Katie Hampson’s sketch of the Menin Gate has been specially commissioned for this 10th Issue of Despatch. A former pupil in Katie, now 19, is a university student and shows what the record number of entrants for this year’s Armistice Prize could aspire to. More about Katie’s work and the Armistice Prize submissions are inside Despatch. Also read about: Billy Bagot and how the Pals are remembered on ; how the students at the Staff , Quetta helped win the war; of the Irishman who tutored many British Generals; of the unique photos taken by a 2nd I/C of a battalion in 1914; and much more…… Editor’s Musing Memorial on Preston Railway Station (see Page 21), it seemed appropriate that On the evening of 27th July I was the usual “In Memoriam” article should be relaxing, glass in hand, when my mind a man from the ranks of the . wandered to speculate about what William Bagot (“Billy”) of 3 Brigadier General Reggie Kentish would Street, Preston was think of the unfolding Olympic opening the second son of spectacle on TV. In 2011 I had told how George and Reggie was complimented by Haig for his Elizabeth Ann work on officer training, motivation etc Bagot. He was and briefly spoke of his role as employed in his Commandant of the British Teams at the father’s butcher’s 1920 and 1924 Olympics in Antwerp and shop prior to taking Paris respectively. The TV spectacle the oath on 7th was a far cry from photographs of the September 1914. He was 19 years 8 opening ceremonies in Reggie time. months old and would need to stand his Reggie’s teams did well finishing 3rd tallest to meet the minimum height and 4th in the medal tables respectively requirement of 5ft 3 inches when being and on conclusion of London 2012 I examined (his recorded height was 5’ speculated how he would have marvelled 3¼”). He was one of the 219 men listed at this year’s happening including the on the Preston Pals Roll of Honour Paralympics. published by As founder of the National Playing the Preston Fields Association one thing which would Herald and not please Reggie is the publicised loss who left of sports fields. Let’s hope the petition Preston against their loss is successful (I have Railway signed it & mentioned his name!). Station in On a more pragmatic thought I am September grateful to David and Pat Shackleton for 1914 bound 10 of the 13 Epitaphs in this Despatch for Tidworth and many more for future Issues. where they formed “D” th MORE INFORMATION FOR ARTICLES WHEN: Company of the 7 Battalion Loyal North (+P) : photos, maps in Photo Gallery, (7LNL). (+S) : supplementary information report Together with the 7th battalions of the See our website www.wfanlancs.co.uk and look King’s Own Royal Lancaster, East against this Despatch Lancashire and South Lancashire Regiments they composed 56th Brigade William BAGOT, Lance Serge ant 13181, in 19th Division. The Battalion’s early “D” Company (Preston Pals) 7th Battalion days were somewhat chaotic, the new Loyal North Lancashire Regiment: Terry volunteers having very few trained Dean officers and NCOs to command them, no organised billets or equipment. By early When preparing Despatch and having July 1915 the Battalion was judged regard to Paul Conlon’s report about the sufficiently trained to be mobilised and commemoration of the Preston Pals Billy crossed to Boulogne on the 17th. 19th Division was assigned to join the forward again to help secure La Boiselle Indian Corps south of Merville. The where they were involved in action for 4 days, during the course of which the Battalion’s Lieutenant Wilkinson gained a posthumous VC. After a period in camp near Albert the 19th Division moved to attack the German’s Switch Line north of Bazentin- le-Petit on 23rd July. However 7LNL could make no progress attacking the German’s Intermediate Trench which was strongly held and they suffered very

Battalion undertook intensive training in all forms of trench warfare going into the trenches with other regiments of British and Indian brigades. In September 19th Division were deployed to possibly take some part in the and until late November 7LNL spent periods in the ont line north of Festubert. On 19th fr heavy casualties in the process. They October Billy was appointed Lance were relieved and moved back to dug- Corporal (unpaid). st th outs in Mametz Wood. Between 1 to In April 1916 19 th Division was 24 July the Battalion had 18 officers and withdrawn into general reserve for 454 other ranks killed, wounded and battalion training prior to moving towards nd missing. Billy was promoted Lance the Somm th e and on 22 April Billy Corporal (paid) on 25 July and 2 days accide ntly suffered a bayonet wound to later was promoted further to Corporal. his thigh. He was back with his battalion However he had suffered from his recent when they moved southwards from th experiences and on 29 July he was Estree Blanche in May. evacuated to a Field Ambulance. On 1st July 19th Division were in th th He was back with his Battalion after reserve to 8 rd and 34 Divisions who several days and on 3 August moved attacked Ovillers and La Boiselle th with 19 Division to occupy the line firstly respectively and it was intended Billy’s at Messines then in the Ploegsteert area. Division would continue the attack on La In October they moved back to the Boiselle after dark. However following Somme and in November attacked south the morning’s failures 19th Division’s nd of the Ancre taking nearly 200 prisoners. ncelled and on 2 th attack was ca July 19 Division then moved out of the line in 7LN L moved back to the railway cutting late November to the south of Doullens near Albert. Next day 7LNL moved 3 and Billy had leave which allowed him to Outtersteene where he died from his spend his last New Year at home. wounds on 2nd August 1917. For the first half of 1917 19th Division The 7LNL were relieved on the night of saw no major action but in May prepared the 3rd/4th August by which time all the to take part in the attack at Messines and objectives had been taken. The Battalion 5 days before the attack Billy was was not called into offensive action again promoted Lance Sergeant. At 3.10 a.m. although casualties were suffered when on the 7th June the nineteen huge mines holding the line. In early February 1918 were exploded and C & D companies led manpower shortages led to the Battalion the Battalion’s attack capturing all the being disbanded like many others, so objectives. In July more time was spent that other units could be brought up to training prior to the next stage of the strength. Third Battle of Ypres. Billy is buried in Bailleul Communal At 3.50 a.m. on 31st July all companies Cemetery Extension and on 18th October we called to say “Hello” to him and left a small poppy wreath in remembrance.

HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP – Lance Sergt W Bagot Loyal North Lancs Regt

QUETTA CLASS 1913: Paul Conlon (+S)

In last May’s Despatch Terry Dean reported on the front page photograph showing the staff at the Staff College, Quetta in 1913. The photo was in the album of Captain Arthur Mordaunt Mills who was Adjutant of the college at that time. Mills had annotated names on of the Battalion attacked on a front of 700 many photos, including one showing the yards south of Hollebeke but were held students at the college and Terry invited up 100 yards short of their objective. 122 a reader of Despatch to examine the Brigade to the immediate left of 7LNL contribution made by the pupils to the failed to capture Forret Farm and enemy war effort. A copy of the photo showing machine guns in the Farm and their students and staff is across. artillery fire caused many casualties in There were 51 students and the Battalion. information has been found on all of Billy’s diminutive frame perhaps helped them. The class consisted of 49 stop him being successfully being Captains and 2 Majors, 3 of the class had targeted by bullets but he could not avoid already won the VC. the indiscriminate artillery fire and he The students at Quetta were highly suffered shrapnel wounds to his chest motivated career soldiers and had been and abdomen. He was taken to No 53 identified as having potential for Casualty Clearing Station at advancement. As such we could expect

