Derbyshire Lads: The Sherwood Foresters: 1st Bn War Diary 8-10 May 1915

1st Battalion, 24th Brigade, 8th Division: Report on the Offensive Operations from 8th - 10th May 1915

Source: WO95/1721

The Battalion left billets in the neighbourhood of SAILLY at 10.25 p.m. on Saturday 8th May.
The assembly trenches, about 500 yards S. of RUE PETILLON were reached at 12.25 a.m. 9th inst. without mishap.
At 5 a.m. our bombardment started.
At 5.35 a.m. B & D Companies were getting into position preparatory to supporting the attack of the E. LANCS. Regt. behind the parados, B Company on the left and D Company on the right.
At 5. 50 the E. LANCS. started the attack, but, owing to the enemy's heavy machine gun fire, were checked, and our advance was consequently much delayed. This delay was also owing to the difficulty which the E. LANCS. experienced in filing their men through the sally porte.
It was not until 6. 10 that our leading platoons started to leap over the parapet of the fire trench close on the heels of the E. LANCS. On clearing our breastworks it was seen at once that the enemy had not been sufficiently shelled and that they were holding their trenches in strength.
The enemy's parapet appeared entirely untouched by our artillery fire, and between points 375 and 373 there were 8 machine guns, some in fixed positions; others were being fired from the top of the breastwork without tripods.
The E. LANCS at this time appeared to be held up about 20 yards in front of our advanced trenches. In consequence of this, the leading platoons of our two attacking Companies changed direction half right, and advanced against point 373, but were still under machine gun fire. This part of the enemy's line appeared to be still more strongly held. The leading platoon of B Company succeeded in getting to within 40 yards of the German wire.
The wire was only cut by our guns in one place, making a gap about 4 yards wide, and in several places it was noticed that the chevaux-de-frises were sunk, which probably accounts for the wire not being cut more effectively.
At this time an order was passed up the trenches - "From G.O.C. Stop Advance" and it was noticed that the R. BERKS REGT. and some of the E. LANCS who were on the left, and our companies were withdrawing to the low line of trenches immediately in front of our breastwork.
The Adjutant immediately proceeded to the left, the direction from which the message had come and spoke to General Lowry Cole, asking if the order applied to the 24th Brigade. He replied 'No'. When the Adjutant returned, he found that the Commanding Officer then [or 'there'] ordered B & D Coys. to withdraw behind the breastwork and re-organize. It was then 7. 30 a.m.

At 7. 35 a.m. A & C Coys. were ordered to support the E. LANCS when they advanced; themselves being supported by B & D Coys. who had by this time been re-organized.
Some of the E. LANCS were lining the road 50 yds in front of our leading platoons, who had leaped over the parapet and were lying there ready to support them.
At 11 a.m. Capt. Young whose re-organized Coy. - B - were in the support trenches behind our breastwork, was wounded, with 5 others, by a shell.
All this time the E. LANCS had not advanced, as we were waiting for orders from the Division, and half of A Coy. were still lying in the open.
At 1. 15 the Germans brought an enfilade shell fire on to our trenches from our left front, several shells falling into our trenches. At 1.20 the Commanding Officer, Major MORLEY had his arm broken by a piece of shrapnel and Capt. WAYTE assumed command of the Battalion. Just before Major Morley was wounded he ordered A & C Coys. to withdraw to the breastworks.
At 1. 45 there was a lull in the German shelling.

Intermittent shelling by the enemy continued until 6 p.m. with some effect.
At this time and until 7. 30 they started to shell with high explosives the breastworks where the battalion was, causing many casualties among officers and men, and doing considerable damage to the parapet.
One shell alone, which landed in the trench where the C.O. and the Adjutant were, killed an R.A. observation officer [name unknown], 2nd Lieut. STONEHAM of this battalion, and wounded 2nd Lts. C. T. WATSON, J. H. STACKHOUSE, and five men.

At this time the men were becoming demoralized and started crowding down the trenches to our right. It was then that the Adjutant, Lieut. MILLER with the utmost coolness and gallantry ran along the entire line and by his personal example saved the situation. The men returned to their posts and returned the hot rifle fire of the Germans who were threatening a counter attack.

Soon after 10 p.m. the battalion was relieved by the WORCESTERSHIRE Regt., and was ordered to bivouac near ROUGE DE BOUT.
Owing to the shell fire on all the approaches, and at PETILLON cross roads, it was not possible to proceed in any compact formation.
Company Commanders were therefore ordered to lead away independently and ROUGE DE BOUT was reached about 1 a.m. on Monday 10th May.

