Featuring the careers of forty-three men, this volume tells the story of the Battle of Cambrai, famous for being the first occasion when tanks were used en masse in battle. Its first day was so successful that church bells in Britain were rung in anticipation of a great victory. A tank crewman numbers among the recipients of the VC. Containing biographies of a broad cross-section of men from Britain and the Dominions including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even the Ukraine. It includes a sapper, a former miner, who chose to stay with his seriously wounded colleague underground and die with him, rather than obey an order to leave him and save his own life; a maverick lieutenant-colonel who was relieved of his command and a padre who worked tirelessly over a period of three nights bringing at least twenty-five men to safety from No Man's Land, who otherwise would have been left to die.
Featuring the careers of forty-three men, this volume tells the story of the Battle of Cambrai, famous for being the first occasion when tanks were used en masse in battle. Its first day was so successful that church bells in Britain were rung in anticipation of a great victory. A tank crewman numbers among the recipients of the VC. Containing biographies of a broad cross-section of men from Britain and the Dominions including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even the Ukraine. It includes a sapper, a former miner, who chose to stay with his seriously wounded colleague underground and die with him, rather than obey an order to leave him and save his own life; a maverick lieutenant-colonel who was relieved of his command and a padre who worked tirelessly over a period of three nights bringing at least twenty-five men to safety from No Man's Land, who otherwise would have been left to die.
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Featuring the careers of forty-three men, this volume tells the story of the Battle of Cambrai, famous for being the first occasion when tanks were used en masse in battle. Its first day was so successful that church bells in Britain were rung in anticipation of a great victory. A tank crewman numbers among the recipients of the VC. Containing biographies of a broad cross-section of men from Britain and the Dominions including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even the Ukraine. It includes a sapper, a former miner, who chose to stay with his seriously wounded colleague underground and die with him, rather than obey an order to leave him and save his own life; a maverick lieutenant-colonel who was relieved of his command and a padre who worked tirelessly over a period of three nights bringing at least twenty-five men to safety from No Man's Land, who otherwise would have been left to die.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780752483771 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The History Press |
| Publication date: | 02/29/2012 |
| Series: | VCs of the First World War |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 288 |
| File size: | 6 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
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VCs of the First World War: Cambrai 1917
By Gerald Gliddon
The History Press
Copyright © 2016 Gerald GliddonAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7524-8377-1
CHAPTER 1
E.A. McNair
Near Hooge, Belgium, 14 February 1916
It is often overlooked that things were pretty quiet on the Western Front in 1916 before the beginning of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July; but, nevertheless, no fewer than thirteen Victoria Crosses were won in Belgium and France in the first six months of that fateful year.
On 14 February Eric Archibald McNair was the first Allied soldier to win a VC on the Western Front since William Young had won his to the east of Foncquevillers just before Christmas in 1915. McNair was a temporary lieutenant with the 9th (Service) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment (73rd Brigade) 24th Division and won the award close to the Menin Road at Hooge in Belgium.
Prior to the commencement of the German offensive against Verdun the enemy carried out a series of operations against different sections of the Ypres Salient. On the night of 13 February trenches at Hooge and Sanctuary Wood were bombarded, and, according to the 73rd Brigade Diary, on the 14th activity began with British Artillery firing on a section of the German line of trenches that was later reported as being 'knocked in'. The enemy duly retaliated during the early afternoon and heavily shelled Hooge. Later they carried out a bombardment against an important observation post called the 'The Bluff', close to the Ypres–Comines Canal, 2 miles south of Ypres. At 5.30 p.m. an order to stand-to was given, and an SOS signal was sent up at Hooge when it was being shelled. An hour later the enemy blew a mine near a map position called H.16, and the inner edge of the crater was soon occupied by members of the 9th Royal Sussex Battalion.
The brigade diary seemed to have played down the story of what really happened that day, failing to tell the full story or even mention that the enemy mine caused a very great deal of damage as well as many casualties. The account even described the enemy as making a 'very feeble effort' after they had blown the mine. However, a later issue of the Sussex Daily News described what had really happened to the battalion as a 'terrible ordeal'.
The 24th Divisional War Diary stated that the 'enemy blew 2 mines in front of our trench H.16-H.18', and in an Intelligence Summary it stated that the enemy had been prevented from an attack at Hooge on the 14th 'by one of our Lewis guns' that opened fire on a German machine-gun when it was being brought forward. A company of the 9th Royal Sussex repulsed the enemy at position H.18.
Later, a member of the machine-gun section of the battalion who came from Brighton wrote an account of the events to a friend at the end of February:
... We took over trenches last Thursday week, and on the following two days we suffered one of the worst bombardments of the war. Day and night, continually, our front line trenches and support trenches were shelled with high explosives. On the Monday the bombardment reached its height. The gun team I was in went on duty at 2 o'clock and by 3 o'clock the full fury of the German bombardment commenced.