4

-Ruthven n, W, Hore Shuttleworth, Macleod Burgh, Maitland, Fergusso een, , Meinertzhagen k De am, Villers-Stuart with, Hutchinson on, Wilson, Teesdale gg, Cadell, Skip cleod N, Gribbon, Gillies, , Braithwaite, Sheppard, S in , Anders rray A, Wylly, Ma g, Loch, Binny, Coningh u Bowrin sacke, Au Ponton, gan, McLaughlin Murray K, ??, Dent, O rr-Harris, Powell, a n, Dui n, Pope, , Charles, Dixo ills, obin, M De Pree, Taylor, I st ello, Magniac, C Row 2 cont’d: Rainsford- Hannay, M Bottom (Staff/Students): 1 5: Hogg, Johnson, Brown, T 4: Palmer, Ogle, Wilmer, McPherso 3: Howell, Crowdy, Officer Clarke 2: Craster, Hanbury, Cost 5 them to make a significant contribution to November 1914. This War was an unsuccessful amphibious assault by Casualties 8000 men in East They were never going to come Africa, launched on 2 through the War unscathed and ten of November 1914. them were killed during the War. Four in Coincidentally one of his fellow students Europe, 3 in Iraq, 1 in Egypt, 1 at Gallipoli Meinertzhagen was involved in the and 1 in East Africa. assessment of the German forces prior to Capt F S Bowring: 22nd Punjabis, killed this unsuccessful engagement; more 22 November 1915, remembered on about this interesting student later in the Basra Memorial. article. Capt A M Brown: 47th Sikhs, killed 12 The closest to March 1915, buried in Guards Cemetery, home is Cuinchy. Lieutenant Capt E D Carr-Harris: Royal Colonel Meredith Engineers, killed 3 November 1914, Magniac of the 1st named on Tanga Memorial, Tanzania. Battalion Capt H B Dixon: Sherwood Foresters Lancashire (Notts & Derby) Regiment 1st Battalion, Fusiliers. He was killed 13 March 1915 and remembered the son of the late Major-General FL on Le Touret Memorial. Magniac. He commanded the 1st Major N E Howell: 82nd Punjabis, killed Battalion briefly at the end of 1915 and 7 January 1916, remembered on Basra continuously from March 1916 until he Memorial. was killed by shellfire at Monchy le Preux Major D W McPherson: 62nd Punjabis, on 24th April 1917. He was awarded the Killed 16 November 1916, buried in Suez DSO for his services at Gallipoli and Cemetery, Egypt mentioned in despatches in July 1916 Lieut Col M Magniac: killed 24 April when he commanded the Battalion in the 1917, buried in Beaurains Road sunken road on the Somme. Cemetery. Capt W G Palmer: 113th Indian Infantry Achievements and 30 Squadron RFC, killed 5 March Every single survivor from the class 1916, remembered on Basra Memorial. had been promoted by the end of the War Major F R Teesdale: 25th Indian and at the very least had reached the Cavalry (Frontier Force), died 17 March rank of Major. 1916 and buried in Walton-on-the-Hill, As would be expected, these officers Surrey acquitted themselves with honour in Major H G Wilmer: 14th King George’s action and the records show that 28 of Own Ferozepore Sikhs, killed 5 July 1915 them won the DSO amongst a host of and remembered on Helles Memorial, other battle honours. Gallipoli Peninsula. There are two notable high achievers The first to be killed was Captain R E and I’m sure that it is no coincidence that Carr-Harris, Royal Engineers. He was they had already been awarded the VC Canadian born in Kingston, Ontario and before they attended Quetta. he was killed in the Battle of Tanga on 3 6 By the end of the War both Major EW the grandfather of the singer Chris de Costello VC and Captain Hore-Ruthven Burgh of ‘Lady in Red’ fame. VC had reached the rank of Brigadier Captain W H Gribbon made Brigadier General. and commanded the 2nd Battalion the The highest King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) overall achiever 1928-31 and his son also had a great was Brigadier military career. Major-General Nigel St General Sir George Gribbon became Assistant Ch ief Alexander Gore of Staff (Intelligence) Supreme Arkwright Hore- Headquarters Allied Powers Euro pe Ruthven VC, (SHAPE) 1970-72. GCMG, CB, DSO Captain Harry Walter Tobi n reached and bar as he the rank of Colonel and was a found er became the 10th Governor General of member of the Himalayan Club . ‘To by’ Australia serving for 9 years, 1936-1945. obviously loved the mountains and lived He is the longest serving Governor in Darjeeling. He helped to organise the General in Australian history. successful 1953 Everest expedition. Brigadier General Captain E W Costello VC Richard CMG CVO DSO Meinertzhagen also has a local was awarded connection as he the DSO in attended Stonyhurst February 1916 College. He and reached became Director of the rank of Military Studies at the University of Colonel. He Cambridge. was a supporter of Zionism and was a member of the British Delegation to the Staff Officers Paris Peace Conference, with The rapidly expanding army needed responsibility for the Middle East. highly trained and talented Staff officers Subsequently he was Chief Political and so it is no surprise to find that at least Officer in Palestine and Syria then 24 of the class were holding Staff Military Adviser in the Colonial Office. positions by 1918. Certainly more of them Widely travelled, enigmatic and went on to hold Staff positions after the controversial he wrote a number of books end of the war. and articles on ornithology. He was awarded the CBE in 1957. Interesting Students A summary of the information I have in Captain E de relation to all the students is in the Burgh went on to Supplement on our website. become General Sir Eric de Burgh KCB, I THANK MY GOD UPON EVERY DSO, OBE and REMEMBRANCE OF HIM AS DYING, BEHOLD HE LIVES – finished his career Lieut Col Meredith Magniac DSO as Chief of General Lancs Fusiliers Staff, India. He was 7 DOCTOR THOMAS MILLER MAGUIRE – U.S Army War College, Pennsylvania TUTOR OF GENERALS: Terry Dean have provided information about (+S) Maguire’s writing. Thomas Miller Maguire was born about In my presentation “Leadership, Morale, and Esprit de Corps: The Winning Factor?” about the life of Brigadier General R J Kentish (RJK) I mentioned that in 1895 his father sent RJK to Dr Miller R J Kentish Maguire an “Army Crammer” in order to pass the entrance exam to Sandhurst. I also mentioned that Maguire had defied my attempts to find his photo which was surprising with his many famous pupils including Generals Rawlinson, Smith- Dorrien, Byng, Gough, De Lisle. Chetwode, Field Marshals Plumer, Allenby, Henry Wilson and Winston Churchill. What a difference a “c” makes? My investigations into Maguire were not helped by me wrongly transcribing his 1850 in Bray Widelow, Ireland. His father name into my notes as “Macguire” but was Rev Thomas C Maguire a Methodist after the first delivery of my talk in Minister. He graduated from Trinity Lancaster I sent a DVD of my Powerpoint College, Dublin and in 1874 he was presentation to Jonathan Maguire in the made Doctor of Law (LL.D) at Queen’s Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum who had University Dublin. In 1879 was appointed helped me considerably when I visited an examiner in English literature. In the Armagh to gather information on RJK. early 1880s he married and started to After viewing my presentation Jonathan raise a family in London. advised me that he was possibly related He set up the Imperial War School to Miller Maguire but more importantly he jointly with Dr Chetwode Crawley and in had passed my DVD to Miller Maguire’s 1883 demonstrated his knowledge in great grandson Brian Merry. military matters with letters to the press In April this year I received a concerning army waste through poor photograph of Miller Maguire from Brian. treatment of new recruits and on the When thanking him he told me more subject of army entrance exams. In 1887 about his ancestors and I mentioned my his first significant work, “A Summary of idea of an article for Despatch. As well Modern Military History, with comments as help from Brian and family, papers by on the leading operations”, was Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Demarest published. U.S. Army (retired) who studied at the 8 In October 1890 the Morning Post Earls Court Square and there was even contained a Notice advising he had “a fine Riding School and a good opened a teaching establishment in Earls Gymnastic Branch”. Court Square “to secure the most perfect As already indicated Maguire was a preparation of candidates for all branches commentator on military subjects and of the public service”. On 5th November author. Well read among British students 1890 the notice, below, gave more of strategy at the turn of the 19th and 20th information about the establishment. centuries, his matter-of-fact encapsulations regarding the marshalling and application of land power, couched always in History and Geography, remain relevant today. In several writings, Maguire offers a brief synthesis of what he accepts as timeless principles of military strategy. Geoffrey Demarest’s interest in Maguire was inspired by a paragraph he wrote in 1899 in the introduction to a book on military geography which, Census records for 1891 show him he felt, is worthy for consideration today: living at 12 & 14 Earls Court Square with “Once the reader understands that his wife, 4 children, 7 domestic servants soldiering and fighting are far from and 2 visitors, one of whom was an Army synonymous--that in a campaign Captain. combats are occasional while marching is Maguire made it clear there was no constant - that before entering into battle pretence at “cramming” with every a general must be most careful to secure subject being taught thoroughly by his line or lines of retreat; he understands specialist lecturers, subsequent notices the leading principles of strategy, whether gave information on the high success he can define the phrase to his rate of his pupils in the various satisfaction or not. He sees that a general examinations. By 1897 Maguire’s whose road homeward or to his base is establishment occupied 10, 12, 14 &16 threatened or cut by a superior force 9 must, if he loses a decisive battle, be arms. …the attempt to move in masses ruined as well as defeated; while a under fire had to be absolutely general who has secured his line of abandoned.” communication will not be ruined even if This is what defeated, but can fall b ack, procure British General recruits, replenish his waggons, and Colley did at begin to fight again with a fair prospect of Majuba Hill to success.” have his There remain available today at least command wiped sixty of his titles, although most are short out, himself pamphlets, lecture summaries, ignominiously narratives, and editorials. Among his killed, and the war General Colley longer works are A Summary of Modern lost. The same Military History (1887), The Campaigns in error would be repeated at the outset of Virginia (1891), Outlines of Military the Second Boer War in 1899. It was this Geography (1899), Guerilla or Partisan indifference to military history and Warfare (1904), Strategy and Tactics in preparedness that angered Maguire and Mountain Ranges (1904), and General apparently set the tenor of his Von Clausewitz On War (1909). commentaries after 1900. Repeated Maguire was in his teens and early British failures to appreciate lessons that twenties when the American Civil War might be derived from a study of military and the great German campaigns of history were a source of frustration to 1866 and 1870 were the talk of Europe him. and these are among the historical Maguire commented matter-of-factly elements that most immediately on thought processes in strategy above influenced Maguire’s writing. In his later operational or theatre considerations. works, the Second Boer War, ominous The selection of generals and unity of military escalations on the Continent, command; need for national intelligence; early 20th century wars in the Far East, significance of environmental and the Balkan Wars all occupied appreciation; imperative of advanced Maguire’s attention. planning and flexibility; the overriding Maguire lamented that the officers importance of logistical security; care of schooled on the eve of the Second Boer soldiers health; and problems of War had not been made aware in official recruitment and training are all noted in training of earlier engagements with the his writings. Boers. He pointed as a special example Maguire also spoke regularly on to the battle of Majuba Hill in 1881. military matters to the Royal United Maguire’s 1887 history included the Services Institution (RUSI), in the Prince following unlearned lesson: Consort’s Library at Aldershot and in “Still another point of great importance November 1900 gave an address entitled seems not to have been fully recognized, “The Art of War” in Town Hall. and this was that rapidity of loading, with Doctor Thomas Miller Maguire died in increased accuracy and range, would no 1919. In a notice concerning his death longer permit infantry in masses the RUSI commented “that he was approach as heretofore a position known to an earlier generation of soldiers defended by troops using breach loading as an Army crammer and to younger 10 members of the Institution as an A recently read crime novel centred on admirable lecturer or as one who took a a group of women living in East Ham who leading part in the discussions following gave out white feathers to men during the lectures of others and that his death WW1 has prompted this choice of will be very greatly regretted in the Army postcard. Although I had seen a few and amongst members of the Institution. picture postcards of the occurrence and His knowledge of military history was read about it in books I thought it was a probably unrivalled; he was a born spontaneous reaction by some women instructor and many officers now high in and not brought about by an organised the Army owe their present positions to campaign. him.” Admiral Charles Penrose Fitzgerald Having learned about him I cannot who was supported by a prominent help wonder what he would have written author, Mrs Humphrey Ward, organised about some of the engagements in WW1 the campaign in the first few days of the particularly 4th Army’s attack on 1st July war. On the 30th August 1914 he handed 1916 commanded by one of his former out feathers to thirty women with the pupils General Henry Rawlinson. Also I instructions to give them to men who ponder and awe at his contribution to were not in uniform. Public sentiment was teaching the stock of officers that secured divided and many people became victory in 1918. increasingly critical as the campaign spread throughout the country. Any A FAVOURITE POSTCARD: Andrew followers of the ITV drama ‘Downton Brooks Abbey’ will recall the incident that divided opinions in one of the early episodes when a group of women try to distribute feathers during a concert. The campaign started to cause problems when civil servants and other employees in state industries came under pressure to enlist. The Home Secretary Reginald McKenna thought fit to order the issue of lapel badges reading ‘King and Country’. Likewise the Silver War Badge was given to servicemen who had been discharged due to wounds or sickness. In a similar vein the ‘On War Service’ badge was worn by both men and women.

