The main aim of the site has been to describe some of the actions in which the 2nd, 6th & 10th battalions took part, as it was with these that my Grandfather served.  However, I have felt the need to broaden the scope a little as other battalions ‘take my fancy’.  For this reason I am starting with the activities of the 1/4th and 1/5th battalions at Haspres in October 1918.

1/4 Battalion Y&L move up 1/4 attack 19th Lancashire Fusiliers 1/5 Y&L attack Post battle report of C.O. 1/4th

While reading Richard Holmes’ book. ‘Tommy’, I came across a comment he made regarding men who died in the last weeks of the war; “The last Hundred Days of the war cost the British army over 260,000 casualties, well over twice the total strength of the British regular army at the time of writing. The headstones in the comet’s tail of cemeteries that trace the army’s path from Santerre across to the Belgian border tell the story all too well.  In York Cemetery near Haspres, between Cambrai and Valenciennes, lie a company’s worth of the York and Lancaster regiment, with, up by the back wall, most of the machine-gunners that killed them”.  I thought that I would look into into it a little more.

There are in fact two cemeteries in the area of Haspres; York Cemetery mentioned above and Haspres Coppice Cemetery which is a little smaller.  York is primarily occupied by men of the 1/4 and 1/5 battalions of the York & Lancaster regiment while Coppice Cemetery is mainly occupied by men of the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers. The majority of the men in both the cemeteries died in action on the 13th October 1918, in an action to take Haspres village and the Selle river in that area. The number of men killed gives testament to the defence put up by the German forces, especially those on the machine-guns, and the village was not finally taken until 20 October with the help of tanks.

The battalions started to move forward on the 11th & 12th October and at that time the 1/4th war diary says they had a strenght of “43 & 885”, although 43 sounds high for the number of officers.  On the 12th the battalions were in their attack positions.  From 1/4th diary;

12 Oct.  At 11.20 hours received orders to advance at 11.00 - Dinners were finished hastily and battn. moved off by platoons at 25 yds interval - transport followed under B.T.O.  Cpl. Bloodworth wounded by H.E. just after the start. Advanced through NAVES to high ground about U7K [an unreadable map reference.  J Dillon] arriving at 14.00 hrs.  Whilst on the march just E. of NAVES R.F.A. overtook us, wheeled into line at side of road, firing rapid, then advancing again. Coys were spread out on hillside in artillery formation of platoons where they rested for the night during which time it rained heavily.  Preliminary order for Bde. attack on enemy holding line O22a - O29a.  Operation order is attached.”

At the same time the diary for the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers read;

“Battn. moved to railway embankment in O35b and ‘d’ arriving at 03.00 hrs. 13th instant. Battn. moved forward under orders to participate in attack at short notice.”

At around midnight the 1/4th Battalion commander briefed the officers and issued his Op Orders.  “C.O. took Coy Commanders forward at 17.00 to reconnoitre the ground for our advance. Whilst riding down into the valley they were suddenly fired on by enemy machine gun at 1000 yds range from direction of AVESNES LE SEC which had been captured by 146 Inf Bde. C.O. returned from conference at Bde HQ about midnight and issued his operation order verbally to Coy Cmdrs as follows.”  Extract from Op Order.

1. Enemy Opposition.  May be opposition on ridge W of LA SELLE River. He is holding high ground E of LA SELLE. Ground as far as the river should be cleared by 146 Inf. Bde.

2. Flanks.  On immediate right 1/5 York & Land Regt, 1/4 KOYLI in reserve.  On immediate left 1/5 Seaforth Highlanders (51 Divn)

3. Intention.  To cross LA SELLE river and occupy high ground EAST of it

The men of the 1/4th were briefed at 05.00 on the 13th, prior to moving off at 06.45, the men had had little sleep owing to the “cold & wet” but they moved off after “good breakfasts” which were ready at 05.45. The War Diary of the 1/4 as well as the post battle reports for the 1/5th and the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers lay heavy emphasis on the severity of the machine-gun fire of the defences.  The following is from the War Diary of the 1/4 for 13th October. [In the shorthand of the diaries ‘coys’ = companies]

“About 05.00 all details of the attack were explained to platoon cmdrs and the coys. Men had had little sleep owing to the cold and wet.  Good breakfasts were ready at 05.45 hrs. Coys were ready to move off at 06.45.  Bn [Battalion] advanced in artillery formation with scouts ahead. L. Gun [Lewis gun] limbers went with coys as far as AVESNES LE SEC railway, near the station of which SAA dump was formed under R.S.M.

