World War I 7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers

1 world war i

1.1 1/7th battalion

1.1.1 gallipoli
1.1.2 egypt
1.1.3 ypres
1.1.4 spring offensive
1.1.5 hundred days
1.1.6 commanding officers


1.2 2/7th battalion

1.2.1 spring offensive
1.2.2 commanding officers


1.3 3/7th battalion

world war i

on outbreak of war, units of east lancashire division @ annual training camps. received order mobilise @ 17.30 on 4 august, , returned battalion hqs, men billeted close by. on 10 august tf invited volunteer overseas service, , within few days 90 per cent of division had accepted. on 20 august division moved camps training, , on 9 september entrained southampton embark egypt. division began disembark @ alexandria on 25 september , lancashire fusiliers brigade concentrated training round cairo. @ first role relieve regular troops garrison service on western front, on 5 november britain declared war on ottoman empire , egypt became war zone. east lancashire division went guard suez canal.

meanwhile, men had not volunteered overseas service, or unfit, remained @ salford train flood of recruits coming in. on 31 august 1914, formation of reserve or 2nd line units each existing tf unit authorised, , men @ salford became 2/7th bn, after parent battalion designated 1/7th. later 3/7th bn raised provide reinforcements 1st , 2nd line.

1/7th battalion
gallipoli

a boat carrying men of 125th (lancashire fusiliers) brigade ashore @ cape helles, may 1915. photo ernest brooks

after period spent in canal defences, battalion embarked on ss nile @ alexandria between 1 , 6 may 1915 gallipoli peninsula , disembarked @ w beach @ cape helles, allied troops had landed few days earlier. lancashire fusilier brigade first part of division go action, temporarily attached 29th division second battle of krithia on 6 may. 1/7th supported attack 1/6th bn , following day moved forward through captured line, forced retire after 2 attempts @ take gurkha bluff. battalion relieved @ sundown.

the lancashire fusiliers brigade reverted east lancashire division, later month numbered 42nd (east lancashire) division, when brigade became 125th (lancashire fusiliers) brigade. next 3 weeks there little actual fighting, , brigade occupied part of redoubt line. on 4 june took part in third battle of krithia, 1/7th moved divisional reserve join fighting, more heavily engaged on 6 june in fending off turkish counter-attacks. battalion suffered 179 casualties.

during july battalion took turns in holding front , support lines, apart brief relief (8–13 july) island of imbros. on 4 august moved redoubt line , on 7 august front line @ krithia road take part in battle of krithia vineyard. fighting singularly brainless , suicidal type of warfare , , virtually nothing achieved in of these attacks, @ cost of heavy casualties. 2 brigades of 42nd division attacked on second day of krithia vineyard battle: nightfall both brigades in old lines, exception of parties of 6th , 7th lancashire fusiliers, defended vineyard against repeated turkish attacks until, after bitter , pointless struggle during following 5 days, trench dug across centre of worthless tract of scrub became british front line . battalion war diary notes men thoroughly worn out; , out of strength of 410 ncos , men, 139 returned when relieved. 3 distinguished conduct medals awarded members of battalion.

after failure, helles front shut down , no further attacks made. 1/7th bn took turns in front , reserve lines @ gully ravine, gully beach , gully spur, losing several men buried when turks exploded mine @ cawley s crater. in october 1/7th temporarily amalgamated 1/6th lancashire fusiliers due casualties , sickness.

throughout first 2 weeks of december, 1/7th bn dug , sniped way forwards slow , steady stages. on 14 december 1/7th occupying cawley s crater when patrol detected enemy mine-shaft @ gridiron, 6 yards battalion s position. following day party led capt a.w. boyd laid , exploded charge in enemy mine-shaft. decision had been made evacuate peninsula, beginning on 16 december. small operation laid on @ gridiron day diversion. attacking force under capt boyd drawn 1/7th bn, supported 1/2nd west lancashire field company, royal engineers , 1/6th bn behind using catapults throw grenades. mine exploded on far side of crater, blowing in turkish trench , extending crater, , storming party occupied trench , advanced way along in both directions, erecting barricades. evening turkish counter-attack drove them out, boyd organised fresh attack, supported bombing team sussex yeomanry, , regained position within 15 minutes – bombing teams had restrained penetrating far down trenches in pursuit. viii corps commander (lt-gen sir francis davies) officially named position boyd s crater .