GO TELL MY COUNTRY THOU THAT PASSEST BY THAT HERE OBEDIENT TO HER CALL I LIE -

2nd Lieut Harold Archer Crowe 1st Bn London Regt R. Fus.

11 MUSEUM REPORTS He was killed near Kemmel on 25th January 1915. “Tankie” Turner, a partner Liverpool Scottish in the family printing firm, played for Trust: Ian Riley (Honorary Secretary) Liverpool Rugby Club. He enlisted as a Private in the Scottish in January 1912 We continue to see visitors at our and was commissioned 4 months later. archive office in the Artists’ Club in Mobilised in August 1914 he was Liverpool but in-depth cataloguing of the promoted Lieutenant before embarkation archive did not make the progress for for France. He was ‘shot through the which we had hoped. We were drawn head’ by a sniper on 10th January 1915 away from the task by jobs such as whilst arranging some barbed-wire assisting our regimental trustees as well entanglements. These two officers are as a long break over almost all of August indicators of the quality of the first as a result of holidays and illness. tranche of Territorials. The sta ircase immediately adjacent to We have assisted our Regimental our offices has been decorated by the Trustees in the placing of the wooden Treasurer and the Hon. Curator and the Liverpool Scottish War Memorial for gallery of past COs and honorary WW1 by Herbert Tyson Smith, the well- colonels has come out of storage: our known Liverpool sculptor, in the Garrison ancestors once more gaze down on our Church of St Alban at comings and goings. Our new website in Preston. It was originally in St was launched in May, errors have been Andrew’s Church, the Church of Scotland corrected and we are now trying to in Rodney Street, Liverpool. It is soon to establish some ‘virtual museum’ pages be rededicated and information regarding using photographs taken at the time of its provenance will be lodged with the the closure of Botanic Road in 2008. Lancashire Infantry Museum at Fulwood, A recent photo has been received of the Museum of Liverpool and the the memorials to two rugby international National Inventory of . The captains side by side in Kemmel main bronze war memorial is in St George’s Hall in Liverpool.

FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT ET MAINTENANT CHEZ LE SEIGNEUR - Pte W S Jackson Duke of Wellington's Regt

Fusiliers Museum: Mike Glover (Curator) Churchyard. “Toggy” Kendall, a solicitor who played for Birkenhead Park, rose George Ashurst and the Xmas Truce through the ranks to be C/Sgt before resigning in 1906. He re-enlisted into the For the past few years, for some nd ranks of the 10th (Scottish) Battalion KLR unexplained reason, the 2 Battalion of on 5th August 1914, was commissioned the Lancashire Fusiliers (2LF) has been and accompanied the Scottish when they the focus of much of my attention. The crossed to France in November 1914. story began in 2003 when the Regiment buried Private Harry Wilkinson of the 12 Second Battalion in Prowse Point joined the Special Reserve. He trained at Cemetery Belgium. In 2006 the body of the Lancashire Fusilier Depot in Bury and Richard Lancaster was discovered which finished his camp on the 28th July 1914. was buried in 2007 with full military At 4pm on 4th August the War Office honours in the same cemetery. As a received the order for mobilization. By result of further excavations in 2011 there 6pm that day the order was received at are currently six more soldiers to be the Depot in Bury. buried three of whom have been A party of reservists from had provisionally named as Sergeant already turned up at the gate of Parkinson, and Privates Pulford and Wellington barracks that afternoon in Rowan. It therefore came as no surprise anticipation of the order. George was when Lion Television contacted the one of the 1,752 reservists held on Fusilier Museum to ask for assistance in strength at the Depot and by the end of making a programme on the First World the following day 1,454 had reported for War which included an account of 2LF. duty. They were all equipped with However, the nature of their interest weapons, uniforms, boots, webbing and turned out not to be the pending burials “necessaries” and organised into groups but 2LF’s involvement in the 1914 Xmas for despatch. The Second Battalion at truce. Dover received 648 and 800 were posted The intent of the production team from to 3LF which left for its war station at Hull Lion Television was to make a on the 8th August. It is worth commenting programme on the 1914 Christmas Truce that this was a truly remarkable feat of and in doing so bring together organisation and I am not convinced that descendents of with Information Technology available soldiers who were today that we could repeat this logistical there. The team exercise in such and efficient and has picked up on effective manner. George Ashurst George was posted to 3LF and spends who had written the next few months getting bored in Hull. and recorded his In the meantime 2LF had mobilised on memoires of his the 5th at Dover, having celebrated service in the First Minden Day four days earlier. The fact World War as a Lancashire Fusilier. The that 2LF and many other infantry team had done their homework and battalions in the BEF needed so many located Andy Simm who was George reservists to enable them to deploy would Ashurst’s great grandson. The aim of the suggest that the BEF was perhaps not as programme was to explain to Andy and proficient as we are often lead to believe. several other descendents of soldiers The Second Battalion initially deployed who were there in 1914 what went on and as part of 12 Infantry Brigade in the 4nd what their ancestors experienced. Division, to the South Coast to cover the I was included to explain some of the move of the BEF to France but by 26th back ground and this article is essentially August it was involved with the stand at based on my notes. George Ashurst was Le Cateau followed by the long and a Wigan lad who appeared to have been arduous withdrawal. By November as quite a character and shortly before the the Western Front began to stabilise and outbreak of the First World War George 2LF occupied trenches in the area of 13 Ploegsteert Wood south of Ypres, with in their trenches and hanging candles on billets in Le Bizet near Armentieres. them after dark. But a few days later, normal activity had been resumed.

