222798 Sgt. W. Westby British Army 150th (Rotherham) Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Warwick Street, Rotherham Seargeant W. Westby (150th R.G.A.), whose home is in Warwick Street, Rotherham, sends us the following interesting record of the 150th (Rotherham) Heavy Battery since it's formation up to the present time, when it is keeping watch on the Rhine. He writes:
It is now possible to give a short review of the part which both the 150th (Rotherham) Heavy Battery played in the war. For nearly two and a half years the battery was fighting on the Western front, taking part in most of the big battles during that time, including the last gigantic offensive by General Sir Herbert Plumer's Army, which immediately preceded the signing ot the Armistace. The Battery has, at different periods, served in all five Armies which constituted the British Expeditionary Force, and except for that short portion of the line between Arras and Baupaume, has been in action in all sectors between the Belgians in the North and the French on the South.
It will be recalled that the unit was formed in October 1915, and in its ranks were some of the finest young fellows the town could give.
After a period of some seven months training the Battery was sent to France in the middle of June 1916. After spending about six weeks in what was, at the time, a rather quiet part of the line (in front of the Messiness Ridge), they entrained for the Somme, which was the begining of a long period of real hardship and continuous fighting.
Looking back to the days spent in that vast wilderness of death and desolation, it seems almost a miracle that so many men were spared. Delville Wood, Montaubau, and High Wood will always remain grim memories to those who were there. The Battery was never out of the fighting zone from the day it came into action at Mametz for the Somme offensive in July 1916, till the great German attack in March, 1918.
When the unit came out it was equipped with four guns, but at High Wood another section was added, making six guns.
When the Germans retired on the Hindenburg line the 150 "Heavies" followed them up through Perenne to Nurin and Revelon, harassing the enemy day and night, and assisting the capture of Trescault, Beaucamp, Gouzeacourt, Villers Guislain, and Gennelieu. The summer months were spent in the area, being engaged chiefly in counter battery work and "sniping" at the traffic and other targets visible from the O.P.
In September 1917, the Battery moved to the Ypres salient to take part in the offensive which was in progress there. No one who was present during the attack on Passchendaele Ridge, which lasted until December 1917, will ever forget the unexampled sacrifices and the trying ordeals that befel the fighting forces on those stricken Flanders plains. The very mention of such places as St. Julien, Poelcapielle, Kitchener's Wood, Zonnebeke, and many others will instantly conjure up in the minds of those men scenes of the greatest heroism. The conditions were appalling, but they revealed a spirit of comradeship between the men that was both wonderful and inspiring. Never were men called upon to undergo greater hardships and never was the call of duty more nobly answered.
The more or less quiet but anxious period from the begining of January to the opening of the Boche offensive in March, 1918, was spent near the famous "Hell Fire Corner" at Ypres.
On 22nd March, 1918, the guns were pulled out of the Ypres area and tracks were made for the Somme once more. As the Hun offensive was being gradually held up, however, the Battery were kept in reserve in the Lens area, and so remaind till the enemy onslaught in the valley of the Lys.
The Battery came into action again at Mount Bernenchon on the 10th April, 1918, and spent a very exciting week. With practically no infantry in front, the artillery had to fall back. Teams were standing by ready harnessed, and on the order of limber-up the guns would withdraw to another position in the rear, drop their trails, and re-commence firing. Then the order to limber-up would come again, and the process would be repeated. This sort of thing went on for some days until the enemy was held.
The period which followed these latter events, up to the begining of the fourth and final battle of Ypres, was compaitively un eventful. Bursts of fire at irregular intervals were kept up night and day on the enemy's roads and communications, and this was one of the chief factors in the withdrawal from the Bethune area back to the Aubers ridge.
The only disagreeable part of this period was that the Battery became "marked" by a German counter-battery group, and was repeatedly subjected to terrific bombardments lasting sometimes nearly 24 hours. Fortunately the guns were scattered, and, when these hurricane bursts were on, there were usually one or two guns which could carry on retaliatory fire.
On the 28th September, 1918, the Battery, having travelled north again to take part in the last big offensive, came into action at Belgian Battery Corner (immediately behind Ypres), and from that date until the Armistace was signed was one long series of successes and conquest advances.
The Battery, which is now considerably depleted in numbers owing to the large number of miners being demobilised, is at Sehlebusch, Germany a few miles east of Cologne, ready for all emergencies. Nevertheless, it is the ardent hope of everyone that the guns have boomed their last.
To merely say that the number of rounds fired by the Battery was 110,426 will convey little to people who have not had experience in the serving of heavy guns; but when it is remembered that each shell had to be handled many times before actually fired, some idea of the vast amount of labour entailed will be apparent to all.
Considering the lengthy time in the fighting zone, the casualties have been surprisingly few. Twenty three men have been killed or have died of wounds, and 65 men have more or less seriously wounded. In addition, however, at least another dozen men who first came to France with the Battery have been killed whist serving in other units.
