Chapter 4b – Battle of Morval

Battle of Morval - 25-28 Sep 1916 A number of minor operations were undertaken in the days following the battle of Flers-Courcelette, with the specific purpose of capturing the objectives that had not…

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1.  Military History Encyclopedia on the Web (HistoryofWar.org) 
2.  John Jackson (1^st Cameron Highlanders, 1^st Bde, 1^st Divn) vividly describes the Bazentin le Petit and High Wood area in his published diary [zotpressInText item="{T7MXJX47,79}"]
3.  Crescent Alley: Longueval Map: 57cSW3 - Ref: 33.d 
4. 26th Avenue: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.21.d
5.  Eaucourt L’Abbaye:  Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.23.c 
6. Destremont Farm: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.21.a
7.  The village of Le Sars straddles the Albert-Baupaume road: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.16.c 
8. This journey is described in Norman Gladden’s book [zotpressInText item="{53JCQRAK,105}"]
9.  North & South Durham trenches lay to the south of Le Sars: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.21.d & 21.c 
10.  Rutherford Alley was a communication trench running north towards Le Sars:  Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.22.c 
11.  Eaucourt d’Abbaye lies approximately three quarters of a mile south east of Le Sars: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.23.c
12.  D16 – Map Reference: M23c.2.4 and D8- Map Reference: M23.c.3.7. [zotpressInText item="{7CHAKXFB,42}"]
13.  Pte William Wood 4/5150 (b. Kettering) 
14.  21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd & 24^th London Regt (142^nd Bde, 47^th Divn) 
15.  Pte Maynard Frank Nunn 4/5010 (e. Cambridge) 
16.  10^th & 11^th NF & 12^th DLI (68^th Bde, 23^rd Divn) 
17.  Pte Richard Henry Jacobs  4/5102 (e. West London) 
18. James Henry Newman 4/5257 (b. Norwich) (e. Norwich)
19.  During the First World War, the YMCA supports the troops. YMCA huts provide soldiers with food and a place to rest on the frontline or at home in military camps and railway stations. The YMCA embarked on a massive education programme for soldiers, which eventually becomes the Army Education Corps. [zotpressInText item="{IS6FHCKS}"]
20. [zotpressInText item="{53JCQRAK,125}"] 
21. D2 (Female 539) [zotpressInText item="{7CHAKXFB,47}"]
22.  Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDITGW) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
23.  Sgt William Moffat MM (7/1878) is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension (d.21 Sep 1916). William and Margaret Moffatt resided at 24, Back Clayton Street in Bedlington, Northumberland. William had served in the South African War 
24. 2^nd Lt Frederick James Larken
25. The camp at the south-east corner of Mametz Wood
26.  5^th Cameronians (26^th Bde, 9^th Divn)
27.  1^st, 2^nd 3^rd and 4^th South African Regts (South African Bde, 9^th Divn) 
28.  RFA positions – 18 pounders etc 
29. 27^th Bde - 6^th KOSB, 11^th & 12^th Royal Scots, 9^th Cameronians ( 9^th Divn)
30. [zotpressInText item="{62F7X4R4,48}"]
31. 26^th Bde - 8^th Black Watch, 7^th Seaforth Highlanders, 5^th Cameron Highlanders, 10^th Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders (9^th Divn)
32. Winston Churchill (1871-1947) was no relation of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, but coincidently both had political careers, were noted amateur painters, attended service colleges and briefly served simultaneously as officers in their respective countries' armed forces
33.  Dixies were large oval shaped cooking pots
34.  Tinned meat & vegetable (M&V) stew was provided in 20 to 24 oz tins. The quality varied considerably from brand to brand, however the Maconochie Brothers brand was considered one of the better ones 
35.  Pte John Calvert Sowerby (4/2799) (b. Denton) (e. Haltwhistle). John is buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension and commemorated on the Haltwhistle Memorial 
36. Pte Frederick William Brett (4/5194), (e. Norfolk Regt) was transferred to the East Yorks Regt and then the 4^th NF. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
37.  Likely to have been 8^th Black Watch (26^th Bde) 