[During this action James Upton won the Victoria Cross - click here for details]


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1st Battalion, 24th Brigade, 8th Division: Report on the Offensive Operations from 8th - 10th May 1915 Source: WO95/1721 The Battalion left billets in the neighbourhood of SAILLY at 10.25 p.m. on Saturday 8th May. The assembly trenches, about 500 yards S. of RUE PETILLON were reached at 12.25 a.m. 9th inst. without mishap. At 5 a.m. our bombardment started. At 5.35 a.m. B & D Companies were getting into position preparatory to supporting the attack of the E. LANCS. Regt. behind the parados, B Company on the left and D Company on the right. At 5. 50 the E. LANCS. started the attack, but, owing to the enemy's heavy machine gun fire, were checked, and our advance was consequently much delayed. This delay was also owing to the difficulty which the E. LANCS. experienced in filing their men through the sally porte. It was not until 6. 10 that our leading platoons started to leap over the parapet of the fire trench close on the heels of the E. LANCS. On clearing our breastworks it was seen at once that the enemy had not been sufficiently shelled and that they were holding their trenches in strength. The enemy's parapet appeared entirely untouched by our artillery fire, and between points 375 and 373 there were 8 machine guns, some in fixed positions; others were being fired from the top of the breastwork without tripods. The E. LANCS at this time appeared to be held up about 20 yards in front of our advanced trenches. In consequence of this, the leading platoons of our two attacking Companies changed direction half right, and advanced against point 373, but were still under machine gun fire. This part of the enemy's line appeared to be still more strongly held. The leading platoon of B Company succeeded in getting to within 40 yards of the German wire. The wire was only cut by our guns in one place, making a gap about 4 yards wide, and in several places it was noticed that the chevaux-de-frises were sunk, which probably accounts for the wire not being cut more effectively. At this time an order was passed up the trenches - "From G.O.C. Stop Advance" and it was noticed that the R. BERKS REGT. and some of the E. LANCS who were on the left, and our companies were withdrawing to the low line of trenches immediately in front of our breastwork. The Adjutant immediately proceeded to the left, the direction from which the message had come and spoke to General Lowry Cole, asking if the order applied to the 24th Brigade. He replied 'No'. When the Adjutant returned, he found that the Commanding Officer then [or 'there'] ordered B & D Coys. to withdraw behind the breastwork and re-organize. It was then 7. 30 a.m. At 7. 35 a.m. A & C Coys. were ordered to support the E. LANCS when they advanced; themselves being supported by B & D Coys. who had by this time been re-organized. Some of the E. LANCS were lining the road 50 yds in front of our leading platoons, who had leaped over the parapet and were lying there ready to support them. At 11 a.m. Capt. Young whose re-organized Coy. - B - were in the support trenches behind our breastwork, was wounded, with 5 others, by a shell. All this time the E. LANCS had not advanced, as we were waiting for orders from the Division, and half of A Coy. were still lying in the open. At 1. 15 the Germans brought an enfilade shell fire on to our trenches from our left front, several shells falling into our trenches. At 1.20 the Commanding Officer, Major MORLEY had his arm broken by a piece of shrapnel and Capt. WAYTE assumed command of the Battalion. Just before Major Morley was wounded he ordered A & C Coys. to withdraw to the breastworks. At 1. 45 there was a lull in the German shelling. Intermittent shelling by the enemy continued until 6 p.m. with some effect. At this time and until 7. 30 they started to shell with high explosives the breastworks where the battalion was, causing many casualties among officers and men, and doing considerable damage to the parapet. One shell alone, which landed in the trench where the C.O. and the Adjutant were, killed an R.A. observation officer [name unknown], 2nd Lieut. STONEHAM of this battalion, and wounded 2nd Lts. C. T. WATSON, J. H. STACKHOUSE, and five men. At this time the men were becoming demoralized and started crowding down the trenches to our right. It was then that the Adjutant, Lieut. MILLER with the utmost coolness and gallantry ran along the entire line and by his personal example saved the situation. The men returned to their posts and returned the hot rifle fire of the Germans who were threatening a counter attack. Soon after 10 p.m. the battalion was relieved by the WORCESTERSHIRE Regt., and was ordered to bivouac near ROUGE DE BOUT. Owing to the shell fire on all the approaches, and at PETILLON cross roads, it was not possible to proceed in any compact formation. Company Commanders were therefore ordered to lead away independently and ROUGE DE BOUT was reached about 1 a.m. on Monday 10th May. [During this action James Upton won the Victoria Cross - click here for details]