15th Battalion Sherwood Foresters

The 15th (Bantam) Battalion was made up initially of men, who although fit, were below the normal minimum service height of 5'3", moved to France with the 35th (Bantam) Division in 1916. The battalion fought with great distinction and heavy casualties throughout the 1916 battles on the Somme. However at the end of 1916, the problems of finding 'bantam' reinforcements in sufficient numbers became too difficult; the 15th Foresters was redesigned a normal 'service' battalion and fought as such until the end of the War.

This extract covers the entire period 1 January 1917 - April 1919.

January 1917
Spent whole month in billets at Dainville . Activities at this time included rest, training, inspections, assimilation of new drafts, and providing working parties. At this time the Battalion was under the command of Lt-Col W. Crellin, who has been with the Battalion throughout and was been promoted to the rank at the age of 24.

February 1917
During this month, the Battalion moved as part of the relocation of the Division to an area south of the River Somme. Geographically, this is the Plain of Santerre. It is flat arable land and largely featureless, save for being dotted with villages. The move initially took the Battalion south-west, to some villages lying north and west of Amiens, before the move into the Somme area on 18th February. This is not the area in which the BEF fought the 1916 Battle of the Somme, which is to the north of the river, but had been in occupation by the French Army. The move of the Division followed an agreement for the British to extend its line.

From the 1st to the 5th they remained at Dainville then moved to Villers l’Hopital on 6th. On the 7th the Battalion moved to Candas, and then moved to St Vaast en Chaussee on the 8th, remaining here carrying out a Company reorganisation, and Platoon training, until 17th. On the 18th they marched to Flesselles, then moved by train to Marcelcave, then march to Wiencourt where they remained in billets until they marched to Caix, then into huts at Camp des Ballons on the 20th. They moved to take over front line from French battalion in Chilly sector on the 21st, entering the Deux Cimetieres Communication Trench at 4.30pm, only to find it impassable because of mud. Did not complete relief until 11.30am the next day. With no revetments and no duckboards, the trenches were a morass. Movement had to be by going over the top. Much work to do. On the 24th, two front line Companies moved back into reserve at Tranchee du Paris and from 25th to the 28th they were clearing trenches.

March 1917
During February and March 1917, the German Army made a strategic withdrawal of several miles on the Somme front, to a newly prepared and immensely strong set of positions known to the British as the Hindenburg Line. After cautious initial probing, the BEF followed up, crossing ground deliberately devastated by the enemy. The 35th Division began to advance in mid-March, and after approaching the new line, dug in to create an entirely new position. Behind the lines, the BEF worked feverishly to restore captured railway lines and roads, to supply the new positions. Much hard labour was involved.

On the 1st, they relieved the 14th Glos in the Chilly sector, went into the trenches on 2nd and remained there until the 3rd. On the 4th they were relieved by 17th Lancs Fusiliers, and moved to billets in Vrely. On he 5th they moved to Camp des Ballons, remaining there until 12th. The Battalion marched to Rosieres on the 13th, where they remained until 17th, providing many working parties. They relieved the 14th Glos in the Chilly sector on the 17th. On the 18th they were ordered to advance to occupy the German front and support lines. At 2pm orders were received to continue to advance to Vieux Boche and Hyencourt le Petit. They were withdrawn to Vermandovillers for salvage work on the 19th and rested on the 20th. On 21st they marched to Rosieres for work on Rosieres-Chaulnes railway line; remained on this activity until 31st, moving to Morlemont on 28th for work on Nesle-Ham line.

April 1917
During this month, the Battalion moved into unfamiliar positions in the Saint-Quentin area.

On the 1st, they continuedto work on Ham-Nesle railway line, until 11th, then marching to Tertry on the 12th. The 13th was spent in reserve, providing working parties for road repair, until 15th. On the 16th they relieved the 17 Lancs Fusiliers, in a wood at Mon de Garde; digging defensive line at the southern end of Fresnoy le Petit , until 20th. On the 21st they moved into outpost line, north of Gricourt. Bn HQ placed in quarry at M27c1.5 where they remained until 25th; no incidents were reported. On the 26th they were relived and placed to work on a defensive line, until 30th. At 11pm on the 30th they were relieved by 19 Durham LI, then moved into billets at Tertry.

May 1917
From the 1st until the 7th they remained in billets, and then relieved 19 DLI in outpost line on the 8th. On the 9th, an attack was carried out at 4.30pm by four Platoons, to drive the enemy out of positions at Les Trois Sauvage. This was reported as successful. The 10th was spent strengthening new posts in positions captured yesterday, remaining until 12th when they were relieved by 14 Glos, and moved into support. The Battalion provided working parties, until 15th when they carried out a raid on Les Trois Sauvage to destroy strong points and take prisoners. They initially made good progress but were held up on thick wire east of the Farm itself. The Battalion suffered 40 casualties. On 17th they relieved 14 Glos in outpost line, then relieved by 1st Bn, 72nd regiment of 87th French Territorial Division. on the 18th. The came under heavy shelling during relief but suffered no casualties. Moved to Tertry. From 19th to the 23rd they rested and refit, marching to Peronne on 23rd, where they remained in billets until 25th, when they marched to Templeux-la-Fosse, remaining on Company and Battalion training until 2nd June. On 28th, 400 men were guests of 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters, who were encamped at Aizecourt le Haut.