The Second Battalion were lucky, as the truce was not universal along the Western Front and some 41 British soldiers are recorded as being killed on Christmas Day. In fact throughout December, 2LF casualties were relatively light as the records for December show that on 19th December one man was killed and two wounded by snipers. George having exhausted the delights Following the Christmas Truce the first th of Hull volunteered to go out to France to man was killed on 26 December by a st reinforce 2LF and arrived with the sniper and on the night of 30/31 battalion on the 2 December following a December two men were wounded by 16 hour train journey in a cattle truck. He one bullet. describes in his book, “My Bit” how he George Ashurst remained with 2LF till settled into the uncomfortable routine of April 1915 when he was injured in a gas trench life and is quite unprepared for but attack. He returned to UK to convalesce delighted by what happens a few days and then feeling bored once again he later on Christmas Day. He writes about volunteered to go and join1LF in Gallipoli. the Christmas Truce in some detail and it He moved with 1LF to the Western Front is well worth a read. The regimental in March 1916 where he took part in the history describes the situations as . Following further follows: injury and convalescence in UK he returns to the Western Front in 1917 and th In the early days, feeling did not run as joins the 16 Battalion, one of the Salford high as it did later, and this was shown Pals Battalions. In 1918 George is on Christmas Day, 1914, when an selected for officer training but the unofficial truce was spontaneously Armistice prevents him taking up a observed and both sides strolled about commission. on the ground above their trenches. Men of the battalion threw across tins of jam The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment - and the Saxons opposite threw back Lancashire Infantry Museum: Jane cigars wrapped in German Newspapers. Davies (Curator) Cigars were also received in exchange for a copy of Punch, whose editor later Photograph waxed lyrical with disgust at the low value Album of Major apparently attached to the publication. Thomas Stanton “A” Company played a football match Lambert against the enemy with an old tin for a ball; they won 3-2! Towards the evening The Lancashire the Saxons could be seen putting fir-trees Infantry Museum has in its archive 14 many photograph albums collated by artillery damage at Armentieres and ‘no soldiers who served during WW1. They mans land’ at Le Gheer. It depicts life contain images of life in the trenches on behind the lines such as the delivery of the Western Front as well as images from much needed rations and the Officers further afield such as East Africa and reading the first newspaper they had Gallipoli. However none of them, until a recent donation, catalogued the British Expeditionary Force’s initial foray into France in August and September 1914. When the 1st Battalion landed in France on August 22nd its second in command was Major T.S. Lambert who had been with the Regiment since 1891. The Battalion was immediately plunged into action taking received since deploying to France. The part in the battle of Le Cateau and the album also shows German artillery fire battle of the Aisne amongst others. On and the effects of shelling on local the 15th September Lambert took houses and people and also the positions command of the Battalion after the men of the Battalion took to repel the Lieutenant Colonel L. St. G. Le Marchant German advance initially in fields and DSO was shot dead by a sniper. ditches then later on in the more In October the Battalion was at Le sophisticated trenches. Gheer. It was whilst Lambert was here The album is so rich with photographs that he was badly injured when giving out that it depicts in great detail the first two orders for a counter attack and months of action the 1st Battalion East evacuated back to England. When he Lancashire Regiment saw in WW1. The had recovered in June 1915 he was album is available to view by posted to the 2nd Battalion. The appointment. If you are interested in photographs that Lambert took cover in viewing it and any of the Lambert archive great detail all the actions that the 1st that we hold please contact Jane Davies Battalion took part in during the first 2 on 01772 260362 or months of the war. [email protected] The album starts with photographs of Lambert went on to be promoted to Brigadier General and after the war was in charge of the 13th Infantry Brigade at Athlone, Ireland. In June 1921 he was driving back from a tennis match with his wife when he was ambushed by 6 armed men and shot in the neck. He died 90 minutes later in a Military Hospital in Athlone. Brigadier Lambert is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery. the troops aboard the Braemar Castle, their initial dealings with the Germans at OUR LITTLE BOY - 2nd Lieut S V Laws Ligny, the first trenches dug on the Aisne, Cheshire Regt 15 Regiment Collection: Larysa information, photographs or documents Bolton about that person. There is more information about the project and a The articles we usually submit to the current medal roll at Despatch about the often http://www.tameside.gov.uk/museumsgall focus on interesting items from the eries/mom/medals. Please note that the archive collection, many of which are details recorded on the medal roll are bundles of personal papers. Over the those that appear on the man’s actual last few months, researcher Ian Hudson medal(s). Ian can be contacted at has been painstakingly sifting through [email protected] or on 0161 many of these papers, and more besides, 342 3693. as part of the Museum of the Manchester AND ALL IS RIGHT THAT SEEMS MOST Regiment’s ‘Man Behind the Medals’ WRONG IF IT BE HIS SWEET WILL - Pte project. This ambitious and exciting E Richmond N Staffordshire Regt project runs until summer 2013 and is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund. Lancashire Infantry Museum, Journals of Around a quarter of the 10,000 items in the Antecedent Regiments: Terry Dean the museum’s collection are medals, reflecting the service of some 800 Earlier this year I was diverted from individuals over 250 years. Ian’s some WFA matters (no time to pursue my research aims to reveal the complete thoughts on a presentation in 2013) by story behind the medal and the man to my volunteering to arrange the create a full tribute to the soldiers and “unlocking” of information held in the officers of the Manchester Regiment. journals dating back to 1878 for the The research has not been limited to various Lancashire regiments in the military service, as much information museum at Fulwood Barracks, Preston. about the men’s personal and family lives My interest in arranging the scanning of has been uncovered, turning each medal journals had been awakened by the help from a simple object to fitting testament given by the Royal Irish Fusiliers to the man it represents. Museum in Armagh when researching The stories, along with images and Brigadier-General Kentish for my 2010 photographs, will be available online presentation. through the museum’s website, and will The scanning of some 1200 journals is also be published and available for near complete and shortly they will be reference in the museum. Many of the available for purchase from the medals were deposited with related Lancashire Infantry Museum shop on papers so it is this material, along with word searchable DVDs. the army service records held at the With my interest in cycling I tested the National Archives and other sources, searchable journals and hoped to find which have formed the basis of the that, at least, one of the Lancashire research. regiments would have pioneered the use Ian is encouraging anyone who has of cycles for use in WW1 but with no donated medals, or who has relatives success. I then sought early comments whose medals are in the collection, to on the value of machine guns as infantry come forward with any additional weapons and this is what I found in the 16 April 1885 ‘XXX’ Journal of the East number of 600 a minute. It can also be Lancashire Regiment: made to move from side to side while firing, if required. To prevent the barrel THE LATEST MACHINE GUN getting hot from the pace of the discharge Of late years several scientific men it is cased in an outer barrel, and has have devoted their energies to the water between the two. We should think, invention of Machine Guns, with the though, that it would not require many result that now three or four are in minutes firing at 600 a minute to make general use both on land and sea, which the water as hot as the barrel, and so can fire with great rapidity, can be carried deprive it of its cooling effect. The about with little trouble, and can be inventor declares he can adjust it to any worked by two or three men without the rifle and even to cannon. The whole slightest difficulty. machine can be made so as not to weigh But the latest more than 25lbs., and is not liable to get invention, by an out of gear with any amount of use. With American, Mr. so perfect a weapon as this seems to be, Hiram Maxwell with a force of half a dozen of them (sic), bids fair, if it accompanied by a small escort, a little can really do all transport, some protective armour, lots of the inventor cartridges and an Armourer Sergeant, we claims for it, to surely ought to be able hold our own eclipse all previous productions of the against a host. sort, and almost to render unnecessary in The patent rights of the invention have the future the keeping up of large armies, been offered to the English Government. the size of which is now-a-days the If the Maxwell Machine Gun can shew surest guarantee of victory, at any rate such perfection and the inventor says he while on defensive tactics. The new has proved that it can—by the mere machine gun is even self firing, and only purchase of a patent England can at wants once effectively remedy the disadvantage one man she labours under of having too small a to start it standing army, and be at least safe from and put in attack, if still not quite as capable as a new other Powers for offensive operations. belt of But then we are a peace loving, non- cartridges aggressive nation, at least so we tell which ourselves, and the several wars we are holds 330, when those in the other are waging and going to wage are merely the used up. Once started the recoil of each exceptions necessary to prove the rule. discharge works the machinery, turns out I wonder how the writer of the article the empty case, puts in a loaded one and might have revised the last paragraph, fires it, so it goes on while there are any with the benefit of hindsight, 30 odd years cartridges in the machine. The speed of on. the discharge too, can be regulated, so that by moving the indicator opposite the TO SEE DESPATCH WITH LARGER number of discharges required, it can be TYPE AND PHOTOS IN COLOUR. made to fire from 1 up to the enormous VIEW AT: www.wfanlancs.co.uk