About 0845 B and C Coys crossed the crest of the high ground about O23 a & d when they immediately came under heavy machine-gun fire.  Our artillery barrage did not begin until 09.00 hours and then it came down on road E of LA SELLE, thus leaving a distance of about a mile between front line and barrage. This space was full of machine-guns, esp on flanks. 51st Div were not able to advance and occupy the high ground, so that we were badly enfiladed by MG fire from our left flank.  According to orders we should not have encountered any opposition on West side of LA SELLE, the 146th Bde having been told to clear ground as far as the river.  B & C Coys advanced within a short distance of the river but suffered so heavily they could not hold the ground.  D Coy, following C, met the same fate.  A Coy was sent up to reinforce front line but were unable to advance to the river on account of such strong enfilade fire.  The Bosche launched a small counter-attack against B & C Coys but was successfully driven off.  About 14.30 hrs the remnants of each Coy dug in, holding the crest of the hill.  Casualties estimated at A 40 o.r. B 85, C 100, D 100. All Coy and platoon cdrs were hit within an hour of zero.

Battn was relieved by 2 coys of 1/4 KOYLI about 21.00 hrs and went into support”

As a result of this action 50 of the Battalion lie buried in York Cemetery.

The action was similar for 19th Lancashire Fusiliers; “13th Oct. Weather misty till 08.00 but fine after.  Battalion in Railway Embankment as follows; ‘A’ 160 all ranks, ‘B’ 80 all ranks (half company), ‘C’ 160 all ranks, HQ 20 all ranks.

Orders received at 0500 hrs that battalion would attack on the whole of the 147th Infantry Brigade frontage.  Two company frontage A & C companies with 1/2 company of B in reserve. 

Battalion attacked at 08.00 hrs in artillery formation each company making four waves of platoons of sections in file.  50 yards between files of sections, 200 yards between waves of platoons.

Artillery barrage zero hour 09.00 hrs, objectives SAU/LOIR and Railway Embankment. 2nd objective high ground E of embankment. Battalion under very heavy fire of machine-guns and artillery from 08.00 hrs.  Line of wood in P25 [I believe this is a map reference  J Dillon] reached but no further advance either by battalion or by troops on flanks.

Battalion ordered into reserve on Railway Embankment in O35 b & d at 23.00 hrs.  Estimated casualties 4 officers 260 other ranks. Of these 1 officer and 54 other ranks were killed and a further 7 other ranks died later of their wounds.”

Two of the Lancashire Fusiliers lie in York Cemetery with another 50 in Coppice Cemetery.  The others who died are either elsewhere or are among the unidentified burials, of which there are 14 in York Cemetery.

As well as the 1/4 York & Lancs, they have comrades from their 1/5th battalion alongside them in York Cemetery. From their post battle report; “Companies continued the advance to the ridge top on O24d and O25a where machine gun fire clipping the top of the hill was met.  The troops successfully passed through this and ‘D’ company continued the attack with great vigour down to the village of HASPRES suffering very severe casualties and in a short time losing 70% of its strength.

...but on the left 1/4 Y&L were counter attacked by the enemy from the village of HASPRES and touch was lost owing to their being driven back. The village was very strongly held with machine guns and streets just south west of the LA SELLE river also strongly defended. The church spire was also manned with a machine gun which did considerable damage to us with plunging fire on the forward slope and grazing fire on the hill top.

...it was impossible to bring artillery fire to bear on the enemy positions and our numbers being reduced by 50% or 60%, and the units on each flank being held up in a similar way, no further advance was attempted after 10.00 hrs.”

After the day closed some advance had been made, but objectives had not been met, and casualties were severe.  1/4th strength on the 14 Oct had been reduced to 247 other ranks and 4 officers, the 1/5th saw their numbers reduced by “50% or 60%” while 19th Lancs estimated their casualties at 4 officers and 260 other ranks. After the action the entries in the war diary of the 1/4th Y&L for the 14th and 15th October give an insight into how quickly normal routine kicks in, even after half their number have been killed or wounded.

