptonshire Regt
- 9 Motor Machine Gun Battery joined early 1915, left 20 June 1915
- 235th Machine Gun Company joined 16 July 1917, left to move into 12th MG Battalion 1 March 1918
- 12th Battalion Machine Gun Corps formed 1 March 1918
Divisional Mounted Troops
- A Sqn, the King Edward's Horse ljoined April 1915, left June 1916
- 12th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps left 15 June 1916
Divisional Artillery
- LXII Brigade, RFA
- LXIII Brigade, RFA
- LXIV Brigade, RFA left 6 January 1917
- LXV (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up 30 August 1916
- 12th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA
- 12th Heavy Battery, RGA left 8 June 1915
- V.12 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA joined 31 July 1916, disbanded 12 February 1918
- X.12, Y.12 and Z.12 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA formed 1 July 1916; on 16 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each
Royal Engineers
- 69th Field Company
- 70th Field Company
- 87th Field Company joined January 1915
- 12th Divisional Signals Company
Royal Army Medical Corps
36th Field Ambulance
37th Field Ambulance
38th Field Ambulance
23rd Sanitary Section left 1 April 1917
Other Divisional Troops
- 12th Divisional Train ASC 116, 117, 118 and 119 Companies
- 23rd Mobile Veterinary Section AVC
- 214th Divisional Employment Company joined 16 June 1917
- 12th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop joined 7 June 1915, absorbed into Divisional Train 16 April 1916
12th of June 1915 
27th Jun 1915 Rockets
30th Jun 1915 Snipers
Jul 1915 Training Instruction
Jul 1915 Billets
12th Jul 1915 Ready
12th of July 1915
14th of July 1915
16th of July 1915
16th of July 1915
17th of July
17th of July
18th of July 1915
18th of July 1915
23rd of July 1915
23rd of July 1915
26th of July 1915
8th Aug 1915 Training
9th of Aug 1915
9th of Aug 1915
10th of Aug 1915
18th of Aug 1915
30th Aug 1915 Inspection
23rd September 1915 Ammunition Allocation
23rd September 1915 Order
23rd September 1915 Rounds
24th Sep 1915 Exchange of Bombs
25th Sep 1915 Smoke
25th September 1915 Orders
25th September 1915 Orders
26th of September 1915 Orders
27th September 1915 Shelling
27th September 1915 Orders
27th September 1915 Orders
27th September 1915 Orders
27th September 1915 Orders
28th Sep 1915 Lull in Fighting
28th of September 1915
28th of September 1915 Orders
28th September 1915 Orders
28th September 1915 Orders
13th Oct 1915 Artillery In Action
23rd Oct 1915 Inspection
22nd Nov 1915 Fog
23rd Nov 1915 Reliefs Complete
6th December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
Too windy to register, retaliated. The Argylle and Sutherland Highlanders relieved the 1st Middlesex. We have Infantry of 33rd Division in front of us and are attached to the 12th Divisional Artillery.
war diaries
6th Dec 1915 Bombardment
7th December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
7th Dec - Registered right and left points of our zone which consists of two German salients. Colonel Short came to Observation Point to inspect it and considered it unsuitable and not safe. The OP is a very good one consisting of a tree but hardly suitable for sitting in all day in the winter.
8th to 9th Dec - nothing to report, everything very quiet.
10th to 12th Dec - registered new points.
war diaries
7th Dec 1915 Artillery Active
12th Dec 1915 Flooding
13th December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
13th Dec - More points registered and a new base line put out.
14th to 17th Dec - everything very quiet.
war diaries
18th December 1915 Enemy Aircraft dangers E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
Intended to do a lot of shooting but was unable to do so owing to the number of German aeroplanes that were over during the morning and could only fire 4 rounds.
war diaries
19th December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
A fine day and did a good deal of shooting. The Centre Section (Innerlees ??)was shelled in the morning by 5.9 inch Howitzers. One gun pit was hit and fell in onto the wheel of the gun but the gun was not damaged. One telephone pit had a direct hit, 2 men were inside but were not touched though a good deal of kit was damaged. There were no injuries to personnel. The shelling began around 1200 and continued at intervals with single rounds until about 1500.
war diaries
20th December 1915 Ammunition problems E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
20th Dec - Tested the shooting of the guns up to date the fuses seem to have been very bad.
21st Dec - No shooting today.
war diaries
22nd December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
22nd Dec - Experimented with some old fuses, result not very satisfactory. At 1700 gas attack by 12th Division not a success.
