4th Territorial Battalion

Summary of events

Monday, 9th April 1917

When the British assault began at 5.30am on the 9th of April (Easter Monday), the 50th Division were still held in reserve, approximately 10 miles west of Arras. The 4th Bn were billeted at Beaufort and the days were filled with training exercises.

At 9.30am that morning, all the Bn officers were conducting an outpost scheme on the ground between Beaufort and Manin and at 2pm ‘C’ and ‘D’ Coys were exercised in a tactical scheme on the same ground.

At 11.30pm orders were issued to the three Infantry Bdes of the 50th Division to move to the Habarcq- Wanquetin area on the 10th. The 149th Bde were to occupy the Wanquetin-Hauteville area.

Thursday, 12th April 1917

“A chilly clear aired morning, the water standing everywhere in sheets after last nights snow and rain. Arras is crammed with troops of many different divisions. The town is comparatively little damaged, but there seem to be practically no civilians”. (Glubb, p.132).

During the afternoon Lt Col Gibson, Major Robb and 2nd Lt Wilson reconnoitred the area around Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines and Telegraph Hill . ‘B’ Coy marched from Beau tz Les L… and joined the 4th Bn at 9pm.

At midnight on the 12th GOC 50th Divn assumed command of the front line sector and Divisional HQ opened in Arras. The new sector was the northern part of the Hindenburg Line and had only been captured during the attacks carried out between the 9th and 12th of April.

"The new sector occupied by the 50th Divn was on the ridge immediately east of the villages of Wancourt and Heninel. The river Cojeul ran north-easterly through Heninel past the eastern outskirts of Wancourt and then taking a sharp turn eastwards just south of Guemappe. The left flank of the Divn front rested on the river east of Wancourt, the right on the well defined building known as the Wancourt Tower, which stood upon the ridge east of Wancourt and Heninel. Southeast, but beyond the Divn right boundary lay Cherisy, while directly ahead was Vis-en-Artois. Guemappe, also in the German lines, was north of the Cojeul on the left front of the 50th Divn; machine gun fire from the village could rake the Divn front line in enfilade”. (Wyrell. 1939:207).

Friday, 13th April 1917

Early on the 13th patrols carried out by the 9th Bn DLI reached the Cojeul River and dug in fifty yards east of Wancourt Tower.

At 11am, officers from 4th Bn HQ and each Coy reconnoitred the route from Ronville Caves to The Harp (near Telegraph Hill). At 1pm Major Robb reconnoitred the route from Ronville Caves to Wancourt.

At 5pm the officers and men who had been detailed to remain behind when the Bn went into action marched back to billets in Arras.

That night, two Coys of the 9th Bn DLI were holding the front line from Wancourt Tower northwards for about six to seven hundred yards, and two coys were in a sunken road just east of the Cojeul River. Meanwhile orders had been issued that the VI and VII Corps would again advance on the 14th.

Saturday, 14th April 1917

The 151st Bde was to advance the attack in order to protect the left flank of the 56th Divn, who were tasked with capturing Cherisy, and form a defensive flank facing north along the high ground roughly just south of the 80metre contour, with their left flank in Wancourt Tower. Zero hour was set for 5.30am. The 6th DLI would advance at zero hour with the 8th Bn DLI and 5th Bn Borders following later. This attack met with some success with the 6th Bn DLI reaching German trenches just south of Wancourt Tower. Wancourt Tower was destined to become the scene of continual fighting during the next few days because it commanded a view of all the Divns approaches from Telegraph Hill.

At 5.30pm the 4th Bn moved in coy and platoon order from Ronville Caves to the north end of 'The Harp' by the route reconnoitred earlier. The first to arrive discovered that the 7th Bn, whose positions the Bn were supposed to take over, were still there, so they had to lay down to the rear of the trench. However, during the move orders were received to move to 'Cojeul Switch' at the south end of 'The Harp' (map ref: N7A).

At 8pm, once the 5th Bn had moved forward from its positions, the Bn moved in.

The First Battle of the Scarpe officially ended on this day, however the 4th Bns involvement with this sector had only just begun.

Sunday, 15th April 1917

The 149th Bde relief of the 151st Bde was completed early in the morning. The 6th Bn assumed control of the trenches previously held by the 9th DLI and after ejecting the enemy established a post between the opposing lines in the ruins of Wancourt Tower. The 7th Bn manned the support lines with two Coys in Nepal Trench and two along the bank east of the river Cojeul, the 5th Bn were in Niger Trench and the 4th Bn in Cojeul Switch.

