Ninetieth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Sunday 28th October 1917

We understand that 5th Division is being relieved in the front line by 14th (Light) Division following its attack two days ago. The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have been relieved by the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. The relief began at 4.45 pm and is drawing to its conclusion as I write these lines. The adjutant tells me that during the time the battalion was in the line it has suffered 101 casualties to other ranks, with two officers also being wounded one of whom, Second Lieutenant Croockewit, has subsequently died of his wounds.

Source: X550/2/5

Twenty Fifth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Friday 24th August 1917

There has been fighting again today around the Ypres Salient. 14th (Light) Division are at the old stamping ground of the 18th Division - Inverness Copse. This morning the front line ran through the middle of this blasted wood and at 4 a.m. the enemy unleashed a powerful barrage upon it and the ground north of it, as far as Glencorse Wood. They then launched an attack by men with grenades and flame-throwers. On the open ground just south of Glencorse Wood and east of Fitzclarence Farm the Germans were successful in driving the Division back somewhat. They were less successful in Inverness Copse, as shattered trees make very effective obstacles to progress of any attacker. As I write this the Division is still holding the western edge of the wood.

Again, as I write the Worcesters of 61st Division are attacking an enemy strongpoint called Aisne Farm(1)

After their day at the seaside yesterday the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are back to training today. The adjutant tells me that 5th Army musketry range was allotted to the Battalion. The men were taken there by lorries starting at 9 a.m. The rifle shooting of the men was good each man fired 15 rounds at a figure target, and Lewis gunners fired at a plate.

Source: X550/8/1

(1)This was unsuccessful.

Nineteenth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Saturday 18th August 1917

Another day without rain. 43rd Brigade of 14th (Light) Division went into action today. They have been given the unpleasant duty of attacking Inverness Copse, graveyard of so many of the hopes of 18th Division, as well as temporary resting place of so many of its men. Men from the Somerset Light Infantry and Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, with support from tanks, have been able to advance half-way through this troublesome wood and are consolidating their positions. These woods - Inverness Copse, Glencorse Wood, Nonne Bosschen and Polygon Wood are, once again, underlining how difficult large bodies of shattered trees are to take, as did the numerous woods on the Somme last year.

We have heard from 7th Bedfords. They got on trains at Dickebush Railhead and have moved to the town of Arneke some miles to the west of Ypres, in France. They will be heading for billets in a village called Buysscheure a few miles to the south-west of Arneke as I write these lines.

Source: X550/8/1

Day Fifty Eight on the Somme

Sunday 27th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Last night the final part of Edge Trench, which runs along the eastern face of Delville Wood, was seized in a surprise attack by 14th (Light) Division, taking about sixty Germans prisoner. Thus to the 14th (Light) Division fell the honour of finally capturing the last few blasted trees of Devil’s Wood, which has withstood assaults since 14th July and has seen off 5th Division, 9th (Scottish) with its indomitable South African Brigade, and 17th (Northern) Divisions.

Fighting goes on around High Wood. Another Scottish division – 15th has been fighting off German attacks west of the wood.

This afternoon, the adjutant of 1st Bedfords contacted me and told me that senior officers from the Battalion have been inspecting trenches south of Guillemont. So it seems as if 5th Division will be dragged into the fight for this ruined place, so close to the scene of its last actions on the Somme at Longueval. Meanwhile 2nd Bedfords have taken over front line trenches at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée near Béthune.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd

Day Fifty Six on the Somme

Friday 25th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

We understand that the French attack yesterday finally saw them recapture the village of Maurepas, south-east of Guillemont. Meanwhile the German attack on the 23rd/24th August has meant that the British Army continues to consolidate and plan its next move

The adjutant of 1st Bedfords has wired me to say that his unit is back on the Somme. They are currently occupying a sandpit south-east of the village of Méaulte, a few miles behind the lines.

14th (Light) Division made an attack in Delville Wood early this morning. It is reported that they have pushed the enemy from a section of trench on the eastern edge of the wood.

Source: X550/2/5

Day Fifty Five on the Somme

Thursday 24th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today 100th Brigade of 33rd Division made an unsuccessful attack between High Wood and Delville Wood. 

More urgently the Germans attacked 20th (Light) Division’s positions south of the railway and west of Guillemont last night. Our lines were full of engineers and parties of men working on consolidation, nevertheless, the attack was beaten-off. The 20th Division had been due to make an attack on Guillemont this morning but last night’s German effort has meant that this has had to be postponed.