I cannot describe what it was like in words. At 4 o'clock only myself and another fellow were left with the gun ... We were thrown to the bottom of the trench five times ... about 6 o'clock, when the whole trench rocked like a boat. It first seemed to go up at one end, throwing me on my chum, and then throwing us back again. It took me a few minutes to realise that the Germans had exploded a mine ...
The two men were probably saved from being buried alive by a section of corrugated iron, but they had great trouble with clearing a large quantity of earth that had poured down over their shelter. After they had got over their initial shock they found that what had a few minutes ago been trenches was now 'simply flat ground'. Supports then arrived and they were able to lay their gun, aiming at a gap in the British line 300 yards away, while their colleagues charged for first occupation of the crater.
The above letter gives the background of the winning of three DCMs, together with T/Lt McNair's VC. The official citation of his deed was published in the London Gazette of 30 March as follows:
... Eric Archibald McNair, Lieutenant, Royal Sussex Regiment. When the enemy exploded a mine, Lieutenant McNair and many men of two platoons were hoisted into the air, and many were buried. But, though much shaken, he at once organised a party with a machine-gun to man the near edge of the crater, and opened rapid fire on a large party of the enemy who were advancing. The enemy were driven back, leaving many dead. Lieutenant McNair then ran back for reinforcements, and sent to another unit for bombs, ammunition and tools to replace those buried. The communication trench being blocked, he went across the open under heavy fire, and led up the reinforcements the same way. His prompt and plucky action undoubtedly saved the situation.
McNair received his VC at Buckingham Palace from the King at an investiture on 20 May 1916, and soon returned to the front, only to be severely wounded by gunshot wounds to his shoulder and back at Guillemont on 18 August 1916 when the 9th Royal Sussex were in support to the 7th (S) Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment. He was subsequently invalided home and not passed fit for service until the end of January 1917. He was never to be fit enough for front-line duty again and could therefore only work as a member of the staff.
At some point he had managed to get home to India for a short leave, but while there he became ill. He was passed fit for service again and put on probation for staff work, attending a special staff course. After being in service at home for several months he was attached to the staff and in 1918 left for the Italian Front, where he was attached to the General Staff, GHQ, Italian Expeditionary Force. It was possible that the Prince of Wales, a friend from college days, assisted in getting him the position.
However, it appears that he was not in fact at all fit for active service at this time: on 27 June his family were alerted that he was seriously ill, and six days later 'dangerously ill'. He was invalided back to 11 General Hospital in Genoa in Northern Italy, where he died of amoebic dysentery on 12 August. He was twenty-four years old.
At this time Genoa was a base for Dominion Forces, and McNair was buried as late as 8 November at Campo Santo Cemetery in the British Portion. The name of the cemetery was later changed to Staglieno Cemetery, and his grave reference, Plot I, B, 32, carried the inscription 'And I Know That His Commandment Is Life Eternal'. The CWGC Register describes the cemetery as 'steeply terraced with numerous steps'.
After his death McNair's VC remained in his family and at one point was the property of Sir George Douglas McNair, one of Eric's brothers, who died in Torquay in 1967. The decoration was bequeathed to the Royal Sussex Regimental Museum. Eric McNair's name is commemorated in the Regimental Memorial in Chichester Cathedral and his VC is on display at the Royal Sussex Regimental Museum at the Redoubt Fortress, Eastbourne, Sussex. His deeds of February 1916 were written up twice in comic form in The Victor on 1 May 1965 and 25 June 1977.
* * *
Eric Archibald McNair was born in Calcutta on 16 June 1894, second son of George McNair, a senior partner in Morgan & Co., solicitors, and his wife Isabella Frederica, née Gow. The family lived at 5 Harrington Street, Calcutta.
Eric left for England to attend Branksome College in Godalming, Surrey, where he was a pupil in Mr Sylvester's House. In 1907 he moved onto Charterhouse in Horsham, where he remained for nearly six years until 1913. He became a successful sportsman and member of Lockites House. Known as 'Fuzzy', he was appointed Head Monitor during his final year and joined the OTC. His older brother, George had been a member of the same house from 1901–1904. McNair was a classical scholar; a good athlete and an excellent disciplinarian. In midsummer 1913 he went up to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he had a Demyship (scholarship). It is possible that at this time he met the Prince of Wales, who was at the same college for a brief time, just before the outbreak of war. Their friendship was to be renewed five years later in 1918 on the Italian Front.