17 On the Somme 2012: David & Pat This summer the Shackleton (+P) relatives of Second Lieutenant Andrew In ten years of living on the Somme, Weatherhead, 3rd there are people and scenes we will Kings Own Royal never forget. Lancaster Regiment, killed 1st July 1916, journeyed from Australia to see his name on the . We met them at Thiepval. Afterwards they placed flowers on the grave of an unknown Kings Own soldier buried at Serre in 2003. Could he be their loved one? Captain George Weatherhead, his bro ther had died in 1915 with the regiment and is buried in Ypres Town Two little coffins draped in French flags Cemetery. beside a mound of chalk, the diggings of With the remains of the unknown their awaiting grave. An evocative sight. King’s Own soldier the remains of two One coffin held the remains of Francois Germans had been found, one unknown. Marie Bideau of the 118th Infantry “Surely the worst of it is over” were the Regiment whilst the other held the words Jacob Hones, the known German remains of two “unknowns”. Much has been written about the discovery of these three soldiers at La Boiselle, but the funeral, although official, was simply a religious family burial. They had come to bury their loved soldier, had written to his wife Marie and one, 6 children shortly before he was killed. Francois- His grandson Walter had told us of his Marie family’s loss. Jacob’s son, born in 1915, Bideau, was never to see his father and died in one of 12 2003, two weeks after he knew his children, several of whom died in combat. father’s body had been found. The son he never saw was also to die for Just three young men who died for France in 1940. Before his coffin was their country. lowered into the ground, each family As the frenzy of the centenaries grows, member sprinkled into the grave the let us not forget the cost of war. For me Breton soil they had brought with them. the importance is not about battles won, Their emotion and grief was felt by all military strategy, military incompetence or present. famous people, for can anything be more 18 important than the loss of a loved one? I The Memorial commemorates all of the feel privileged that the descendants of Preston Pals, their sacrifice and service those men, who had no choice but to fight and so it is more than a Memorial to the against each other, have shared their Fallen; no list of the original Pals that fell family experiences with me. in WW1 is currently available. The Remembrance is for all. Memorial is located between platforms 3 & 4 on Preston Railway Station from LOOK ON THIS STONE NOT WITH where the Pals left on Monday 7 SORROW BUT WITH PRIDE - Pte J J September 1914 for their training base in Collington Notts & Derby Regt Tidworth. My personal connection to this event is Preston Pals Memorial: Paul Conlon (+P) that my paternal grandfather was also in the 7th Battalion of the Loyals although Sunday 22 July 2012 saw the definitely not a Preston Pal. culmination of the project headed by The event was well attended with over Andrew Mather to erect a permanent 100 people there and took place amongst Memorial to the Preston Pals on Preston the hustle and bustle of a busy Sunday at Railway the station. The Lancashire Infantry Station. Museum and WFA were both The Preston represented. Pals, in The one minute silence was superbly contrast to observed and surprisingly very effective more famous despite the background noise of the Pals Battalions station. consisted of a The speeches by Colonel Steve company rather Davies MBE and Lord Shuttleworth than a full KCVO were excellent and appropriate for battalion. The the occasion and Lord Shuttleworth aim was that unveiled the Memorial successfully the Preston Pals should be made up of despite the breeze blowing through the men from the business and professional station trying to pre-empt him. The classes and Cyril Cartmell placed an singing was led by the Girl’s advertisement to this effect on Tuesday 1 High School Choir with Mrs Alison September 1914 in the Lancashire Daily Cattanach, Head of Music. Post. The response was such that the by The occasion was rounded off nicely Thursday afternoon enough men had with refreshments in the Station waiting volunteered. room. Cyril Cartmell was the son of the Mayor of Preston, Councillor (later Sir) “PRESTON REMEMBERS – ON ALL Harry Cartmell and Sir Harry recounts his FRONTS”: Terry Dean (S) part in the story of the Pals in his book “For Remembrance”. The Pals became With a title befitting the WFA’s motto it ‘D’ Company 7th (Service) Battalion of gives me great pleasure to report action The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in being taken by my home town as the 19th Western Division. Centenary of the First World War approaches. 19 Preston Council has made a bid for BOOK REVIEWS: Paul Conlon Lottery funding to renovate the City’s and deliver a 3 year Learning Tolkien in East Yorkshire by Phil and Participation Plan. Mathison

This book is one for the JRR Tolkien fans and the reader doesn’t need to have an interest in WW1 although the enjoyment of the book will be enhanced if they also have a passion for the Western Front. I have read the Lords of the Rings trilogy several times and watched the Peter Jackson films a number of times. If the bid is successful, the project will: Having said this, I would not describe . renovate the Memorial and its myself as a huge Tolkien fan and had no surroundings and make it much more than a passing knowledge of his more accessible and mark it out as life. I was aware that he had fought on special part of the square the Western Front with the Lancashire . develop and deliver a range of Fusiliers and assumed that a great deal projects and events for a wide range of the Lord of the Rings story was of audiences to develop awareness developed whilst on active duty. and understanding of the Memorial This book certainly filled in the blanks and the history of Preston during and and corrected a number of my after the First World War misconceptions. The idea that places The WW1 Memorial in the Market here inspired locations in Lords of the Square was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Rings is certainly appealing. Scott and is seen as one of the best in This book was clearly a labour of love, the Country. The houses with the author doing the research really the WW1 Roll of Honour, also designed for his own satisfaction. The end result is by Gilbert Scott and carved into the a very readable and warm treatment of entrance hall of the building. Tolkien’s time in East Yorkshire. More information on the envisaged The book is detailed enough for range of other activities is in the anyone to use as a guide to follow in the supplement on our website and, subject footsteps of JRR Tolkien in East to Chairman Stan’s agreement, I will say Yorkshire. more at our December meeting when the outcome of the bid should be known. 20 Cambrai 1917: Battle Story by Chris KATIE HAMPSON’S SKETCHES: Terry McNab Dean

This is one of a series of books subtitled ‘Battle Story’ including famous battles such as Waterloo, Kursk, Arnhem and others. It is the first of this serie s that I have read an d it is a good introduction to the Battle of Cambrai. Upper Fleetwood Lower