the 1/7th bn moved down w beach on 27 december , sailed aboard ss ermine mudros , in mid-january egypt. battle casualties gallipoli campaign had been 7 officers , 242 other ranks, numbers hospitalised sickness considerably higher.

egypt

the 42nd division settled no 3 section of suez canal defences @ kantara until 4 august when turkish attack began battle of romani. division entrained pelusium. following day british sallied out entrenched positions support anzac mounted division in pursuing enemy. however, 42nd untrained in desert conditions, , suffered badly heat , thirst in sinai desert: large numbers fell out , there many deaths. infantry pursuit ineffective , enemy retreated in order.

in december 1916, egyptian expeditionary force began advance across sinai attack turkish forces in palestine. 42nd division s units protecting lines of communication, , on 13 december took part in practice attack. however, after reaching el arish, division received orders on 28 january 1917 transfer western front. on 22 february began embarking @ alexandria marseilles.

ypres

the move of 42nd division france completed on 15 march, , on 8 april went line near Épehy, 1/7th being first battalion enter line. division remained in sector until 8 july, when moved ypres salient. 23 august until end of month infantry behind line @ poperinghe, training take part in third ypres offensive under way. on 1 september division went line near frezenberg ridge, , on 6 september lancashire fusiliers made unsuccessful attempt capture fortified iberian, borry , beck farms; 1/7th not in attack, still suffered casualties, particularly among carrying party supporting 1/5th bn. division s infantry relieved , returned rest @ poperinghe on 18 september, moved nieuport area until november.

spring offensive

during winter, division held line near givenchy, constructing defences on new principle of defended localities in anticipation of german spring offensive. on 12 february patrol 1/7th bn detected german mine-shaft, , fetched demolition party destroy it. when german attack came on 21 march division in general headquarters reserve, moved line relieve 40th division , defend against north wing of german offensive (the 1st battle of bapaume). on morning of 25 march germans pushed through 40th division sapignies: company of 1/7th bn , part of 1/5th bn lancashire fusiliers tried check advance , subjected fire massed machine guns , field artillery battery until support arrived , sapignies regained. remainder of 1/7th bn dug in on ridge north, , heavily attacked.

despite having held positions, both of 42nd division s flanks in air , had withdraw following day, retiring bucquoy continue defence during 1st battle of arras (28 march). in old, dilapidated trenches, held line, , german advance checked. division relieved on night of 29/30 march. returned front line on 1/2 april near ayete , following night 125th bde raided new enemy strongpoint. @ 05.00 on 5 april heavy shelling high explosive , poison gas on brigade front heralded opening of battle of ancre. although half of 1/8th lancashire fusiliers overrun, 1/7th bn , remainder able hold ground. supported 1/5th bn forming defensive flank, battalion fought bitter battle day, until enemy advance brought standstill evening.

the division withdrawn rest , refit, returning quiet sector of line around gommecourt, refortified parts of old somme battlefield , helped train newly arrived army troops. on 17 july, 1/7th bn carried out successful daylight raid on enemy lines, , private g. heardley distinguished himself in 2 further attacks on 22 , 24 july; awarded dcm.

hundred days

on 21 august 1918 42nd division joined in second battle of somme attacking towards miraumont in battle of albert. 125th brigade captured strongpoint named lozenge , after 1/7th lancashire fusiliers tasked taking second objective, dovecot . when morning mist cleared, battalion found advancing upon enemy battery, opened fire @ point-blank range. attempt made hold shell-hole position enemy in strong force, , fierce counter-attack practically wiped out defenders. however, in course of afternoon joint attack 2 brigades drove enemy entire line of final objective, 7th l.f., assisted 2 machine-gun sections, capturing dovecot . however, in pre-dawn counter-attack following morning germans overran battalion s outposts , recaptured dovecot, until halted on line west battalion had consolidated previous night. division recaptured dovecot on 23 august , pushed on across river ancre miraumont.