Though, happily, quite a good percentage of the original men of the unit still remain, all the officers who were with the Battery at Rotherham have gone. Major Grepe was succeeded by Major Weatherhead who, during 18 months he was commanding the Battery, was held in the highest esteem by all ranks. Since December 1917, the unit has been grouped under the 10th Brigade R. G. A., under Colonel a.S. P. McGhee. Major B. Lamb who was the O. C. from March to November, 1918, will long be remembered for the kindly interest he took in the men and his thoughtfulness and consideration in all matters affecting their welfare and safety. For a short period after the signing of the Armistace Captain W. W. Bentley was in command, and at the moment Captain W. F. Towson, who joined the Battery in France in 1916, is the O. C. Captain H. P. Dick, who joined the Battery at Rotherham, remained with the unit throughout the period of action, but was transferred in November to the G. H. Q. Training Centre.
Appended are detailed particulars of the Battery's movements and activities on the Western front:
- Landed in France 17th June 1916.
- Opened fire at Neuve Eglise, 29th June, 1916.
- oved to Rouge de Bout (Laventie), and opened fire on 18th July, 1916.
- Returned to Neuve Eglise and thense to Petite Pont, 24th July, 1916.
- Entrained for the Somme on 2nd August, and came into action at Mametz, 8th August, 1916.
- Advanced to Montaubau, 12th September, 1916 and then to Delville Wood. In 24 hours at Montaubau 1206 rounds were fired.
- Moved to High Wood, after being shelled out of Delville Wood, 3rd November, 1916.
- Withdrawn on 2nd December, 1916, to Franvillers, and came into action again at Le Forest, 9th December, 1916.
- Pulled out from Le Forest on 13th March, 1917, and moved to Foiles.
- Came into action 15th March, 1917.
- German retreat to Hindenburg line. The Battery moved to Bray sur Somme, 18th March, 1917; Suzanne 20th March; Combles, 24th March; Clery, 29th March; Nurlu, 30th March; and came into action at Equancourt 2nd April, 1917.
- Moved to Railton, 6th April, 1917.
- Advanced to Villers Guislain, 16th May, 1917.
- Battery moved to Ypres, 26th September, 1917.
- Opened fire from English Farm ( St. Jean), on 27th September, 1917. ( In one day at this position 1077 rounds were fired).
- Moved to Kitchener's Wood (st. Julien)' 12th Octore, 1917. (From this position18,249 rounds were fired).
- Left Kitchener's Wood on 14th December, 1917, and Christmas was spent at Boeschepe (near Poperinghe).
- Moved into action as a silent battery, near Hell Fire Corner, on 19th December, 1917, and did not open fire until 26th December.
- ulled out from Ypres area, 22nd March, 1918.
- Moved to Westoutre, 23rd March, 1918.
- Moved to Caudescure on the 24th and Barlin on the 25th March.
- Battery came into action at Mount Berenchon 10th April, 1918; at Eeleme, 11th April, 1918; at Ham-en-Artois, 12th April; at Marbecque, 18th April, and at Bas Hamel, 28th April.
- oved to Divion to G.H.Q. Reserve 17th May, 1918, and then to Gouy Servians, 31st May, 1918.
- Four guns came into action again on 19th June, 1918, at Vendin-les-Bethune; two guns being in reserve positions at Lenglet.
- Moved on Annezin on 11th June, 1918.
- attery advanced to Mount Bernenchon on 20th August, 1918; to Locon, 1st September, 1918, and to Vielle Chappelle, 6th September, 1918.
- Left Bethune sector 17th September, 1918. Arrived at Taunay on the 18th, on the way to Ypres once more, and at Beauverde Wood on the 21st.
- Battery removed to Belgian Battery Corner on the 25th, and came into action on the 28th September, 1918. (1298 rounds were fired by five guns in 24 hours from this position, which is the Battery record).
- Battery advanced and came into action at Zillebeke and Hill 60 on 29th September 1918; near Becelaere, 5th October, 1918; Vigfwegen, 14th October, 1918; near Ledeghem, 15th October, 1918; at Marke, 19th October, 1918; Belleghem, 23rd October, 1918; Knokke, 28th October, 1918, and Auseghem, 5th November, 1918.
- The Battery was at the latter place, which is between Coutrai and Renaix, when the Armistice was signed on 11th November, 1918.
Total rounds fired by the Battery in different areas:
- June and July, 1916 - Messines Area - 725
- August 1916, to March 1917 - Battle of the Somme - 33,380
- March 1917, to May 1917 - German retreat on the Somme - 4,363
- May 1917, to September 1917 - Villiers Guislain - 1,903
- Sept. 1917, to March 1918 - 3rd Battle of Ypres - 24,254
- April, 1918 to September, 1918 - Battle of the Lys - 39,094
- September, 1918, to November 11th, 1918 - 4th Battle of Ypres - 6,707
- Total 110, 426
3rd January 1919
|