RMLI Battalion Diary

The Greek campaign

This event is not well documented, and this extract is taken from a book on the Royal Marines:
Following the increasing unrest in Greece, HMS Duncan and HMS Exmouth formed part of the Allied Squadron contingency on 28 August 1916 subsequently arriving in Salamis Bay on 1 September 1916 and putting to anchor in Karatsini Bay. As increasing pressure was put on the Greeks by the Allies, an ultimatum was handed to the Greek Government on 10 October 1916 to hand over their light craft at Salamis to the French and to disarm all coastal batteries and hand control of the port of Piraeus to Allied forces. The Greek Government yielded to this and on 11 October 1916 both HMS Duncan and HMS Exmouth took occupation of Lipso Island (the main defence of Salamis Harbour), which was found to be deserted. Following the start of hostilities on 1 December 1916, 3,000 seamen and the RMLI were landed at the Piraeus at 3am. A battle ensued between the Greeks and the Allies at Athens during November 1916, which included fighting in and around the Acropolis with the Greeks finally approaching under a flag of truce. HMS Duncan returned to the UK on 10 April 1917.

The following are extracts from the Battalion diaries for the time that Percy was with them.

December 1917
The Battalion entrained at Peselhoek on the 9th and then moved on to Achiet le Grand. The Battalion marched to Beaulencourt on the 10th and undertook inspections, parades and training. On 14th the Battalion marched to Rocquigny, and then marched on to Etricourt on the 15th, where they remained until the 17th, marching on to Metz. The 2nd RM Battalion relieved the 2/8th Worcesters and 1 Coy 2/4th Gloucesters at the front line on the 22nd and remained there until they were relieved on 26th 1917 by 1st RM Battalion, when they proceeded back to Metz to hold reserve. The 2nd RM Battalion went back to the front line on 31st until again being relieved on 4th January 1918.

January 1918
On the 4th they were relieved by Howe Battalion, when they then moved on to Villers Plouiche to carry out support working and salvage. On the 8th they again moved up to the front line to relieve the 1st RM Battalion and spent two days at the front, being relieved on 10th by Howe Battalion. Further specialist instruction ensued at Metz from the 12th before moving back up to the front line on the 16th to cover the right sub sector. The Battalion were again relieved from their front line duties on 20th by Howe Battalion, and went into support. The 22nd saw them at the front line again, and on 23rd they proceeded to Havrincourt Wood. On the 24th the Battalion route marched back to Metz and then proceeded to Rocquigny Station where they stayed until February 1918.

February 1918
Some men were alloted for leave to Amiens on 7th and on the 15th the Battalion marched to Vallulart Wood where they stayed until March 1918.

March 1918
The 21st saw a gas bombardment of the 2nd RM Battalion, and they were ordered to 'Stand To'. The 1st RM Battalion, who were currently at the front line, were ordered to retreat through the 2nd RM Battalion in support, causing the Battalion to suddenly find themselves in a front line position. The 2nd RM Battalion were ordered to evacuate their front line position on the 22nd and proceed to Havrincourt Wood. The 23rd saw them return to the front line, this time in Bertincourt. The Battalion were ordered to withdraw from Bertincourt on the 24th and proceeded via the Bapaume-Peronne Road to Martinpuich in support to Anson Battalion. They returned to front line duties on the 25th and then withdrew into support position at Mesmil, proceeded to Engelbelmer and then on to Martinsart into billets where they remained until 28th April.

April 1918
On 28th the 2nd RM Battalion amalgamated with 1st RM Battaltion. Following the amalgamation of the Battalions, several days of training was undertaken until the 1st RM Battaltion moved up to the front line on 7th May.

May 1918
On 7th the 1st RM Battalion relieved the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment at Beaumont Hamel. Whilst at the front, the artillery was quite active especially on the 9th. The Battalion relieved Anson Battalion at the front line in Beaumont Hamel on the night of 13/14th and the artillery were again active on the day of 14th, on the Beaucort to Miraumont Road when enemy transport was blown up. The Battalion were relieved on 19th by the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment, and they moved into reserve at Forceville. On 25th they once again moved into the front line at Beaumont Hamel and remained here until returning to support positions on 30th where they remained until 15th June.

June 1918
On 15th the Battalion marched to Herissar.