As a student in residence McNair was working for the Indian Civil Service examinations and was considered to be 'very clever', but the outbreak of the war in August 1914 put paid to his ambitions. He decided to join the Army and enlisted on 14 October as a second lieutenant in the 10th Royal Sussex Regiment. He was made a full lieutenant on 22 December and in August 1915 was transferred to the 9th Battalion and left for the front the following month. In October he was promoted to captain and company commander, taking part in the Loos battle when the 9th Royal Sussex were involved in the 73rd Brigade's failed attempt to hold onto Fosse 8. McNair became one of eighteen officer casualties.
CHAPTER 2W.R. Cotter
Near Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, 6 March 1916
The 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) was formed at Canterbury in August 1914 and became part of the 37th Brigade of the 12th Division. The division arrived in the area of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, near Bethune, in mid-February 1916, where it had been three months before. The Division took over from the Cavalry Corps, who, according to the official history, ' ... were holding the Quarries and Hohenzollern sectors from opposite Cité St Elie to opposite the dump of Fosse 8'.
Near the end of February, the 170th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers had completed three mines under the enemy's shallow system. It was decided that these mines should be blown as soon as possible, which would allow the British to recover a position close to the Triangle Crater called the Chord, which had once been the front line but was now in enemy hands.
The Chord ran along the front of the German line between the sites of the first two mines, A and B, and at mine C it changed its name to Little Willie. The three mines were duly fired on 2 March and most of the objectives were captured, except for a northern section of the Chord. Over the next few days the enemy made strenuous efforts to retake the lost ground and in particular Mine A, which allowed the British to have good observation over their lines.
On 5 March the 36th Brigade was relieved by the 37th, whose HQ was based at Vermelles, and the 6th Buffs became the right battalion. According to the 37th Brigade Diary, their orders were to capture Triangle Trench and consolidate on the Chord–Big Willie line, 50 yards south-east of its junction with the German trench running to the south of Triangle Crater:
... We exploded a mine at midnight just south of Sap 6, close to the German front line to blow in hostile gallery; no attempt made to occupy crater by either side. Hostile Trench Mortars and artillery fire did some damage to Sticky Trench, Northampton Trench & Vigo Street. 5.10 a.m. enemy blew a small mine near Sap 2. No damage done. Neither side occupied crater ...
At 9 a.m. the enemy blew a mine of their own, this time near Sap 6, only 20 yards from the parapet. No damage was done but Saps 5 and 6 were partly filled. Seven hours later, and preceded by heavy bombardment, another German mine was exploded, this time in front of Alexander Trench close to Sap 6. Sixteen men suffered badly from shock and there was slight damage to the trenches. An hour later, at 6.00 p.m., C Coy of the 6th Buffs attacked the Triangle Crater and the Chord in three parties. Two of the parties were held up within ten minutes by accurate bombing, and the third by the nature of the heavy ground conditions, with water and mud being knee-deep. Only one party made any real progress and reached their objective, but without the assistance of the other two parties the situation was hopeless. Reinforcements were requested and a company from the 6th Royal West Kents was ordered up to try to assist.
The attack turned out to be entirely unsuccessful, and the battalion diary recorded casualties of twenty-nine killed and 233 missing or wounded, including those men who had suffered from shock. The battalion diary considered that the attack failed because of a preponderance of the enemy (it was later discovered that 100 German bombers with unlimited supplies of grenades were on the point of making an attack of their own launched from deep trenches intersecting the Triangle), muddy conditions and the short notice given for the attack. In addition, no allowance was made for the ground to be reconnoitred. Finally, the process of bomb supply was severely interrupted by a very active enemy.
On 7 March mining and counter-mining continued and the 6th Buffs were relieved by the 6th Royal West Kents.
The fighting at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, which had begun on the 2nd with the British firing five mines and occupying forward lips of the craters, continued with fluctuating intensity through deteriorating weather conditions of cold and heavy snowstorms. However, these conditions did not deter the enemy from making active preparations for regaining their former positions, which they eventually achieved on the 18th, when the 37th Brigade had been in the line for fourteen days.
There were many acts of heroism during the crater fighting, but one that stands out is that of Cpl William Cotter, who despite his shattered legs continued to direct a bombing attack and even managed to continue to throw a number of bombs himself. There is no shortage of information in the records about his gallant deed, and it would seem sensible to quote in full from Appendix L from the 37th War Diary signed by Capt R.O.C. Ward under recommendation of Cpl W. Cotter for the Victoria Cross.
In the attack made by the 6th Battalion, The Buffs, along the Northern Trench of TRIANGLE CRATER, on the night of the 6th March, the party led by Corpl. Cotter was cut off owing to casualties in the centre. He returned under heavy bomb fire, reported the matter and then took back bombs to his party, so enabling them to fight their way back to No 2 CRATER.
