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Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 42nd (East
Lancashire) Division 1914-1918
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division 1914-1918

Author: Frederick P. Gibbon

Release date: May 5, 2024 [eBook #73544]

Language: English

Original publication: United Kingdom: George Newnes, Ltd, 1920

Credits: Brian Coe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at

https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 42ND

(EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION 1914-1918 ***
 THE
42ND (EAST LANCASHIRE)
DIVISION
1914-1918

First published in 1920

Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited,

brunswick st., stamford st., s.e. 1, and bungay, suffolk.
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR WM. DOUGLAS, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.

By permission of Lyddell Sawyer.

 The
42nd (East Lancashire) Division
1914-1918

BY
FREDERICK P. GIBBON
Author of “The Lawrences of the Punjab”

LONDON
PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICES OF “COUNTRY LIFE,” LTD.,
20 TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C. 2, AND BY
GEORGE NEWNES, LTD., 8-11 SOUTHAMPTON STREET,
STRAND, W.C. 2
NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
 To the
Officers, Warrant Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men
of the
42nd (East Lancashire) Division
As their late Commander, I dedicate this history of their
achievements, conspicuous even in days of great deeds, in the hope
that the record of their unchanging spirit of courage, loyalty, and
comradeship may give gratification to survivors and solace to
relatives of the fallen.
11th
Novembe
r, 1920.
MAJOR-GENERAL A. SOLLY-FLOOD, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.

By permission of Keturah Collings.

 FOREWORD
The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was only a comparatively
short time under my command, but during that period officers,
N.C.O.s and men showed themselves to be possessed of a
magnificent fighting spirit.
The 42nd Division came to France at a time of crisis, and shared
in the glory of breaking the most desperate and most dangerous
German offensive made since the early days of the war. In my
Despatches I have drawn attention to some of the outstanding
actions of the Division. I am glad now to express to all ranks my
personal gratitude for their splendid service.

Field Marshal.
G.H.Q. The Forces in Great Britain,
Horse Guards, London, S.W. 1.
14th July, 1919.
 PREFACE
“Sir William Douglas asks me ‘to write a few lines’ to be embodied
in the preface to a history of the 42nd Division.
“In the regions of time and space the Dardanelles enterprise forms
only a trifling part of the record of this famous Division; but, in the
sphere of the imagination, that part will be reckoned by Lancastrians
yet unborn as the most precious heirloom bequeathed to them by the
generation who fought the great war.
“Why? I will give the reasons in the words of a gallant young
Australian killed shortly after he wrote me as follows from the front in
France: ‘I often compare the two situations: out here and on those
wild romantic shores of the Ægean; I compare them and I find that
the Peninsula war stands quite alone and apart, an ineffaceable
memory.’
“Bearing in mind that I am limited to a few lines I propose to think
out nothing new, but to repeat now what was jotted down about a
sample of the 42nd Division at the time (the 4th June, 1915), in my
post of command, shared that day with two enormous tarantulas—
“On the right the French rushed the ‘Haricot’—so long a thorn in
their flesh; next to them the Anson lads stormed another big Turkish
redoubt in a slap-dash style reminding me of the best work of the old
Regular Army; but the boldest and most brilliant exploit of the lot was
the charge made by the Manchester Brigade in the centre who
wrested two lines of trenches from the Turks; and then, carrying right
on to the lower slopes of Achi Baba, had nothing between them and
its summit but the clear, unentrenched hillside. They lay there—the
line of our brave lads, plainly visible to a pair of good glasses—there
they actually lay! We wanted, so it seemed, but a reserve to advance
in their support and carry them right up to the top. We said—and yet
could hardly believe our own words—‘We are through!’
 “Alas, too previous that remark. Everything began to go wrong.
First the French were shelled and bombed out of the ‘Haricot’; next
the right of the Naval Division became uncovered and they had to
give way, losing many times more men in the yielding than in the
capture of their ground. Then came the turn of the Manchesters, left
in the lurch, with their right flank hanging in the air. By all the laws of
war they ought to have tumbled back anyhow, but by the laws of the
Manchesters they hung on and declared they could do so for ever....

General,
“Lieutenant of the Tower of London.”
1st September, 1919.

The foregoing words were written by the Commander-in-Chief

under whom the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division went into action for
the first time of its existence. It is nearly a year now since Sir Ian
Hamilton wrote them; this will give the reader some idea of the
gigantic task those who have collected the material for, and the
writer of, this book have had.
The work is an attempt to record the doings and follow the
fortunes of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division in the Great War, but
nothing that can be written can adequately disclose the noble
manner in which these lads preserved throughout that dogged
courage and insistent resolution from which it was impossible, for
those who were present, to withhold their admiration. My own four
years’ experience of them has left me with the deepest feelings of
pride and affection. From first to last they proved themselves to be
gallant, loyal and self-sacrificing soldiers, warm-hearted, responsive
and lovable men.
 The thanks of the Committee responsible for the publication of this
book are due to Captain E. R. Streat and Mr. George Bigwood, who
collected much of the data, but more especially to Mr. F. P. Gibbon,
who so kindly consented to write the History. The labour of collecting
information from War Diaries and comparing the various accounts
which so many old members of the Division have been kind enough
to send him, has been very great, and we owe Mr. Gibbon a debt of
deep gratitude.

7th August, 1920.

The Committee and the Author wish to record their warm

appreciation of the assistance given in the compiling of this History
by many Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Men of the
Division.