At 3.30pm the enemy were observed attempting to dig a sap towards Wancourt Tower, but a platoon from the 6th Bn were successful in thwarting this. A communication trench was subsequently dug running from the front line to the north of the tower. Two enemy bombing attacks were repulsed by the 6th Bn.

The 4th Bn remained in in The Harp (South) and Cojeul Switch throughout the day.

Summary compiled from 149th Bde War Diary, 4th Bn War Diary & History of the 50th Division, Into Battle; A Soldiers Diary of the Great War & The Hindenburg Line

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1st Scarpe - Locations

Agnes Les Duisans -

Agnez -

Arras -

Avesnes-Le-Comte -

Beaufort -

Berneville -

Cherisy -

Citadelle -

Cojeul Switch -

Dainville -

Gouves -

Guemappe -

Harbarcq -

Hauteville -

Hindenburg Line - A defensive line, 90 miles long, constructed by the German Army during the winter of 1916 & 17. Designed to shorten the front line by 25 miles and thereby reduce the number of Divns required to hold it.

Manin -

Montenescourt -

Nepal Trench -

Niger Trench -

River Cojeul -

Ronville Caves - Cave and tunnel system extending south eastwards from Arras.

Telegraph Hill -

The Harp - Trench system so named because of its shape

Tilloy -

Wancourt Tower - A German observation post based on a ruined windmill strengthened with concrete. It ceased to exist as a landmark on the night of the 13th April.

Wanquetin -

Warlus -

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2nd Lt - Second Lieutenant - lowest commissioned rank - platoon commander

Bn - Battalion. A full strength infantry battalion at this time would comprise approximately 1100 men

Bde - Brigade. An infantry Brigade at this time was usually comprised of 4 Battalions

Billet - Soldiers accommodation/quarter

Borders - 5th Battalion, The Border Regiment.

Coy - Company. 234 men in full strength Coy. 4 Coys in a Bn

CSM - Rank of Company Sergeant Major.

Divn - Division. Approximately 18,000 men in a full strength Division.

DLI - Durham Light Infantry.

GOC - General Officer Commanding.

HQ - Headquarters

Lt Col - Rank of Lieutenant. Bn Commander.

Sap - A trench dug forward into 'no mans' land at a 90 degree angle from the front line trench. This was used as an observation and listening post.

Sgt - Rank of Sergeant.

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14th Division - Consisted of the 41st, 42nd and 43rd Bde.

The 41st Bde comprised of the 7th and 8th Bn - The King's Royal Rifle Corps, 7th and 8th Bn - The Rifle Brigade.

The 42nd Bde comprised of the 5th Bn - The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5th Bn - The King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 9th Bn - The King's Royal Rifle Corps and the 9th Bn - The Rifle Bde.

The 43rd Bde comprised of the 6th Bn - Prince Albert's, 6th Bn - The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 6th Bn - The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 10th Bn - The Durham Light Infantry.

50th (Northumbrian) Division Consisted of the 149th (Northumberland) Bde, 150th (York & Durham) Bde and 151st (Durham Light Infantry (DLI)) Bde.

The 149th Bde comprised of the 1/4th, 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers.

The 150th Bde comprised 1/4th Bn East Yorkshires, 1/4th Bn Green Howards, 1/5th Bn Green Howards and 1/5th Bn Durham Light Infantry.

The 151st Bde comprised the 1/6th, 1/8th, 1/9th Bns - DLI and 1/5th (Cumberland) Bn - Border Regt.

Select link to find out more about the 50th Division.

56th (1/1st London) Territorial Divn - Consisted of the 167th Bde , 168th Bde and 169st Bde.

The 167th Bde comprised of the 1/1st & 1/3rd Bns - London (RF), 1/7th & 1/8th Bns - Middlesex.

The 168th Bde comprised of the 1/4th Bn - London (RF), 1/12th Bn - London (Rangers), 1/13th Bn - Kensington and 1/14th - London Scottish.

The 169th Bde comprised of the 1/2nd Bn - London (RF), 1/5th Bn - London (LRB), 1/9th Bn - London (QVR) and 1/16th Bn - London (QWR).

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