While directing this latter operation his right leg was blown off close to the knee and he was also wounded in both arms.
He made his way unaided along 50 yds of trench in order to reach No 2 CRATER.
While doing so he came upon a junior N.C.O. (Lance/Corporal Newman) who with his section was bombing towards the right. Corpl. Cotter appreciating where help was most needed directed him to bomb towards the left.
He reached No 2 CRATER and by this time the Germans had developed a violent and rapid counter-attack.
Matters became somewhat disorganised as the garrison of the Crater was throwing bombs and firing wildly, whilst they were suffering heavy casualties from the enemy's bombs.
Corpl. Cotter then from a position on the side of the Crater although suffering great pain, steadied the men, issued orders, controlled their fire and then altered their dispositions to meet the attack on his side of the Crater. He also directed and controlled the supply of bombs and S.A.A.
He remained in this position for about two hours and only after the attack had been repelled and matters had quietened down a little would he permit his wounds to be roughly dressed.
It was not possible to evacuate him until 14 hours later and during this time he had a cheery word for all who passed by the entrance of the 'dug-out' where he was placed.
Undoubtedly the fine example he showed to all by his endurance under suffering, coolness under fire, and keen sense of duty, helped greatly to save what might have become a very critical situation.
During the time he has been with the 6th Battalion, The Buffs he has always proved himself a fine soldier. In the trenches his activities lay chiefly in Sniping and Scouting, and in this connection he has rendered very valuable service.
He was always ready to volunteer for such work as patrols, wiring etc, and never considered a task too dangerous or disagreeable for him.
Cotter was taken to a casualty clearing station (CCS) at Lillers, where his right leg was amputated below the knee. Both of his arms were also wounded. In Unknown Warriors, a book of extracts from the letters of Nursing Sister K.E. Luard, RRC, who was a sister-in-charge of a CCS, is a letter written from Lillers on 15 March 1916:
There is a story to tell you about the quiet, determined-looking little man in the 'Surgical' with the glass eye – Corporal Cotter of The Buffs – who came in with his leg bombed off.
Yesterday morning he was so much better he was able to talk a little more.
He told me (only when asked how he got it) that he was leading a bombing attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and took his men up a wrong turning and came on 'thousands of Germans'.
He somehow got his men away again, minus his leg. 'It was dark, and I didn't know me leg was gone – so I kep' on throwing the bombs, and Little Wood he kep' by me and took the pins out for me.' (His hand was badly wounded as well.)
At last 'Little Wood' got him into a dugout in a crater and stayed with him all night.
Yesterday morning, General Gough, Corps Commander, and two other Generals turned up and asked to see Corporal Cotter of The Buffs, to tell him that he was recommended for the V.C.
General Gough told me he was a marvellous man, known throughout the Division as the 'Corporal of The Buffs with One Eye,' famed for bravery and scouting at night for snipers by himself.
They were awfully nice to him, and Capt. R. told them all about the leg and the drip treatment, etc.
Later that day the Corporal had a severe haemorrhage and so nearly died that they daren't give him an anaesthetic, but Capt. R. took his gangrenous leg off through the knee as he was, without his feeling it as he was unconscious.
We slaved at him all the evening, but he died at 8 p.m.
Wasn't it horribly tragic? But he did know about his V.C.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from VCs of the First World War: Cambrai 1917 by Gerald Gliddon. Copyright © 2016 Gerald Gliddon. Excerpted by permission of The History Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Title,Acknowledgements,
Prefatory Note,
Introduction,
Preface to the 2012 edition,
E.A. McNair,
W.R. Cotter,
E.N. Mellish,
E.F. Baxter,
R.B.B. Jones,
G.W. Chafer,
A.H. Procter,
J. Erskine,
W. Hackett,
A.H.H. Batten-Pooll,
W. Jackson,
J. Hutchinson,
N.V. Carter,
W.B. Butler,
F. Hobson, M.J. O'Rourke, H. Brown and O.M. Learmonth,
R.H. Hanna and F. Konowal,
H.F. Parsons,
S.J. Day,
A.E. Shepherd,
R.W.L. Wain,
R. McBeath,
C.E. Spackman,
J. Sherwood-Kelly,
H. Strachan,
J. McAulay,
G.W.B. Clare,
C.E. Gourley,
S.T.D. Wallace,
N.B. Elliott-Cooper,
R. Gee,
J. Thomas,
W.N. Stone,
A.M.C. McReady Diarmid,
G.H.T. Paton,
Gobind Singh,
A.M. Lascelles,
J.S. Emerson,
H.J. Nicholas,
W. Mills,
Sources,
Bibliography,
Plates,
Copyright,