23rd - Retaliated and several more points registered
war diaries
24th December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
24th Dec - Fired between 1700 and 1800, 1900 and 2000 also 2200 to 2300 on enemy's transport lines and trolley lines.
25th Dec - Fired a few rounds in the morning and repeated the firing of Dec 24th evening.
war diaries
26th December 1915 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
26th Dec - Nothing to report
27th Dec - At about 1350 the Battery was shelled by 5.9 Howitzers Shelling continued till about 1530 but no gun-pit, dugout or man was hit. One shell burst about 10 yards short of number 3 gun and another 10 yards over, the remainder were scattered everywhere. Some in the orchard where the fuses were, some outside, some on the far side of the road behind the guns.
28th Dec - Did no shooting and filled up the holes made yesterday.
29th Dec - No shooting.
30th Dec - Did a good deal of shooting.
war diaries
31st December 1915 Commence relief handover E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
Captain Walsh, Commanding Officer, 63rd Brigade RFA came up to take over position and it was arranged that 2 guns should go out of action this night and on the next morning he registered his 2 guns. The times worked out well but his ranges differed 75 yards from our registrations. His 18 pounders being new and our 13 pounders very old. Whilst we have been in this position a lot of work has been done to the gunpits and the system of telephone communication with the Battalion Headquarters and the Group HQ Royal Artillery much improved
war diaries
1st January 1916 Sectional Relief E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
Rue des Chavaties.
The right section came out of action in the evening being relieved by a section of C Battery 63rd Brigade 12th Division (Captain Walsh).
war diaries
2nd January 1916 Sectional Relief E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
In the morning Captain Walsh came up to the Observation Point (a tree) to view the country which is the country opposite Canadian Orchard. He was very pleased with all the arrangements at the guns and at the OP. Consequently handing over to him as very simple. On his registration with his guns I found that they shot exactly the same for line as ours but that the 18 pounders required 50 yards less range than the 13 pounders. In the evenng theleft section came out of action being relieved by another section of C Battery 63rd Brigade RFA. Owing to the muddy state of the ground the 18 pounders found great difficulty in getting their guns into the pits and there was a vast difference between the time taken in getting the 13 pounders out and the 18 pounders in - the extra weight of the 18 pounders making an enormous difference.
The detached gun of Centre Section also came out of action and the battery marched to Oblinghem, arriving there about 1900, a good deal of mud but not as bad as the wagon line we had just left.
war diaries
3rd January 1916 Inspections
6th January 1916 On the Move
11th January 1916 Further Action
17th Jan 1916 On the March
20th Jan 1916 Inspection
20th Jan 1916 Enemy Active
25th Jan 1916 Route March
28th January 1916 Ongoing Action
30th January 1916 Ongoing Action
30th Jan 1916 On the March
1st February 1916 Replacements
2nd February 1916 Ongoing Action E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
We exploded a mine near the Hairpin Crater. Artillery support not asked for.
war diaries
3rd February 1916 Inspections
7th February 1916 Enemy bombardment
7th Feb 1916 Bathing
8th February 1916 Replacements
8th Feb 1916 Bravery Recognised
9th February 1916 E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
9th Feb - The 15 inch Gun fired on the buildings by Fosse 8 - E Battery co-operated.
10th Feb - A quiet day.
9th Feb 1916 Training
11th February 1916 Relief action
12th February 1916 Enemy bombardment
12th February 1916 Reliefs on the Way
14th February 1916 Replacements
14th February 1916 Waiting to be Relieved
19th February 1916 Relief action
21st February 1916 Relief action
23rd February 1916 Relief action
1st March 1916 Moves and Inspections
29th Mar 1916 Fatigues
30th Mar 1916 Change of Billets
1st April 1916 Reserve positions
9th April 1916 Training
11th April 1916 Training
15th Apr 1916 Mines Blown
19th April 1916 Return to billets E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA
19th Apr - The Battery returned to Ergny.