August 1918
The 30th at Miraumont saw reorganising, re-equipping and an inspection by GOC 188th Infantry Brigade. At 23:30 the Battalion proceeded to Boiry St – Rictrude. Upon arrival on 31st the Battalion rested.

September 1918
On the 1st the Battalion bivouacked in the open, arriving at 05:30. During the day the Battalion received instructions to move up to an assembly position near Fontaine. The Battalion left at about 17:45 and arrived about 21:00, resting for the night in trench to NW of Croisiles - Fontaine Rd. Verbal instructions were received for the attack on the following day. On the 2nd the Battalion moved to assembly position in U.10.a with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment on left and Anson Battalion in support. At zero (05:00) plus 2 hrs 45 mins, advance was made in artillery formation through Riencourt passing through 57th Division and attacking their 2nd objective - a line running from V.25.c.0.1 to V.19.d.3.7. Fighting continued throughout the day until final objective was taken and the Battalion held a line before Queant running from Y.26.d.7.9. to Y.27.d.5.0. On the 3rd at about 09:30 the Battalion received instructions to proceed to an assembly position in V.28.a & b with orders to stand by to move at short notice. At 7pm instructions were received to proceed to Buissy Switch & the Hindenburg support line from the junction of Switch & support line to D.6.c.8.7. The Battalion was placed at the disposal of GOC 189th Infantry Brigade. On the 18th the Battalion left Blaireville at 09:00, marching for bivouacs in T.30.b. & T.24.d (51BSW). En-route they attacked at Croisilles and St Leger from Boyelles, with the 1st RM Battalion on the right, the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment in the centre and Anson Battalion on the left. The Battalion arrived at bivouacs at 15:00. Bivouacs were taken over from 8th Battalion Kings Liverpools. The 19th saw the Battalion in bivouacs at T.30.b & T.24.d (South of Croisillies). Platoon & Coy training and range practice was carried out. From the 20th to 23rd training was undertaken and some with Lewis Guns on range. On 23rd the Battalion was engaged in a practice attack on Hendecourt. Further training was carried out on 24th and 25th. The 26th saw the 63rd RND in bivouacs south of Croisillies, the Battalion moved off Coys 200yds distance at 13:45 along the road to Queant in D.7.b.6. At 12:15 the Battalion moved to assembly position N.W. of Moeuvres. Zero at 05:20 the 52nd Division advanced to high ground east of the Canal du Nord. The 190th Brigade advanced and "mopped up" the Hindenburg Line followed by 188th Brigade with 189th Brigade in support. The Battalion moved at zero + 20 minutes with Anson Battalion on the left and the Royal Irish Regiment in support. Reaching E.16.d & E.21.B the Battalion swung south east and moved to the attack on the village of Anneux. Strong opposition was met at the Factory between Anneux and Graincourt but this was overcome with heavy loss to the enemy. The village of Anneux was captured at 14:30 and the line consolidated. At 18:45 the enemy counter-attacked under a heavy machine gun barrage but was repulsed with heavy loss. The enemy left many killed. The remainder of the night passed quietly. On the 28th the 57th Division passed through the 63rd RND at 06:30 and advanced on Fontaine, Notre Dame and Cantaing on the Canal de L’Escaut. The Battalion reorganized behind Anneux and, at 15:00, moved into a trench between Fontaine and Cantaing in F.2.2 central. At nightfall the 189th Brigade moved up to cross the Canal de L’Escaut and the river Escaut. The 29th saw the Battalion move at 11:30 and cross the river Escaut and the Canal de L’Escaut, and line up for an attack on high ground A.26.b - d - Assembly position in F.30.A (sheet 57c N.E.) The Battalion attacked at 13:45 but met with heavy opposition from the direction of Proville. Heavy fire rendered very slow progress. At nightfall the line ran A.26.a & A.19.d (sheet 57b N.W.). From high ground overlooking Proville and FBG de Paris on 30 September 1918, the 57th Division advanced to the attack and leapfrogged through the 63rd RND. Heavy opposition was met and, at places, the front line was barely reached. At 22:30 ‘A’ Coy, in conjunction with a Coy of the Anson Battalion, moved off to capture and consolidate the strong point in A.27.a.