The 14th (Light) Division again tried to push the Germans out of Delville Wood and managed to advance their front line. Nevertheless the enemy retains a foot-hold on the northern and north-eastern fringes on the wood.

Just over an hour ago we heard that the French had launched an attack all the way along the line from the River Somme to the boundary with the British army near Hardecourt-au-Bois. 

Day Fifty Three on the Somme

Tuesday 22nd August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Early this morning 14th (Light) Division captured part of Edge Trench. This trench runs, as the name implies, along the eastern edge of Delville Wood. The Germans now have just a toe-hold remaining in this wood.

On the Pozières Ridge, 48th (South Midland) Division withstood German attacks on posts captured a short time before. This evening the enemy are reported to be attacking again and, indeed, much noise is audible from the north-west of my position in the rear areas around Montauban. 

Day Fifty Two on the Somme

Monday 21st August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Attacks have been made today at those twin sores Delville Wood and Guillemont. An attack by 41st Brigade (of 14th Division) on German defenses inside Devil’s Wood was a failure which inflicted over two hundred casualties on the light infantrymen.

33rd Division made an attack around midnight from the road from Longueval to Flers to a trench called Wood Lane which follows the track from the eastern tip of High Wood south-east towards Longueval and which ends in a T junction short of the northern end of the village. Regrettably one battalion was informed of the planned attack to late so only one battalion made the assault and it was beaten off by the defenders. On a brighter note, 14th (Light) Division succeeded in capturing trenches in and on the east side of Delville Wood and in taking two hundred prisoners.

Last night the French captured Angle Wood, north-east of Hardecourt-au-Bois, north-west of Maurepas and some way south of Guillemont, which they subsequently handed over to 35th Division. 

An attack by 35th Division on a strong-point near Arrowhead Copse was unsuccessful but a trench called Zig-Zag Trench which moves into the remains of Guillemont was captured by 24th Division.

This afternoon an attack on the quarry on the western edge of Guillemont has failed and, although a gallant fight for Guillemont Station was put up by the attackers, our men were unable to hold it due to the number of casualties they had taken. Thus Guillemont still evades the grasping hand of the British Army. 

Day Forty Nine on the Somme

Friday 18th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has seen more activity than any other day this month so far. On the left of the British line as it attacks from south to north, 33rd Division attacked High Wood. This novel attack was intended to use a German tactic, first used against British troops in July last year at Hooge near Ypres and used against 1st Division yesterday – flame-throwers, as well as oil drums hurled by Livens Projectors(1). Unfortunately the flamethrowers failed and the Livens Projectors were damaged and buried by the British barrage which fell short of its target. Given these failures it is not surprising that the infantry were unable to get forward in any numbers. Despite the setbacks, however, the imaginative thinking employed can only be applauded. At least Wood Trench between High Wood and Delville Wood (and north-west of Delville Wood) was captured.

In the centre of the attack Delville Wood has, once more, been attacked, along with the trenches immediately bordering it to the west and east. This time the unit drawing the proverbial short straw was 14th (Light) Division. Some prisoners were taken in the centre of the remains of the wood and gains were made, with a number of trenches falling to the attackers in the wood and either side of it.

An old and hated name resurfaced briefly in conversation today - Trônes Wood. 24th Division began an attack east on Guillemont from there this morning, following the line of the remains of the track leading from the remains of wood to the remains of the village. The attack mostly ground to a halt in front of the German wire, stopped by machine-guns. However, the German line was penetrated near the quarry on the west side of Guillemont and the position has been consolidated. In the area between the north-west of Guillemont and south-east of Delville Wood progress was made and around one hundred prisoners taken.

The right flank of the attack was south of Guillemont. 3rd Division attacked a trench called Lonely Trench east of Maltz Horn Farm near the road south from Hardecourt-au-Bois to Guillemont – a place which has become as infamous to Tommy Atkins as Delville Wood or High Wood and is generally known as the Gillymong Road. Trenches south-east of Arrowhead Copse were also attacked. Most of these attacks were unsuccessful. Meanwhile French troops took some more of the village of Maurepas and joined up with 3rd Division south of Guillemont. We have just heard, however, that the French have, again, been pushed back by a German counter-attack.

Meanwhile the Australians on the Pozières Ridge made further attacks towards Mouquet Farm as wel las south-east of the road from Albert to Bapaume. We understand some progress has been made here, too.

(1) Essentially large buried mortars