ON July 2, the remnants of the 12th Royal Irish Rifles left the scene of their torment for billets at Martinsart, a village not far behind the lines.
Lt. Col. Bull records that the battalion were relieved by the South Wales Borderers.
His war diary entry is only a few words but I feel it encapsulates the traumatic effect which the slaughter of 1st July must have caused up and down the British lines.
While the newspapers of the time lauded a victory and described casualties as light (so did a misinformed Haig), Bull’s statement makes no bones about the tragedy which had befallen his beloved battalion.
He wrote: “Remains of batt. Proceeded to billets at Martinsart. 126 strong.”
We’ve already seen how only 46 men were still available to meet any German counter-attack on July 1. Thus the ‘remains of battalion’ consist of these few fit men and those who had been ‘left out of battle’ – they were to form a core around which the new battalion would be built.
After a fitful rest at Martinsart, the
Oliver Nugent was a thorough professional and waxing lyrical was not his forte in life.
His words to the Division rankled with a sizeable number of the soldiers who paraded for the occasion.
One man commented: “General Nugent said the Division had done well but could have done better. A few of us thought he was anything but a gentleman.”
This view is understandable in light of the Division’s success south of the Ancre where they had stormed the Schwaben Redoubt and penetrated to the ridge above Grandcourt – the furthest advance by a major formation on that bloody day.
But if Nugent was sparse in his praise, the answer may lie in his commitment to managing a ‘political division’ in the most professional fashion.
They had been labelled, somewhat derisively in many cases, as ‘
Although he had been a prominent figure in the Co. Cavan UVF, Nugent had wasted little time in weeding out what he regarded as the over-aged and inefficient from the 36th (
In a total war which was now apparent on the Western front, Nugent must have been well aware that any such weak links had to be removed. He was known as a cold, figure, famed for his curt inspections and hard-nosed and stiff-upper-lip approach.
On the other side of the coin, the press across
In the meantime, the men of the 12th Rifles simply packed up their troubles and got on with army life.
On July 5, the Bn. tramped on to Puchevillers and for the next four days, the depleted companies were re-organised. A Church parade was held on July 9.
Bull consistently remarks on the weather in the diary and throughout this period he categorises the conditions as ‘beautiful’.
On 10 July, the CAVs marched to new billets at Gazencourt where they stayed for one night before marching on through Doullens and on to Frevent where the Bn. entrained in the late afternoon for Steenbeck in
Above: Roll of honour for members of LOL 707 Ballymena. Several of these men served
with the 12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles.
The Twelfth
The next morning, Bull records that ‘12th was celebrated with all due formality at Lynde’.
This was in stark contrast to the situation in
Newspaper columns were filled with pictures of dead and wounded soldiers. An air of gloom, undoubtedly tinged with a modicum of patriotic pride, had descended on
Even a casual glance through the obituaries of the men from Ballymena and District who died on 1st July will reveal that a sizeable number had ‘
Back to basics
There is a military maxim which decrees that men who have faced the horrors of battle cannot be allowed to dwell on their experiences.
Lt. Col. Bull obviously subscribed to this theory and, on July 13, the Bn. were back on the match again, this time through St. Omer to Houlle, where the men found ‘very comfortable billets’ on their arrival at 3pm.
From July 13-19, the men were ‘back to basics’, with the resumption of training and the ‘fuller reorganisation’ of companies which had received replacements for those who had fallen on July 1. Special training sessions were arranged for bombers, Lewis gunners and signallers.
Bull also records that classes for NCOs and ‘young officers’ were soon in ‘full swing’.
Royal visit
On the 19th, the 12th Rifles were on the move again, marching to Bollezeele where they stayed overnight prior to a ‘move’ in two separate trains to Poperinghe.
During the afternoon of July 20, while billeted in ‘N.Camp’, the Bn. were visited by ‘H.R.H. The Prince of Wales’.
Bull records: “(he) .. was well pleased with their appearance.”
For such a staunchly unionist formation as the
Somewhat grumpily, if understandably, Bull notes that the men had to march on to Wakefield Huts at Locre on July 21. ‘Road very bad’, he recorded.
The next day the battalion trudged to the huts and dug outs of ‘Red Lodge’, arriving about 9pm after ‘a rather tiring march.’