after 2 days rest (26–27 august) division returned attack in second battle of bapaume, , 3 september advancing across open country in pursuit of enemy until reached line of canal du nord. considerable resistance met @ neuville-bourjonval , trench system beyond. company of 1/7th bn, supported box barrage laid down b company of 42nd machine gun bn, attacked these trenches on afternoon of 5 september. attack brilliantly successful, trench system being captured , more 100 prisoners taken, slight loss company . 42nd division withdrawn rest night.

on opening day of battle of canal du nord (27 september), 42nd division failed achieve objectives, 1/7th , 1/8th bns being exposed terrible enfilading fire high ground around beaucamp, , leading companies practically blotted out ... great gallantry 2 battalions persisted in face of murderous fire, failure drive enemy out of beaucamp made impossible fusiliers beyond first objective ... until towards midday . however, on second day (28 september) 125th brigade went forward @ 02.30 , caught enemy surprise. attack successful, rolling hindenburg line defences , taking many prisoners. resuming attack following morning, brigade reached division s objective of welsh ridge.

after short rest division marched advancing front line , on 12 october relieved new zealand division, had established bridgehead across river selle @ briastre. next 10 days 125th bde held position against heavy counter-attacks , shelling. other 2 brigades attacked through them on 20 october, taking objectives. battle of selle ended on 23 october full-scale advance, led 42nd division 125th bde 1/7th bn on right. 1/7th met fiercest opposition , held up, troops suffering heavy casualties enemy shellfire while forming up, , enemy held beaurain ridge stoutly. attack supported 2 stray tanks neighbouring brigade, , lancashire fusiliers took successive objectives between 04.45 , 08.00. lieutenant w.j. o bryen won rare second bar mc leading men round flank , capturing machine gun nest holding them up.

the division withdrawn reserve , halted around beauvois-en-cambrésis 24 october until advance resumed on 3 november. 42nd division moved through le quesnoy , forest of mormal , relieved new zealanders on 6 november. advance continued through hautmont on 8 november, 125 bde unable cross sambre because pontoons had not arrived, retraced steps overnight billets near pont sur sambre , crossed there. fusiliers forced enemy rearguards, , after dark patrols went forward , 1/7th bn cleared them off high ground near fort d hautmont, 1 of outer forts of fortress of maubeuge.

early on morning of 9 november, patrols of 1/7th bn went forward , found enemy had gone. after sappers had bridged sambre, battalion pushed outposts beyond maubeuge–avesnes-sur-helpe road, taking on whole divisional front while rest of battalions withdrawn billets. in evening 1/7th s patrols entered ferrière , les trieux – 2 miles beyond outpost line – , captured 3 trains full of munitions, lorry , machine guns. on 10 november battalion took on outposts of whole corps frontage. end of fighting, because armistice germany came effect following day. in december division moved quarters in charleroi area , mid-march 1919 of troops had gone home demobilisation.

the divisional history lists 27 officers (including attached) , 540 other ranks of 1/7th bn killed, died of wounds or sickness, or posted missing during war.

commanding officers

the following officers commanded 1/7th lancashire fusiliers during world war i:

lt-col a.f. maclure, td, 17 september 1913 – 6 may 1915.
lt-col c.t. alexander, dso, 5 may–24 september, 10 november–1 december 1915.
maj m.r.p.w. gledhill, mc, (royal irish regiment), 25 september–31 october; 20 december 1915 – 2 february 1916.
maj w.j. law, 2–9 november; 2–19 december 1915 (killed)
lt-col h.c. woodcock (6th bn gloucestershire regiment) 3 february–8 august 16 – 28 august 1916
maj e.w. lennard (6th bn gloucestershire regiment) 9–15 august 1916
lt-col w.e. maskell (devonshire regiment) 29 august 1916 – 12 september 1917
lt-col g.s. brewis, dso , bar, (welsh regiment) 13 september 1917 – 25 october 1918; 28 january 1919 disembodiment
lt-col t.j. kelly, dso, mc, (manchester regiment) 26 october 1918 – 27 january 1919