June 1917
On the 2nd they relieved the 17th West Yorks in support trenches at Villers-Guislai, remaining in position until 10th, providing working parties. On the 10th they relieved the 14th Glos in front line trenches. A wounded prisoner was captured and identified on the 14th, and they remained working on trenches until the 18th when they were relieved by the 18th Lancashire Fusiliers, and marched to camp north-west of Heudecourt. They remained here, engaged in training, sports activities, concerts etc, until 26th when they moved to relieve the 19th DLI in Brigade Reserve in trenches in Gauche Wood sector, where they provided working parties until 30th. On the 30th they moved by Decauville railway from Heudecourt, to camp at Villers-Faucon and remained here until 6th July.

July 1917
On the 6th, two Companies relieved 16th Lancers in Sunken Road and Heythorp Post, the remainder of the Battalion moved to Cruciform Post, Catelet Post, Bird Cage, Quarries, Bird Post and Grafton Post. (These names reflect the changing tactics of defence on the Western Front on the 7th. From 8th to 13th the Battalion provided covering parties for Brigade working parties, when the enemy attempted to raid the Bird Cage. There was very heavy artillery fire on the Sunken Road and the Quarries. The Battalion suffered 23 casualties among Other Ranks. 1 enemy dead found on their wire. The 14th was spent repairing damage. On the 15th they were relieved by the 20th Lancashire Fusiliers, and moved via Villers-Faucon to Aizecourt la Bas. They remained in billets here resting, training and in sports activities until 23rd when they relieved the 18th Highland LI in C2 subsector (near Lempire). The Battalion remained here until 1st August without incident.

August 1917
Much of the time spent at camp in the early part of this month was spent in training and preparation for an attack planned to knock out a dangerous position in the German lines, called The Knoll.

On the 1st, the Battalion were relieved by the 17th Royal Scots in the Lempire sector, and moved to camp at Aizecourt where they remained until 17th, when they moved via Longasvesnes and Villers-Faucon to near St Emilie. Camped at 62cE23 a and b. On the 18th, they moved to assembly position for an attack on the Knoll, moving via Ronssoy-Lempire-Tombois Farm road, to Fleeceall Post and Fag Lane trenches to the Old Barrier on the Sunken Road. At 4am on 19th an attack began and, which saw them take trenches, consolide the positions gained and build a bombing block. There were 25 killed, 53 wounded, 2 died of wounds and 5 were missing. On 20th they were relieved by the 14th Glos, and moved to St Emilie where they remained for three days. The Battalion relieved the 15th Cheshires at the Knoll on the 24th and suffered very heavy enemy shelling, when they attacked at Gillemont Farm. 19 were killed and 44 wounded. They were relieved during the night and moved back to St Emilie, where they remained until 27th when they moved to Aizecourt, staying here until 1st September.

September 1917
On the 1st they relieved the 17th Royal Scots in the Lempire sector, remaining in the front line trenches until 6th when they were relieved by the 15th Cheshires. The Battalion moved into shelters and billets in Lempire and Sand Bag Alley (trench) where they stayed providing working parties, until 11th. They were then relieved by the 20th Lancashire Fusiliers and moved to billets in Villers-Faucon. They remained here for a week, undergoing training, rest and refit and sports activities. On the 18th they relieved the 17th West Yorks in Heythorp and Cruciform Posts, and Priel Bank. It was reported as a quiet time in these front-line posts. On the 26th the Battalion were relieved by the 16th Cheshires and moved into support posts. “D” Battalion, 166th Brigade relieved them on 30th and they moved to Aizecourt.

October 1917
During this month, the 35th Division left the Somme area for the first time since they arrived in France. The BEF had launched a very large offensive in Flanders on 31st July 1917; a strategic initiative to break through the German lines in front of Ypres, and to achieve re-capture of the Belgian ports and coast. This offensive soon ran into difficulties. The worst summer weather in Flanders for decades turned much of the Ypres area to deep mud, and the infantry ran into an unsuspected deep array of enemy concrete pillboxes holding machine gun posts. This unfortunate offensive, which was never to break through the enemy, has long been known as the Battle of Passchendaele, after a village at the extreme extent of the British advance, which was captured in November. In October, it was the turn of 35th Division to move into this appalling affair.