On July 23, the 12th Rifles found themselves in the trenches south-west of Messines. They took over sectors which had been covered by the 11th Bn. Rifle Brigade and this was followed by an inspection by Bull, his deputy.
The diary records that the 7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (?) were positioned to the right, the 13th R Ir. Rifles on the left and that 9th R Ir. Fusiliers were in reserve.
There is a widespread misconception that senior officers rarely, if ever, actually witnessed the actuality of life in the ‘front line’ during World War I.
‘Chateau Generals’ is a mis-sed phrase, certainly in the case of Divisional Commanders, amd most certaintly in Nugent’s case.
Bull records that Nugent toured the trenches on the morning of July 24 with Brigadier General C. Griffiths (108 Brig.) also visiting the front line the same afternoon.
These inspections were by no means out of the ordinary in the Division and, in my opinion, provide ample evidence that the portrayal of these officers as uncaring and tunnel visioned martinets is, to say the least, unfair.
By 3.30am on the morning of July 25, the 12th Rifles were well and truly back in the meat grinder of the Western front. Our the darkness, enemy machine guns sprayed the British lines, prompting Bull to note that ‘enemy machine guns (were) very lively.’
The remainder of the day was spent in cleaning up the trenches and making dug outs. A ‘traffic trench’ for communication purposes was also dug in the rear of the front line.
It was an altogether quiter night on July 26 and the Bn. Took overe part of sector 137 from 13th R Ir. Rif, with 9th R. Ir. Rifles relieving the Inniskillings.
A major logistics operation took place with no less than 648 men from 107 Brig. Coming up to take gas cylinders out of the trenches.
Bull described this as ‘a very big job’ which was ‘not quiet completed at daybreak, though we worked all night.’
The diary for July 27 notes that the enemy machine guns and rifles were very active throughout the night. During the day, there was another visit to the sector by Bri. Gen. Griffiths while at about 3pm the Germans struck sector 137 with nine heavy mortar shells. British artillery replied.
Wiring was continued along the front line.
The following day’s entry (July 28) reports a ‘fairly quiet night’. The Germans shelled Medicine Hat Trench but ‘did little damage’. The weather, Bull noted, was ‘very hot.’
‘Quiet night’ is how the report for July 29 begins. This was shattered at 3pm in the afternoon when 12 large mortar shells were fired into Sector 137, doing little damage. Bull noted that ‘our howitzers retaliated’. Brig. Gen. Griffith again visited the trenches.
From 8 -9pm, the Germans shelled Ration Farm with Whizz Bangs. No damage is recorded.
30th July began with ‘very active’ machine gun fire from the German lines. This fire lasted most of the night until a foggy morning dawned.
Bull recorded that the fog lifted suddenly at 7a.m. and exposed two Germans in no-man’s land. These two unfortunates ‘endeavoured to get back to their own lines but were both knocked out by our Lewis Guns.’
During the night of July 30, the remainder of the gas cylinders were finally removed from the position and later that day, a draft of 88 other ranks arrived from the base.
The month of July ended for the 12th Royal Irish Rifles as it had begun .. under heavy enemy machine gun fire. The Germans also shelled Ration Farm with 5.9 shels and shrapnel. This incident occurred about 3pm and was, Bull noted (and we can imagine his anger) ‘due to men walking over in the open.’
The Bn. Was relieved by the 15th R Ir. Rifles at 10pm and completed at 1am on August 1 when the men took over huts at Red Lodge.
August 1916
August 5 - Red Lodge – Bn. underwent training physical drill and bayonet fighting, A coy took over La Plus Douve Farm.
Aust 6 – Red Lodge – Bn. underwent further training in physical drill and bayonet fighting. Training for Lewis Gun teans and signallers at Transport Lines confirmed.
August 7 – Red Lodge – Bn. route marched by companies. All officers and NCOs were given instruction in physical drill and bayonet fighting by Staff Sgt. Instructor Lean.
August 8 – Red Lodge – The Bn. route macrched by companies. In the evening between 6-8pm our artillery sent over quite a number of 4.5s and 18 pdrs. The weather still continues very hot and dry.
August 9 – Red Lodge – Made arrangements for taking over our trenches. 10th R Innis Fus took over our billets. March off by companies.