October 1918
On the 1st the strong point was reached and positions consolidated. At 06:10 the enemy counter-attacked heavily with the result that ‘D’ Coy were forced to withdraw to a trench in A.27.a.2.1. Owing to heavy machine gun fire, this party was isolated and no assistance could be sent. At 17:44 the 52nd (Lowland) Division advanced under a heavy barrage where, pushing on as far as possible, they relieved the 63rd RND. The Royal Scots Fusiliers passed through the Battalion and reached and consolidated a line running approx A.20.d & A.27.a. At 20:20 the Battalion formed up on road A.20.c - A.19.d and moved to bivouacs in F.26.a.2.1 (sheet 57c N.E.) near Anneux. The 2nd was spent digging in of bivouacs and tents, cleaning up and reorganising. The 3rd saw inspections and reorganising, and the 4th to 5th saw Coy training in the forenoon. A Church Parade was carried out on Sunday, 6th. At about 06:30, an enemy shell fell in camp and killed 1, wounding 3 ORs. About 21:00 enemy aircraft bombed camp, wounding 11 ORs and killing 8 horses. The 7th saw the Battalion move off from bivouacs at 16:00 and head to an assembly position in G.8.c via No.5 Bridge over L’Escaut river, and by No.12 bridge over the Canal de St Quentin. The Battalion was in position by 19:30. Coys fell in, after a hot meal, on the Rumilly Road crossing the starting point G.8.d.5.0. At 01:10 they moved to jumping off position in G.16.a & C. On 8th the Coy’s were lined out immediately in rear of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment in two waves, ‘A’ on right, ‘B’ on left of first wave. ‘C’ on right, ‘D’ on left of second wave. Artillery formation covered the Brigade to the front from G.10.c.3.0 to G.16.d.9.7., and lining out was completed by 04:00 without casualties. At 04:30 the barrage opened and at 04:40 the barrage lifted and the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment moved to attack followed by the Battalion. The 2nd Royal Irish Regiment captured the first objective within the scheduled time. Immediately to the rear of this objective, a trench running through G.6.c & d, the Battalion shook out into attack formation and advanced to attack the 2nd objective road running from A.30.c to H.1.c. The attack progressed rapidly, with few casualties, until the right edge of village of Niergnies and the cemetary in H.1.c were reached. At these points heavy fighting occurred with severe casualties inflicted on the enemy holding the cemetery, which was held by numerous machine guns. Tanks materially assisted in the clearing of this cemetery and the attack continued to La Belle Etoile, which was found to be held strongly by machine guns and infantry. The first, a frontal attack, failed. ‘D’ Coy immediately attacked on left and ‘B’ Coy on right, succeeding in encircling the position and capturing 4 machine guns and about 30 of the enemy. All objectives were gained by 08:10 and touch obtained with Kings Royal Rifles on the right and Hood Battalion on the left. At 08:30 the enemy counter attacked using captured British Tanks, forcing the troops on the right flank to withdraw. Efforts were made to form a defensive flank but the enemy forced the forward posts back about 200 yds. The troops were immediately reorganised and, assisted by the barrage, recaptured all objectives. At 13:00 the enemy opened up an intense bombardment, holding the cemetery for an hour. This was repeated throughout the afternoon, making the position untenable. At 16:30 the enemy counter attacked heavily and heavy fighting ensued. At this time a Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment were about to relieve, but this was delayed until the situation was cleared up. By 17:30 the Battalion were forced back to a line H.1.c.4.5 along the road through H.1.c to G.6.a.5.0 and along a track to A.30.d.8.5. This was reported and instructions received for the East Surreys to push forward and take over the line. The 1st RM Battalion was to withdraw when this had been done. The Battalion finally withdrew at 00:01 and marched back to bivouacs near Anneux where they remained until the 9th. The Battalion left bivouacs near Anneux at 11:30 and marched to Morchies arriving at 16:30. The Battalion spent the 10th in bivouacs at Morchies before leaving on the 11th and entraining at Vaulx Vraucourt at 15:30.