As the final proofs of the book were being passed, there came the
sad news of the death of the first Divisional Commander, Major-
General Sir William Douglas, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., at Cultz, near
Aberdeen, on November 2nd, 1920. He had come to be regarded as
the Father of the Division. It was under him that it earned the
distinction of being the first Territorial Division to leave these shores,
and under him it received its baptism of fire. Even when he had
passed from command—both during the war and after hostilities had
ceased—his interest in the welfare of all ranks remained unabated,
and the affection he felt towards them was warmly reciprocated.
In expressing their deep sorrow and their sympathy with Lady
Douglas, the Committee feel that they may speak for all ranks and all
services of the Division.
 CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. LANCASHIRE AND EGYPT (AUGUST 1914—MAY
1915) 1
II. GALLIPOLI (MAY 1915) 19
III. GALLIPOLI (JUNE 1915—JANUARY 1916) 34
IV. THE SUEZ CANAL AND SINAI (JANUARY 1916—
MARCH 1917) 63
V. FRANCE (MARCH—AUGUST 1917) 86
VI. YPRES (SEPTEMBER 1917) 97
VII. NIEUPORT (OCTOBER—NOVEMBER 1917) 106
VIII. LA BASSÉE (DECEMBER 1917—MARCH 1918) 114
IX. OPENING OF THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE (MARCH
21—APRIL 8, 1918) 128
X. ENTR’ACTE (APRIL 9—AUGUST 20, 1918) 142
XI. THE BEGINNING OF THE END (AUGUST 21—
SEPTEMBER 6, 1918) 155
XII. THROUGH THE HINDENBURG LINE (SEPTEMBER
7—30, 1918) 171
XIII. ACROSS THE RIVER SELLE (OCTOBER 9—23,
1918) 179
XIV. FORÊT DE MORMAL AND HAUTMONT (NOVEMBER
3—11, 1918) 191
ROLL OF HONOUR 200
HONOURS AND AWARDS 232
HEADQUARTERS STAFF AND OFFICERS
COMMANDING UNITS 242
KEY MAP SHEWING APPROXIMATE POSITIONS OF BATTLE FRONTS
OCCUPIED BY THE 42ND DIVISION (E. Lancs. T.)
 MOVEMENTS FROM OUTBREAK OF
WAR UNTIL ARMISTICE
1914-1915
Sept.-May British Army of Occupation in Egypt, and
on Suez Canal Defences.
1915-1916
May-Jan. M.E.F. At Cape Helles, Gallipoli Peninsula.
1916-1917 E.E.F. Suez Canal Defences and Sinai
Peninsula.
Jan.-Feb. Advance through Romani to El Arish.
1917
Feb. and March B.E.F. Arrived at Marseilles and proceeded to
neighbourhood of Abbéville.
May In the line at Epéhy and Lempire.
June ” ” Havrincourt Wood and
Trescault.
Aug. and Sept. ” ” Ypres.
Sept. ” ” Coast Sector, Nieuport
Bains.
Oct., Nov. ” ” Nieuport and St.
Georges.
Nov., Dec., Jan., ” ” Opposite La Bassée.
Feb., 1918
1918
Mar., April ” ” Ervillers, Bucquoy.
May, June, July ” ” Bucquoy, Gommecourt,
Hébuterne.
Aug. Advanced through Miraumont,
Riencourt, Villers-au-Flos.
Sept. ” ” Havrincourt Wood to
 Welsh Ridge.
Oct. ” ” Esnes, Beauvois, across
R. Selle.
Nov. ” ” Le Quesnoy, Mormal
Forest to Hautmont.
Nov. 11 Stood fast on line of Maubeuge—
Avesnes Road.
 ILLUSTRATIONS
Facing page
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR WM. DOUGLAS, K.C.M.G.,
C.B., D.S.O. Frontispiece
MAJOR-GENERAL A. SOLLY-FLOOD, C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O. iv
CAPT. W. T. FORSHAW, V.C., 1/9TH BN.
MANCHESTER REGT. 46
LIEUT. A. V. SMITH, V.C., 1/5TH BN. EAST LANCS.
REGT. 57
PTE. W. MILLS, V.C., 1/10TH BN. MANCHESTER
REGT. 116
SGT. E. SMITH, V.C., D.C.M., 1/5TH LANCS. FUS. 157
LC.-CORP. A. WILKINSON, V.C., 1/5TH BN.
MANCHESTER REGT. 187
LIEUT.-COL. P. V. HOLBERTON 131
THE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER AND BRIGADIERS 242
EGYPT AND SUEZ CANAL 18
GALLIPOLI: C. HELLES AND KRITHIA NULLAH
SECTOR 19-29
C. HELLES AND GULLY RAVINE SECTOR 48-60
SINAI PENINSULA 76-83
COLOURED PLATE: DIVISIONAL FLASHES 84
BELGIUM: YPRES SECTOR 98-104
NIEUPORT SECTOR 105-108
FRANCE: LA BASSÉE SECTOR 114-118
THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE, MARCH 1918 130-131
GOMMECOURT—HÉBUTERNE SECTOR, APRIL-
AUGUST 1918 142
THE BRITISH ADVANCE: MIRAUMONT—
TRESCAULT 148-166
 ” ” THE HINDENBURG LINE 172
” ” ACROSS THE R. SELLE 182-186
” ” FORÊT DE MORMAL AND
HAUTMONT 192
MAPS
KEY MAP x
GALLIPOLI: CAPE HELLES 22
TRENCH MAP 34
FRANCE: THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE, 1918 128
THE BRITISH ADVANCE, 1918, FIRST STAGE 171
” ” ” FINAL STAGE 179