Trenches 138-142 SW of Messines
August 10 – Quiet morning. Between 4-5pm enemy sent over a good many TMs A few lit on Fort Osborne and some of trench 142. Two of our rifles were smashed but we had no casualties. Our 18pdrs and heavy 4.5s retaliated.
August 11 – Very quiet morning. Between 4.50pm and 5.20pm enemy TMs bombarded us, only two were directed at us which fell 150 short, the remainder went on our left. The TMs were located at 031.6.32.40 and 031.C. 26.77 Today was extremely hot.
August 12 – Very quiet morning. Enemy TMs less active. About 12 were sent over in vicinity of Boyles Farm. Brig. Gen. C. R. J. Griffiths visited us and went round the trenches.
August 13 – MGs were less active last night. Enemy working parties were exceptionally busy. They were seeen carrying hurdles and were wearing field grey uniforms. We sent a patrol out last night and they brough in a bomb, automatic revolver and dagger which they found on the body of a dead German. He had been lying out for about three weeks.
August 14 – Much quieter today, only a few 18pdrs and 6” Howitzers were sent over in the direction of Boyles Farm. At 10.30pm the enemy sent over three 18pdrs. On Ration Fme. Three of our men were slightly wounded and one of our horses was killed.
August 15 – Brig. Gen. Griffiths visited trenches at 1pm. Enemy shelled Orchard Dump very heavily about 9.30pm killing two horses.
Grande Monque Fme.
August 16 - We were relieved by 11th R Ir. Rifles at 12.15am this morning and took over billets at Grande Monque Fme.
August 17 – The commanding officer inspected the Bn in full marhcing order.
August 18 – The enemy sent over some HEs which went over the farm about 200 yards, some of the pieces fell in the farm and round about but did no damage.
August 19 – The Bn. bathed by compnies on Neuve Eglise Rd. It rained some this morning but cleared up in the afternoon. Our A coy relieved C coy at la Plus Douve Fme.
August 20 – The Bn paraded in Ploegsteert Wood for Divine Service.
Trenches 138-142 SW of Messines
August 21 – Took over trenches from 11th R Ir Rifles. Relief completed at 11.20pm Very little MG fire. No casualties.
August 22 – Enemy TMs were active today between 3-5pm. Two shells fell in traffic trench 137. MGs were more active, also snipers. One NCO was killed by a sniper. Brig. Gen. Griffiths visited trenches.
August 23 – Morning very quiet. Enemy active with TMs between 4 and 7.30pm. Brig. Gen Griffiths visited the trenches.
August 24 – Searchlights were seen at 2.30am apparently searching for aircraft. Trench 142 was shelled today. Several dug outs and the parapet was damaged but there were no casualties.
August 25 – About 7.30am a violent explosion was heard in a NNE direction. At 10.15pm three grenades were thrown into our No. 2 listening post, killing one man and wounding five.
August 26 – We had some very heavy showers this morning but cleared up in the afternoon. Major Gen. O S Nugent visited our trenches today. Anothr unusually quiet day.
August 27 – At 6am this morning an enemy working party was heard on his listening post at U1 a 7.5. MG fire was much more active then usual last night. There was no TM fire today.
August 28 – Another quiet day. Enemy parties were seen carrying wooden boxes along their trench at U2 a 15.95 They were fired on by our Lewis guns and snipers. Result no known. We were relieved by 11th R Ir Rifles at 11.15pm and took over billets at Grande Monque Fme. D Coy took over La Plus Douve Fme.
Grande Monque fme
August 29 – A and B coys bathed at Divisional baths Neuve Eglise Road. It rained very heavily this afternoon. On account of bad weather, working parties were cancelled,
August 30 – C coy bathed at Div. Baths on Neuve Eglise Road. Working parties were again cancelled due to bad weather.
August 31 – At 1.30am this morning, our artillery shelled the enemy very heavily. This lasted half an hour when the enemy retaliated and shelled Ploesteert Wood and in the vicinity of La Petit Monque Fme.
Our OC B Coy who slept in Ploegsteert Wood had a narrow shave. One shell lit beside his hut, pieces of the shell striking his bed in which he was lying at the time. Fortunately none of these struck him.