The book is short at a little over 150 Early this year my partner Emmie was pages and is extremely easy to read; in given sketches of the upper and lower fact I read it in about 3 days. lighthouses in Fleetwood to add to her The author assumes no prior lighthouse collection. The sketches were knowledge of the Western Front on the by Katie Hampson whose father treats reader’s part and so the book can be the knees of Malcolm, Emmie’s brother- read as a stand-alone look at one battle in-law. At that time I was contemplating on the Western Front. what image would grace the front page of The book sets the battle in historical this Despatch and had the idea of a new context by giving basic information on the “original” of the Menin Gate, I hope you Offensives of 1915, Verdun and the like it. Somme. 19-year-old Katie attende d Fleetwood The text is liberally interspersed with High School and photographs, maps and illustrations all of Blackpool Sixth which added interest and sped the reader Form College and though the book. In addition there are has already number of ‘fact boxes’ spread through the achieved what text, some of dubious relevance to the many artists twice story but filling in some background for her age haven’t. any reader completely new to the Her work has Western Front. been displayed twice in London’s Mall All in all, this book is worth a read but Galleries and on winning the editor’s probably too superficial for any serious prize from “The Artist” publication she students of the Western Front. Certainly was presented with her award by I would want to read more before Princess Michael of Kent. agreeing with his conclusions about the Her sketches are battle and its legacy. normally of animals (see NOTHING BUT MEMORIES AS WE www.outputt.com) but JOURNEY ON LONGING FOR A SMILE following her success FROM A FACE THAT HAS GONE - with Fleetwood’s Rifleman P Taylor The Rifle Brigade 21 lighthouses and the Menin Gate she has As mentioned on the front cover of produced sketches of two other Despatch “war art” would be suitable Fleetwood landmarks which bear relation submission for the Armistice Prize and to WW1. possibly this article and Katie’s work The most obvious might provide the inspiration for future one is Fleetwood’s entries. war memorial in the Memorial Gardens TRAINING FOR WAR, IN BLACKPOOL: which was unveiled Nigel Neil by Admiral Sir William I am an archaeologist (WFA member), Goodenough in based in Lancaster, and I have been 1927. A short film of awarded a contract (till end of November) the unveiling by Blackpool Council to research the site ceremony can be seen on the Pathe News website (www.britishpathe.com) and enter Goodenough in the search box. The second is the Mount. The original Chinese pavilion on top of the Mount was also designed by of the 'Loos and Arras' WWI training Decimus Burton trenches, in Watson Road Park, near the and replaced by the Pleasure Beach. I am looking for any present structure in local research and illustrations, to 1902. In 1919 the augment a wealth of sources already clock was added to located. Naturally, I will acknowledge fully the structure in memory of the men from any assistance given. the town that died in WW1. It is believed that the trenches were When asked how long she had been constructed between Nov 1915 and th th th sketching Katie’s answer indicated she March 1916 by the 6 , 8 , and 9 KLR, th th has been a “lifetime sketcher”. She did 4 LNL, and 4 SLR, but perhaps not study history at school but uniquely in the UK, were opened to the remembers public from June ‘16 onwards, in aid of watching the King's Lancashire Military “All Quiet Convalescent Hospital, with convalescing on the soldiers as guides. A guidebook and Western postcards exist and, besides extensive Front” and press coverage, there are interviews in produced the IWM, and film footage possibly what she recorded in these trenches. describes Part of the brief is also to determine as a the significance of the site. I am aware of canvas based upon it. the training trenches at Bodelwyddan in 22 North Wales, and those at Beadnell, There was a wide span in the nature of Embleton, Longhoughton, and Otterburn entries: soldier’s diaries, trench/other in Northumberland, Redmires (Sheffield), models, history canvases, poems, DVD and Oswestry (Shropshire). Do you know of battlefield visit/experiences, artwork, of others? WW1 booklets/folders, battle scenes, Please phone 07968 621 530, or e- soldier’s letters and WW1 replicas. The mail [email protected] variety of entries presented a challenge for the marking scheme but the HE WAS AN INSPIRATION OF RADIANT independent marking by Andrew Brooks, BRIGHTNESS AND GREATLY LOVED - Barrie Bertram and Peter Denby gave Lieut F Eliot Burt N Staffs Regt closely correlated scores.

Taking comments from the notes MARTIN’S CORNER: Martin Simpson – accompanying Peter Denby’s marking Chairman, Cumbria Branch WFA the winner was: Hayley Jarvis, St Cecilia’s, Longridge Our Christmas Lunch and AGM will be (the Armistice Prize trophy (again) and on Sunday 2nd December 2012 at the £100) for her WW1 folder: “a lot of effort Best Western Shap Wells Hotel which is and research has gone into this on the A6 between Shap and Kenda l not comprehensive submission.” far from M6, Jct. 39. The nearest main With other prizes for: line station is Oxenholme near Kendal. Megan Kelly, Lancaster Girls Grammar The day will commence between 11.30 (£25) for her poem “She gave him a am and 12.00 noon for a chat and drinks feather”: “A lovely poem which would followed by lunch at 12.30. Lunch will be have benefitted from some background carvery style, with various choices of imagery and better font/formatting.” starter, main and dessert courses (inc Liam Watkinson, Balshaws CE High vegetarian options). School (£25) for his model of a WW1 gas After lunch the branch AGM will be mask: “pity Liam didn’t mention the pupil held at approx 2pm in the meeting room casualties by name on the gas mask and this will be followed by a talk by Dr box”. Bryn Hammond. The DVD submitted from Archbishop The cost of the day is £22 per person. Temple School reporting on their Contact me for more details if you are experiences of a battlefield visit and on interested in coming (tel: 01229 230026 remembering was felt worthy of a or email [email protected]) commendation: “A quality submission but a combined effort by older (year 11) BRANCH AFFAIRS pupils.” Copies of the prize-winning entries are on our website and a Press Release is to be issued with a view to publicity being given to the prize winners prior to ARMISTICE PRIZE 2012 (+S) Remembrance Sunday. Hayley Jarvis had 18 main pages in This year there has been a very her WW1 Folder and overleaf is a copy of welcome increase in participation with 7 the first. schools submitting a total of 76 entries. 23 Also in her Folder Hayley devoted 4 say “Hello” to Pte Youd on 17th October pages to remembering Private John in Ecoivres Military Cemetery and on the Joseph Youd, the poppy cross we left on his grave and in great uncle of her the cemetery visitor book referred to first cousin. Pte Hayley’s remembrance of him in her Youd served in the winning Armistice Prize entry. 8th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE LOST Regiment (8LNL), ARE ABLE TO TELL THE GRIEF FOR ONE WE LOVED SO WELL – 25th Division and st Pte J J Youd Loyal North Lancs was killed on 21 Regt May 1916 at Vimy Ridge. We called to