14 Oct. Bad weather but men worked hard making “cubby holes” in ground to sleep in. Very cold. 

15 Oct. All ranks shave and cleaned up.  Inspection and PT in morning. Improvising shelters etc.

The C.O’s post battle report shows that the 1/4th were surprised at the strength of the enemy attack and he is critical of the artillery plan that effectively left his men with no artillery support.  The following paragraphs have been extracted from that report;

5. It appears that the enemy were in considerable strength in and west of the sunken road through O.18.c & d, and though my men got close up to them they were unable to take the position, possibly owing to the Officers having already become casualties. In addition to this the fire from the wood in O.10.c & d was very heavy. During the morning the enemy advanced up the slope again and established posts from 200-300 yards from our new line.

7. The attack turned out to be an advance against a very strong line of Machine Guns to all intents and purposes without Artillery support, for the barrage was 1500 yards in front of the place where we first met the enemy.  It was therefore almost inevitable that heavy casualties should be incurred and little result obtained. I at any rate do not see how this could have been avoided unless the scheme had allowed for the possibility of the enemy being in such strength as they were, and for the bringing back of the barrage as soon as the advanced guards discovered the enemy before committing the Battalions to a “Fulldress” attack.

8. Each Battalion was allotted 16 R.A.M.C. bearers.  This number proved hopelessly inadequate to deal with the very heavy casualties, and many fighting men had to be used as Stretcher Bearers throughout the day.  These could have been ill spared in case of counter attack. I suggest that if the R.A.M.C. cannot find more men than this, Battalions should detail men before the Operation begins for this job. Last year one platoon from each Battalion in the Division was placed at the disposal of the A.D.M.S. before the Division went into action.

9. The Lewis guns very quickly used up all their ammunition. I am strongly of opinion that in future fewer guns and more ammunition  should be carried.

10. My Battalion did not get into visual communication with the Brigade until about 1300 hours. I think that this might have been done much earlier, if we had known beforehand where the Brigade visual station would be.

The C.O’s frustration at seeing so many of his men wasted comes through in these paragraphs.  So many men lost so close to the end of the war.

By the 18th October the strength of the battalion had come up to 29 plus 547 as new men were fed in and then a week after the action the routine was back to normal after having been relieved and fallen back to Fauborg St Roch;

19 Oct. Kit inspection. Clean clothing drawn.  Bn baths fixed up under M.O.  Day spent in cleaning up. Packs and blankets drawn by 16oo hrs.

20 Oct. Church parade cancelled owing to rain. All Coys and HQ had hot baths and change of clothing.  Delousing carried out. ..... Prince of Wales visited the Brigade. Spoke to several officers and men of battn.

Brief entries in the war diary for the 1/4th Y&L remind us of the action recently fought; “23rd October.  I.O. [believe this to be Intelligence Officer J Dillon] went over battle ground for identifications. Found 1 Officer (Lt Ibbotson)  [buried in York Cemetery  J Dillon] and 26 other ranks.”  This means that they had been lying out there for 10 days.  “24th October.  C.O. and 2 in C attended burial service near Haspres.”  This would have been the first burials before the cemetery was later taken over by the C.W,G.C.

So, only a month before the end of the war a large number of men died fighting to take the village of Haspres from the Germans, and they now lie, with some of those German machine gunners in the two cemeteries. York and Coppice near Haspres.  A listing from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is on the ‘York Cemetery’ page giving full details of those in that cemetery. Although the York and Lancaster Regiment recruited mainly from the industrial cities around Sheffield and Barnsley, many came from towns a lonw ay off in Norfolk and Devon.  27 of them were married, and of these, four of the wives had remarried by the time the register had been compiled.

The 6th Battalion passed through Haspres shortly after the events described above, this is a short mention from the battalion history; “... it [the battalion] marched to Thun Leveque, and on the 25th by way of Iwuy and Avesnes-le-Sec to Haspres, arriving here very shortly after the enemy had left.”

Haspres gets little mention in the history books but the passing reference in Richard Holmes’ book sent me off to Kew to find out a little more about their action on the 13th October, 1918, and the reason why two small cemeteries have so many men from just a couple of battalions.