28th Apr - Second Lieutenant W Wright RFA joined the battery on this day vice Second Lieutenant Dewing posted to the Ammunition Column 2nd Cavalry Division
war diaries
2nd May 1916 Relocation
5th May 1916 Training
11th May 1916 Cinema
12th May 1916 Cinema
24th May 1916 Training
30th May 1916 Trench Recce
2nd Jun 1916 Baths
8th Jun 1916 On the Move
17th Jun 1916 Recce
21st Jun 1916 Brigade Excerise
23rd Jun 1916 Exercise
24th Jun 1916 Exercise
31st Jul 1916 Attack Made
2nd of July 1916 German Gas Attacks
5th Jul 1916 Cavalry Standby
7th of July 1916 In the Trenches
12th July 1916 Back to the Wagons
18th Jul 1916 Working Parties
30th Jul 1916 Attack Made
31st Aug 1916 Bravery Recognised
5th Sep 1916 In the Trenches
23rd Sep 1916 Concert
1st Oct 1916 Reliefs
2nd Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling
3rd Oct 1916 Shelling
4th Oct 1916 Shelling
5th Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling
6th Oct 1916 Shelling
7th Oct 1916 Attack Made
8th Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling
5th Jan 1917 Leave
9th Jan 1917 Reliefs
10th Jan 1917 At Rest
16th Jan 1917 Awards
19th Jan 1917 Courses
20th Jan 1917 Leave
22nd Jan 1917 Exercise
23rd Jan 1917 Exercise
24th Jan 1917 Exercise
25th Jan 1917 Lecture
27th Jan 1917 Ranging Practice
28th Jan 1917 Attachment
30th Jan 1917 Exercise
31st Jan 1917 Poor Weather
4th Feb 1917 Reliefs
16th Feb 1917 New Positions
19th Feb 1917 Temporary Positions
26th Feb 1917 Reliefs
27th Feb 1917 Relief Complete
29th Feb 1917 New Position
10th Apr 1917 Attack Made
10th April 1917 Message
11th Apr 1917 Village Taken
12th Apr 1917 Reliefs
1st May 1917 Orders Received
1st May 1917 Operation Order No. 2.
11th of July 1917
17th of July 1917
19th of July 1917
27th of July 1917
28th of July 1917
1st of August 1917
2nd of August 1917
1st of September 1917
11th of September 1917 Orders
13th of September 1917 Reliefs
22nd of September 1917 Artillery Active
23rd of September 1917 Shelling
29th Sep 1917 Reliefs
1st of October 1917 Positions
5th October 1917 Table of Carrying Parties
6th Nov 1917 Training
11th Nov 1917 Instructions
12th Nov 1917 Recce
30th Nov 1917 Enemy Attack The German plan was simply to cut of the neck of the salient by attacking on each side, with the strongest blow to come on the southern side. The blow fell at 7.30am on the 30th November, and was devastatingly fast and effective. By 9am, the Germans had penetrated almost 3 miles towards Havrincourt Wood. Byng's Third Army faced disaster, with the real prospect of several divisions being cut off in the trap. The first attack fell on the 55th (West Lancashire) and 12th (Eastern) Division on the south-eastern side of the salient. The Germans climbed the slope to re-take Lateau Wood, pushed up the complex of shallow ravines south of Banteux, moved through Villers Guislain and past Gouzeaucourt. Amongst the troops defending the artillery positions at Gouzeaucourt were the 11th United States Engineer Company. The direction of the assault was across British divisional boundaries, and the command structure rapidly broke down as the troops became mixed up.
Three German divisions attacked to the north, supported by an intense Phosgene barrage, intending to cut the Bapaume-Cambrai road near Anneux Chapel. They were repulsed by the machine gun barrage of the 47th (London), 2nd and 56th (London) Divisions, who had relieved the 36th and 40th. No Germans reached the road. Fierce fighting continued in the southern area for Gonnelieu, Les Rues Vertes and Masnieres
24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation
1st Jan 1918 Training
2nd Jan 1918 Training
3rd Jan 1918 Training
4th Jan 1918 Training
5th Jan 1918 Moves
6th Jan 1918 Moves
7th Jan 1918 Training
21st Jan 1918 Course
5th Feb 1918 Course Ends
13th Feb 1918 Personnel
21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation
26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
26th Mar 1918 Reliefs Complete
27th Mar 1918 In Defence
27th Mar 1918 Moves
22nd Aug 1918 Attack Made
22nd Aug 1918 Village taken
Mark V (Female) tanks of the 4th Battalion, Tank Corps, passing through Meaulte on 22nd of August 1918, the day the village was captured by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment of 12th Division. © IWM (Q 7301)
IWM
5th Sep 1918 Attack Made
6th Sep 1918 Ground Gained
25th Sep 1918 Medals Awarded
30th Sep 1918 Reliefs
1st of October 1918 Orders
2nd of October 1918 Orders
2nd of October 1918 Orders
5th of October 1918 Orders
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