24 Footnote re Vimy Ridge in May 1916 so far”. At 7.30pm the Germans The Ecoivres Cemetery Register near exploded a mine near Broadmarsh crater Mont St Eloi makes reference to the and then attacked in successive lines of attack of the 25th Division in May 1916. infantry. Many positions of 47th Division were over-run but 8LNL “did great execution and fighting was heavy and prolonged with rifle, bomb and bayonet. The ammunition and bomb supply at last began to run out but led by Lieut Jones, Sergt Grayson and Corp Coates the men were reduced to “bombing ” the Germans with lumps of chalk, flint and even empty bomb boxes!” The advanced positions were evacuated at 10pm but a counter attack was launched with bayonet alone at 2am on 22nd May and 8LNL recaptured the original support lines. On the night of the 21st/22nd May 8LNL lost 3 officers and 27 other In March 1916 the British took over ranks killed; 5 officers and 103 other trenches from the French from Loos to ranks wounded; and Ransart, including Vimy Ridge. On the fifteen were missing. Vimy Ridge sector the trenches were in For his actions, 19 very poor condition and overlooked from year old Lieutenant the German positions. Royal Engineer Richard Basil Brandram Tunnelling Companies were deployed to Jones of the 8LNL was combat German mining activities and posthumously awarded there was much above-ground fighting for the Victoria Cross. the resultant craters. As the British miners gained the upper hand the MEETING REPORTS Germans planned a large attack to capture the British mine shafts MacDonell’s Multi-Continental Three- On the night of 18th/19th May the Dimensional War: 8th May, 2012 (21 Germans captured posts held by 8LNL attended) around Broadmarsh Crater. After an artillery barrage on the 19th the Loyals Well, that is a mouthful of a title for a counterattacked at 9.15pm and talk! I think that it has used up my ration recovered/consolidated the lost ground, of words to provide comment for losing 9 killed, 20 wounded and 4 missing ‘Despatch’! Or, perhaps that was Terry in the process. Dean’s cunning plan, for he certainly During the 21st the Germans fooled me with the reference to ‘Three- bombarded the whole of 47th Division and Dimensional’. I sat throughout the talk the left of 25th Division positions in “the with one green lens and one red in my heaviest concentrated shelling of the war glasses and nobody leapt out at me from Commandant, Godfrey Paine. However, the screen! he soon appreciated that the intensive Well that’s almost enough frivolity as I demands of flying meant that ‘those can sense Chairman Stan frowning at magnificent men in their flying machines’ this point! As ever, Terry’s painstaking needed to be a lot younger, and he attention to detail comes shining through, sought yet another change. Perhaps he as indeed does his many hours of should have stayed flying, for the next preparation, the evidence of this latter move was to the chaos of Mesopotamia point being his notes which I and 1/HLI slogging it up alongside the subsequently borrowed for this write-up. Tigris trying to relieve the troops This, coupled with his outstanding use of besieged at Kut-al-Amara. technology tools, ensures that the time Wounded, he was eventually passes before anyone starts clock- evacuated back to MacBlighty, and when watching and the ardent listener is not he had recovered, sent, at the beginning disturbed by Chris Payne’s snoring. of 1917, to attend the Senior Officers’ But what of School at the ‘shot. Hoping to be given the subject: Ian command of a Battalion and the Harrison Colonelcy that went with it, it seems that MacDonell? he was destined to be the ‘blooming Born in 1875, he bridesmaid’ with a number of 2ic was of that appointments, only assuming the role of generation of CO temporarily in the absence of holders bold young men of that position. This took him to who would Battalions such as 17/HLI, 2/RInnisF and venture to every corner of the British 1/Dorsets. Gassed, wounded and Empire and, in his case, would pack suffering from nephritis, a proper wartime more into his first 40 years than could be command eludes him, but instead he imagined possible today. Studying becomes CO of the Officer Cadet engineering in Manchester, followed by a Battalion at Cambridge, a post that he brief spell working ‘on the railroad’ in the seems to prefer as opposed to a shape of the London Railways, he joined recommended convalescence in Nice! the Foreign Office in 1898, a move that The war ends, and for a time he is with saw him spend the next 16 years (less the Army of the Rhine, while regarding the occasional spot of leave) in Africa, the Germans as a ‘highly educated nation surveying in Uganda, chasing the Boer of swine’. Colonelcies are now few in and dealing with rebellious Nigerian number, and all the while he was tribesmen with sword and revolver. bouncing along as a substantive Captain. During this period, he had changed But Africa again beckoned and in due careers and joined the West Africa course he would become CO of the Gold Frontier Force being awarded the DSO Coast Regiment with the local rank of for one of his forays in Nigeria. Lieutenant-Colonel. Retirement came in Another career path opens, in 1913, as 1927, spending his time in Hyeres, he learns to fly at Brooklands and then Jersey, London and Edinburgh, dying in sought to join the fledgling RFC, the last named place in 1955. I would eventually achieving that aim 2 years comment on Terry’s use of the word later despite the objections of the CFS ‘uniqueness’, for the lives of all men are 26 unique. However, that of Ian Harrison fame). At some stage in his early life he MacDonell was varied, and certainly, decided to become an officer in the army more so than most, and Terry must, but was turned down because of his again, be complimented in bringing yet Jewish origins. another fascinating character to our During the second half of the notice. nineteenth century there was a Now, where have I put my clear phenomenon know as the ‘Guano Rush lenses? (Barrie Bertram) 1840-1880’ when natural nitrate fertilizer (droppings from the Peruvian Booby bird) was imported into Europe from South THE LADS THAT WILL DIE IN THEIR America. As this began to run out GLORY AND NEVER BE OLD - predictions were made that the world Capt J A Ainslie KOSB would not have enough fertilizer to produce the food needed to feed the Fritz Harber – German Scientist at War. world’s growing population. As nitrate (26 attended) was Nitrogen and Oxygen the problem was to turn the nitrogen in the air to nitrate and this was perfected by Harber and Carl Bosch, ‘Bread from Air’. (Awarded the Nobel Prize in 1918). Nitrates were also used in the manufacture of explosives and during the First World War half of all nitrate production in Germany was needed for explosives at the expense of their agricultural industry. Harber was also known as the father of Chemical Warfare and on an early visit to In 1999 the scientific journal ‘Nature’ the Western Front he advocated the use selected the Harber – Bosch Process as of gas even though he knew it was illegal the most important scientific process of according to the Hague Convention of the twentieth century. However Dave 1907. The Germans later argued that Wright, our speaker, suggested that the their first use of gas was legal because title for his talk might have been ‘Patriot they did not use projectiles! Working at or War Criminal’. the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute he brought Fritz Harber was born into a wealthy, together industry, academics and the middle class German Jewish family in military to exploit the use of gas in the Breslau. His mother died at childbirth and war. For this, although he was Jewish, he his father, who did not get on with him, was made a Captain and awarded the was an important man in the town who Iron Cross. owned a chemical works. Luckily Fritz He was one of the first to realise that it grew up having a loving step-mother and was necessary to get soldiers to remove three step-sisters that doted on him. He their gas masks in order to gas them! He was a bright student and received an added other gases to mustard gas and excellent education and one of his tutors this acted as an irritant and they then was Robert Bunsen (of Bunsen burner took off their masks and died! 27 When the war ended Harber tried to * ‘Regular’ nurses of Queen Alexandra’s obtain gold from seawater in order to pay Imperial Military Nursing Service off German war reparations, but he failed. (QAIMNS), numbering about 300. These He was bitterly disappointed in 1933 women were mainly drawn from the when he was ordered to sack all his educated middle classes; Jewish workers and he resigned his post * The QAIMNS Reserve (200); and left for England. The winters in * The Territorial Force Nursing Service Cambridge were not good for his health (TFNS). These 2,700 experienced nurses and he left for the warmer climate of were fully trained civilian hospital staff; Palestine only to die in Switzerland whilst and making the journey. * A further 600 civilian nurses of the His wife, Clara, committed suicide in Civilian Hospit al R e serve , who had 1915 after many arguments with Fritz responded to a 1909 appeal to join a over the use of gas in warfare. Zyklan reserve in case of war. A&B gases were developed under the When war broke out more nurses direction of Harber and it is ironic that joined the QAIMNS Reserve or the members of his extended family died of TFNS, with some 22,000 trained nurses this gas in the Second World War in total serving throughout the war, drawn concentration camps. from Britain and the Dominions. This was a most interesting and Overseas service was voluntary but fascinating talk, well delivered by David popular, the first nurses leaving for and I am sure that for all members the France on 14th August 1914 to staff the hour passed very quickly. (Andrew three General Hospitals which left for the Brooks) continent that day. In charge of the nursing services A Nurse’s Life in France and Flanders: abroad for the duration of the war was the July 2012 (32 attended) Principal Matron (promoted in 1915, when aged 56, to Matron-in- Chief) Miss Emma Maud McCarthy. Initially buildings were requisitioned for hospitals, such as the ‘sugar sheds’ at Boulogne and the casino (for men) and hotel (for officers) at Wimereux. Purpose built facilities came later in the war, including Sue Light told us that much of what is Nissen huts from 1916. known about the British military nursing The relative inefficiency of ambulance services in the Great War comes from trains was mentioned. personal testimony rather than from Even the huge increase in trained official sources. Pre war military nursing nurses could not meet demand, and so services comprised: from 1915 young, unpaid, patriotic 28 volunteers enrolled as Voluntary Aid German Commerce War Part 3 - Under Detachment (VAD) personnel, organised the Sea: August 2012 (24 attended) and given basic training by the Red Cross and Order of St John. Graham Kemp told us that U-Boats Most, but not all, VADs were middle were not intended to be commerce and upper class girls, but in service no raiders. They were intended to sap the social distinctions were drawn, and the Royal Navy strength by attacking contribution of the 70,000 plus VADs was shipping. On 20 September 1914 U9 vital to the war effort at home and abroad. sank three ships, the Aboukir, Hogue and Her talk went on to describe the Cressey and U-Boats went after the fleet accommodation of nurses (mainly huts at Scapa Flow. This forced Jellicoe to and tents); food and dining take the fleet to the other side of Scotland arrangements; bathing and other and the North Sea became empty of facilities; recreation; sick quarters and targets. leave arrangements. All of these were U17 seized a ship off the Norwegian generally good by the standards of the coast and in doing so acted as a time. commerce raider. Following this success, She gave several revealing and other U-Boats started doing the same amusing quotes from Miss McCarthy and and were very effective in the other nurses. Miss McCarthy oversaw Mediterranean where merchant ships disciplinary hearings, which were often were sunk without warning. Following the for relatively small misdemeanors. For outcry after the sinking of the Luisitania, example dancing was prohibited, the Germans curbed unrestricted warfare although illicit fraternization with men did but it was reinstated in 1917. The British - inevitably - occur, leading to disciplinary losses grew but the introduction of the action…and sometimes pregnancy. convoy system reduced these losses Few nurses died of illness or wounds, dramatically. although latterly Spanish flu did claim Graham outlined the hardships of daily many victims, especially amongst the life on board U-Boats and recounted tales VADs. (Peter Denby) of derring do. He also described how the men improvised when things went wrong Note: One famous VAD nurse was Vera at sea. Graham ended his absorbing talk Brittain, the mother of the politician with an extract from a book by a U-Boat Shirley Williams, who wrote a vivid commander, Ernst Haushagen "And so autobiographical account in her book the history of the war lives on in us as an Testament of Youth, which was one of enduring memorial, as a tremendous our raffle prizes on the night (won by Paul monument of warning to the nations of Conlon). Europe." (Gaynor Greenwood)