On the 1st they moved by motor transport to Peronne, where they stayed until 3rd. At midnight on the 3rd they boarded the train for XVII Corps area, and disembarked at Arras at 4.30am on the 4th, moving into billets at Warlus where they reorganised and rested for several days. On 13th they boarded a train at Arras station at 12.54pm, disembarking at Cassel at 8.30pm and moved into billets at Arneke. On the 15th, they boarded a train at Arneke at noon, disembarking at Proven at 2.30pm and moving into D4 Camp. At noon on the 16th they boarded a further train at proven, and disembarked at Elverdinge where they relieved the 1st Scots Guards in the Rugby Camp. At 5pm on the 20th they moved to Gouvy Farm near Boesinge and then moved into assembly positions on 21st as support to 105 Brigade, who were to be part of a general attack on 22nd. Following the operations south of Houthulst on 22nd 1 Officer was killed, one was wounded and one was missing. Of the other ranks, 15 were killed and 180 were missing. On the 24th the Battalion were relieved by the 19th DLI, and they moved to Larry Camp near Elverdinge where they remained for rest and refit until 29th. On this day they relieved the 5th Border in the right sector of the Divisional Front. At 4am on 30th they suffered very heavy artillery fire on ground immediately behind the front line. At 6am their snipers hit several of the enemy seen running about in the wood east of Marechal House. Casualties suffered that day were 1 officer and 4 other ranks killed, and 1 officer and 14 other ranks wounded. The 31st was quiet with occasional bursts of shellfire on Battalion HQ and from 4.30pm, the enemy sent over constant streams of gas shells on the back areas.

November 1917
On the 1st they were relieved by Highland LI, and suffered casualties from shellfire on tracks as they withdrew. Moved by train to Dykes Camp where they remained until 5th when they moved to proven, and into Paddington Camp. They remained here for several days and were visited by the Army Commander, Lt-General Plumer. On the 15th they moved to Brake Camp, where they remained in Divisional Reserve for several days. The Major-General of the commanding Division presented medal ribbons on the 23rd and they relieved the 18th Lancashire Fusiliers in Brigade Support on the 24th. The Battalion moved at night by train to Siege Camp where they remained for several days.

December 1917
On the 9th the Battalion moved to Le Nouveau Monde and then moved to School Camp, Poperinge on the 11th where they remained until 9th January 1918. On the 30th ‘W’ Company moved to Pigeon Camp owing to an outbreak of diphtheria and the Battalion went to delouse on the 31st.

January 1918
On 9th they moved by road to Proven, then by rail to Elverdinge and into Whitemill Camp, where they remained until the 16th, being relieved then by the 17th Lancashire Fusiliers who were in the Left Support position of the Brigade front, with Battalion HQ at Pig and Whistle. Spent their days here until 20th improving the position and wiring. Major McClelland was killed, 2nd Lt G Hopkinson was killed and Capt K Morell took command of the Battalion. On the 20th they relieved 14th Glos in Left Front and spent the next few days improving the position and putting new wire in front of Requenten Farm. On 24th, an incendiary shell entered Ferdan House pill box, killing 2nd Lt’s S Price MC and A Hogan, and 2 other ranks. The Battalion was then relieved by 17th Lancashire Fusiliers and moved back to Irish Farm, spending the 24th at rest. They remained here until 1st February carrying out refit, absorbing new draft, having baths, foot treatment, etc.

February 1918
There doesn’t appear to be any section of the diary for this month but the Division remained in the northern part of the Ypres Salient.

March 1918
On March 21st, the enemy launched the largest offensive of the wear, on the Somme front. Known as the Kaiserschlacht, it was designed to destroy the over-stretched British Fifth Army, split the British and French Armies apart and then “roll up” the BEF from the south. The overwhelming attack caused initial chaos and loss, breaking deep into the area south of the Somme held by Fifth Army (including the ground occupied by the 35th Division in early 1917). Many Divisions were hurried to the area, to make a fighting stand.

On the 1st they were relieved and moved to Huddlestone Camp, Langemarck where they stayed until 9th, providing working parties. They moved to Chauny Farm Camp, in GHQ Reserve on the 9th, spending two weeks here training and refitting. At 9am on 23rd they moved by train from Roesbrugge, arriving at Mericourt (on the Somme) at 9.30pm and then immediately marched to Maricourt, arriving 6am on 24th. At noon that day they were ordered to counter attack. They moved forward and held the advancing enemy, with 15th Cheshires on the right. There was no touch with any troops on the left. The enemy went round this way, outflanking the two front Companies, who had very few survivors. At 6pm, they were ordered to withdraw to fresh positions on the Curlu-Maurepas road. On the 25th troops on either flank retired under heavy shellfire. The Battalion were forced to comply and moved to a defensive line in front of Maricourt. At 8.30pm, with the enemy again outflanking the left, they were relieved by 18th Lancashire Fusiliers. They moved by parties to a position east of the Bray-Albert road. The 26th was very similar and they moved to position west of the River Ancre in front of Buire. No incidents were encountered on 27th and they were relieved at 4pm, moving into a support position in quarry behind Buire. It was all quiet on 28th and they relieved 19th Durham LI. No incidents were encountered for next few days. They were relieved by Australians on the 31st and moved to billets at La Houssoye. The total Battalion loss since 24th was 12 officers and 458 other ranks. They remained in place here, providing working parties, until 4th April 1918.