November 1918
On 1st the Battalion marched from Ambrines at 08:30, to Mazieres where it embussed at 09:30, and proceeded via Lens to Evin-Malmaison (about 5 miles North of Douai) arriving at billets at 15:00 hrs. The 2nd to 4th was spent training. On the 5th the Battalion left Evin at 07:30 and proceeded by bus to billets in Haulchin (5 miles South West of Valenciennes). The Battalion marched from Haulchin into billets at Aulnoy on 6th, and then marched on to Saultain on the 7th where they halted for four hours before proceeding on to billets in Sebourqiaulx. On the 8th the Battalion left Sebourqiaulx and marched to Angre where they waited about 2 hours before continuing on to billets in Audregnies. The Battalion marched again on the 9th from Audregnies to Blaugies where they waited for 4 hours before marching on to billets in Sars La Bruyere. The 10th saw the Battalion move from Sars La Bruyere at 06:00, following instructions to proceed to Bougnies, and a warning order was received that the Battalion would probably pass through 190th Infantry Brigade at 12:00 and proceed to the attack. During the march a conference was assembled consisting of all Battalion Commanders, and verbal instructions were given for the attack. The Battalion arrived at Bougnies at 10:00 and on the return of the CO a conference of all Officers of the Battalion was held. On verbal instructions issued by the Brigade, the Battalion were ordered to attack and established a line East of Villers St Ghislain and St Symphorien. Anson Battalion were on the right, the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment were on the left and the 1st RM Battalion were in support. They moved to Asquilles arriving at about 11:15. The 2nd Royal Irish Regiment moved up Asquilles to Nouvelles Road, and Anson Battalion to a Sunken Road in W.9.a & b. Before the Battalion cleared the village of Asquilles, the enemy opened up a concentrated bombardment on the village inflicting a few casualties. The Battalion then moved into the Sunken Road, vacated by Anson Battalion. Opposition was expected on the left flank and consequently, in accordance with previous instructions, the Battalion moved to Nouvelles in artillery formation, suffering four casualties. The advance of the Brigade was held up due East of Nouvelles and 1 Coy 1st RM Battalion was placed at the disposal of OC 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, but was not used. Under the cover of darkness Anson Battalion and the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment were able to continue the advance, establishing a line East of Spiennes and Harmignies by 03:30. On 11th at about 05:00 the Battalion received instructions to attack and establish a line East of the Villages of Harmignies and Villers St Ghislan. At 07:00 further instructions were received that hostilities would cease at 11:00 but the Battalion was to establish the line previously ordered, if possible, but also that no men were to be wasted in the effort and if opposition was met, the advance was not to be continued. In accordance with these instructions the Battalion moved to the attack, 'C' Coy on the right, 'B' Coy on the left, followed by 'D' in support of 'C' Coy. 'A' Coy in support of 'B' Coy. Progress commenced at 08:00 and was rapid with no opposition being met. By 10:45 the Battalion had passed through Anson Battalion and the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment and consolidated its objective. By hostilities ceasing an outport line was established by 'B' & 'C' Coys running approx R.34.b.2.28 a & b, R.23.c - R.22.b and touch was obtained with the 189th Brigade on the right and the Canadians on the left. 'A' & 'D' Coys and HQ were billeted in the village of Villers St Ghislan and held in immediate support. The enemy observed the terms of the Armistice and no further incidents took place. On 12th 'A' & 'D' Coys relieved 'B' & 'C' in the outpost line. On 13th 'B' & 'C' Coys relieved 'A' & 'D' in the outpost line. On 14th 'A' & 'D' Coys relieved 'B' & 'C' in the outpost line and on 15th Anson Battalion relieved 1st RM Battalion in outpost line. From 16th to 18th cleaning up and training was carried out. On 19th 1918 the Battalion moved from Villers St Ghislain to St Symphorien returning to Villers St Ghislain on 20th. Training was carried out from 21st to 23rd and a Church Parade was undertaken on 24th. Further training was carried out on 25th and 26th and on 27th the Battalion left Villers St Ghislain and marched via Harmignies, Harveng, Noirchain and Genly to Eugies arriving at billets at 13:00. Further training carried out from 28th to 30th.

December 1918
On the 1st a Church Parade was carried out, and a Ceremonial Drill was carried out on the morning of the 2nd followed by sport in the afternoon. The 3rd saw training, honours and awards. From the 4th to the 7th further training and sports were carried out together with an inspection by the Divisional Commander. The 8th saw a further Church Parade and a Court of Enquiry was held on 9th regarding a bombing accident. From the 10th to the 11th further training and education took place and on the 12th part of the Battalion moved to La Bouverie. The 13th to 31st included training, Church Parades, education, salvage work, roll calls and Route March.

January 1919
The 1st was spent training.