THY BLESSED LABOURS DONE THY Charlie’s War Part 2 (1918-1919) (30 CROWN OF VICTORY WON - Pte T attended) Reilly Highland LI In a similar manner to Part 1 of his talk (see Despatch Nov 2011 P26) Chris Payne seamlessly wove together content from Charlie’s letters to his wife Ida as 29 well as outlining strategic aspects of the south-west of Cologne and wrote telling war and explaining the actions of of his rapid promotion to sergeant. Charlie’s Battalion (2/5th Duke of With emotion in his voice Chris Wellington’s (DOWs)) in 1918. reported his grandfather’s last letter was Charlie’s letters to his darling wife on 21st January 1919 but there was no happy ending to his splendid story. Ida received a telegram on 10th February telling that Charlie was dangerously ill with pneumonia, probably brought on by the Spanish Flu. He died next day and is buried in Terlincthun cemetery near Boulogne. (TD)

THIS IS THE LORD'S DOING IT IS MARVELLOUS IN OUR EYES - Sapper H Jones Royal Engineers shows how his mind attempts to escape the trials in France during 1918 and covers such things as: the effects of Prisoners of War in Russia 1914-1922: rationing at home and heavy mud on his October 2012 (28 attended) hammer toes; Concert parties and liaison with French civilians; trouble with the Andrew Brooks focussed our attention censor; and his wish for leave. on the Eastern Front, and presented an Charlie certainly seemed to get his fair enlightening perspective that has been share (or more) of action since after a given little coverage in the English- quiet spell in trenches at Oppy in January language war literature or in our previous his battalion was in the forefront programme of talks. By way of stemming the German’s near Bucquoy in introduction he pointed out that the March at a cost of over 200 casualties. In principal armed forces fighting against July he was fighting alongside the French the Russian Army at the outset of the war near the Marne and late August after 4th were the Austro-Hungarians (an eclectic Army delivered the historic attack near mix of nationalities with at least 39 Amiens Charlie’s battalion attacked north different languages and dialects spoken) of Bapaume losing 25% of their strength. and the Germans. After leave in early September Charlie Unlike the situation on the Western was involved in an attack near Marcoing Front, when the majority of Allied forces which crossed the Canal de St Quentin PoWs were captured during 1918, on the and he wrote to Ida telling of “going for Eastern Front the majority of PoWs were the Huns hammer and tongs” and “gazing captured by the Russian forces early in at the Great Bear in the heavens thinking the war and particularly during 1915. of you”. Charlie’s last fighting was in the Amongst the Austro-Hungarian armies, crossing of the River Selle in late October some 2.7 million men were captured on and in a subsequent letter he wrote to Ida all Fronts (about a third of the total concerned about the Spanish Flu. Austro-Hungarian forces), of whom 2.2 After the Armistice, Charlie was million ended up in PoW camps in involved in a prolonged march into the Russia. In comparison, only some Rhineland. In January 1919 he was 160,000 German soldiers were taken 30 PoW on the Eastern Front, despite different languages, with the office similar numbers of men being engaged in dealing with a staggering 500,000 items action in the two Empires. Such an of correspondence a day. As the PoWs invidious comparison encouraged Austro- returned home from 1917 onwards, they Hungarian Generals e.g. General were scarcely welcomed with open arms Conrad, to try to lay the blame at the door at the borders. The returning men were of particular nationalities within the initially held in a ‘quarantine’ camp where Austro-Hungarian armies. Hindsight they were questioned in case they were reveals that the blame can be targeted ‘infected by the Bolshevik Bacillus’, more accurately at the incompetence of before being sent on to their regiment. It Conrad (who was eventually sacked in is little wonder that the Austro-Hungarian July 1918) and other senior officers. Empire fell apart at the end of the War! Illustrating his talk with examples of (Chris Payne) postcards sent by POWs in Russia, Andrew outlined the processing of the 2013 PROGRAMME captured soldiers in Russia. Initially (ALL MEETINGS ON FIRST MONDAY receiving good treatment from their IN MONTH AT 7.30 PM EXCEPT captors, most of the PoWs were then WHERE STATED OTHERWISE) marched long distances before being packed into railway boxcars to Dec 3rd: “A.G.M. and Christmas Social – registration centres in Moscow and Kiev. An invitation to members to speak for ten Given one postcard to send home, the minutes on any WW1 topic men were then distributed to the th Jan 7 : A Display of WW1 Printed hundreds of PoW camps located around Ephemera” - Andrew Brooks (N Lancs the Trans-Siberian railway, but some W.F.A.) were sent to the eastern extremes of the th Russian Empire, near Vladivostok. As Feb 4 : “The Blackpool Training the Russian Revolution developed during Trenches: teaching soldiers then 1917, and after the treaty of Brest- teaching the public” – Nigel Neil (N Lancs Litovsk, some of the PoWs had the W.F.A.) opportunity to ‘escape’. However, other March 4th: “Chinese Labour” - John PoW camps found the camp-ownership Restorick (Bradford Mech. Inst. WW1 switching between the warring Bolshevik Group) a nd White Russian forces and some nd PoWs were not repatriated until 1922. April 2 TUESDAY: “The Italian Front Approximately 380,000 PoWs in Russia and the British in Italy” – John Chester (Spalding & S Lincs W.F.A.) are believed to have died in captivity. Andrew revealed that the Austro- May 7th TUESDAY: “VADs” - Sue Light Hungarian government displayed an (Sussex W.F.A.) authoritarian sensitivity to June 3rd: “Mesopotamia” – Alan correspondence between the PoWs and Wakefield (IWM, author and Chairman of their families. A mail censorship group the Salonika Campaign Society) was established to censor incoming mail from PoWs and outgoing mail from their Details of the remainder of the 2013 families. By 1916, 1150 censors were in programme will be publicised as soon as place , covering the large number of possible. 31 THE EAST LANCASHIRE CONTEMPTIBLES

At 7.30 am on 22nd August 1914 the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regt. sailed from Southampton to join the 4 Divisions of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) already in France. They disembarked at Le Havre and on 23rd assembled in camp whilst the BEF fought at Mons. That night they set off by train to join the fighting and moved slowly to Le Cateau where they detrained at 7.30 pm on the 24th. Meanwhile on the 24th the BEF fought to disengage from the Germans and commence the famous retreat. The East Lancs moved off as quickly as possible and on the march to Briaste they heard the first news of the war situation. Early next morning (25th) they took up a position on the high ground south of Solemnes to protect the important Solesmes thoroughfare for retreating troops. Here Major Lambert took this unique photo, read more about his photos on Page 14.

LANCASHIRE’S BEST KEPT WAR MEMORIAL 2012

Blacko has won the award for the best kept War Memorial for 2012 with that in Wrea Green being highly commended.

Western Front Association, North Lancashire Branch Chairman: Stan Wilkinson Treasurer: Chris Payne Tel: 01524 262302 Tel: 01539 561980 Secreta ry: Dr. Graham Kemp Editor: Terry Dean Tel: 01524 310649 Tel: 01772 864182 Mob: 07866 493210 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Website: www.wfanlancs.co.uk