2/7th battalion

after 1st east lancashire division had embarked egypt, formation of 2nd line pushed forwards. large number of volunteers came salford corporation transport employees, including tram drivers , guards. recruiting carried out in salford, pendleton , surrounding areas. large drafts came bury , radcliffe, , later cheshire , wales.

the 2nd lancashire fusilier brigade numbered 197th (2/1st lancashire fusilier) brigade in august 1915 when 2nd east lancashire division became 66th (2nd east lancashire) division. there shortage of instructors, weapons , equipment. eventually, men issued .256-in japanese ariska rifles train. these not replaced lee-enfield rifles until end of 1915.

preliminary training of division had been made harder need supply drafts 1st line overseas, , not until august 1915 66th division concentrated round crowborough in sussex. formed part of second army of central force , home service men had been posted away, train overseas service. however, training continued delayed provision of drafts. in 1916 division transferred southern army of home forces , made responsible portion of east coast defences, 2/7th based @ hyderabad barracks, colchester. not until january 1917 66th deemed ready go overseas (the last tf division so).

embarkation orders received on 11 february , 16 march division s units had concentrated in france. once again, 2/7th bn first line. june september division engaged in minor operations along flanders coast, in october moved ypres salient took part in battle of poelcapelle (9 october). 2/7th advanced after exhausting 11-hour approach march; both commanding officer , second-in-command awarded dso work in organising chaotic situation , driving off enemy counter-attacks.

spring offensive

in february 66th division sent south reinforce fifth army, badly strung out. make best use of manpower, divisions deployed defence in depth. on opening day of german spring offensive (21 march 1918), 2/8th lancashire fusiliers in 197 bde s forward zone overwhelmed german attackers appearing out of morning fog. battle zone anchored on heavily fortified quarry outside village of templeux-le-guérard, held 2 , half companies of 2/7th lancashire fusiliers , 2 companies of divisional pioneer battalion (1/5th border regiment); however, strongpoint surrounded , bypassed attackers, began furious attack on rest of brigade in templeux-le-guérard. @ 3.00 pm germans brought heavy minenwerfers, destroyed positions in quarry, , @ same time entered quarry tunnels. of 450 men in quarry garrison 60 left on feet when surrendered 2 hours later. night remnant of brigade in templeux-le-guérard overrun , captured.

what remained of 66th division – maybe 500 fighting men end – retreated week, 1 brief stand on somme canal, until line patched reinforcements on 29 march. remains of 2/7th bn reduced cadre in april 1918, , used train newly arrived army units trench warfare. battlaion returned england, disembarking @ folkestone on 30 june. on 9 july, cadre reconstituted 24th bn lancashire fusiliers. training unit based @ cromer until end of war.

commanding officers

the following officers commanded 2/7th lancashire fusiliers during world war i:

lt-col a.j. bailey, td, 20 october 1914 – 9 june 1915
lt-col c. hodgkinson, vd, 10 june 1915 – 2 august 1916
lt-col s.h. hingley (middlesex regiment) 3 august 1916 – 15 may 1917
lt-col w.a. hobbins, des, 16 may 1917 – 4 january 1918
lt-col e.a.s. gell, mc, (royal fusiliers) 5 january–21 march 1918
maj c. alderson, dso, 21 march–10 april 1918
lt-col b.a. smith, mc, (south nottinghamshire hussars) 11–20 april
maj l.b.l. seckham, mc, 21 april–9 may 1918
lt-col g.t.b. wilson, dso, (highland light infantry) 10 may–9 july 1918

3/7th battalion

the 3/7th bn formed in march 1915 @ salford training unit. in april 1916 became 7th reserve bn, lancashire fusiliers, , in september 1916 absorbed 6th reserve bn, in east lancashire reserve brigade @ southport. 6th (r) bn later stationed @ ripon, , @ scarborough, had responsibility coast defence training under-18-year-old recruits. ended war @ bridlington