38. Pte William Lewis (4/3814) (e. Nottingham). Thiepval Memorial, Somme
39.  Pte William George Little (4/2189) (b. Bingfield) (e. Hexham). 4^th Reserve Bn on 1^st Sep 16. Thiepval Memorial, Somme 
40.  Red and green flares were usually fired from a Very pistol for signalling purposes and white flares to illuminate an area at night 
41. An SOS Barrage
42.  Pte Edgar Kaye (4/5068) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
43. Pte James Wray (4/5058) (b. Longwood, Yorks) (e. Huddersfield) was posted to the 4^th from the 8^th NF (8/29015). He is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery
44. Pte Harold Wilby (4/5063) is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, France
45. Pte Edward Thomas Gillings (4/5123) (b. Gillings, Pembrokeshire) (e. Great Yarmouth) had previously served with the 5^th NF (5/5804). He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
46.  Pte William James Goodrum (4/5066) (b. Great Yarmouth) (e. Newcastle) transferred to the 4^th from the 8th NF (4/4468) 
47. Pte Frederick Claxton (4/5212) (e. Norwich) was posted to the 4^th NF from the East Yorks Regt (4/7921) and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
48. Pte John Elliott (4/3343)
49.  Pte Enoch Shipley (4/5138) (e. Norfolk Regt (1591) Melton Constable, Norfolk) and was subsequently posted to the NF 
50.  Pte William Surtees Leathard (4/4191) (b. Prudhoe) (e. Hexham) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
51. Pte William Lewis (4/3814), William George Little (4/2189) and George Edward Ward (  ) are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
52.  L/Cpl John Robertson (4/1369) (b. Newcastle) (e. Prudhoe) was wounded early 1915, reported to the 3/4^th NF on 25 Jun 15 and drafted back to France 18 Sep 15. John is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
53. Allandale man L/Cpl Thomas Armstrong (4/1997) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
54.  Wooden and metal sections or frames were often constructed behind the lines in RE workshops to enable the quick construction of dugouts in the trenches. Large packing crates were also used as shelters
55.  Prudhoe man L/Cpl William Jackson (4/2058) was a recipient of the Military Medal and is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension 
56.  Warlencourt Line: Presumed to mean the Gird Line 
57. Haltwhistle man John Albert Nicholson (4/2693) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. John was first taken on 3/4^th NF strength - 11^th Jun 15 
58.  Pte Fred Willis (4/5157) (e. Northampton) served with the 1/4^th East Yorks Regt prior to the NF. He is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery near Longueval
59.  The French sugar beet industry was a direct outcome of Britain’s blockade of French Ports during the Napoleonic Wars, which prevented the import of Sugar Cane. Napoleon decreed that French farmers should grow sugar beet and within two years approximately 160,000 acres were in cultivation and some 330 small refineries were producing 3,350 tons of sugar. The Somme was a major producer supporting more than 120 sugar refineries located in the Department (Inventory of Sugar Refineries) 
60. The German 5^th Grenadier Guard Regiment was of Prussian origin and part of the 4^th Guard Infantry Divn
61.  Duckboards (wooden planking) were used as trench flooring or to make paths across muddy ground 
62. Pte John Clarke (4/3299) (b. Wigton, Cumberland) (e. Newcastle). John is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial
63.  Pte Daniel Walden (4/5141) (e. Northwood, Middlesex). Daniel was transferred to the NF from the Norfolk Regt 
64. Pte Harold Hiscock (4/5397) (b. York) (e. Hexham). Harold is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial
65.  Pte Wilfred Hardwick (4/3685) (b. Mansfield, Notts) (e. Mansfield). Wilfred is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, France 
66.  A ‘Chinese’ barrage was a bogus attack 
67.  Edward Grey. Lawson 
68. Fletcher Hugh Lionel Woods
69.  Sgt James R Richardson (1430) from Rothbury 
70.  A/Sgt J. Piercy (290418) (b. Berwick on Tweed)( e. Alnwick)
71. Capt Roger Cranage
72. 2^nd Lt T. Bonner
73. 2^nd Lt William Henry Fisher was drafted to France on 20 July 1916 
74. Capt John Wilfred Robinson, the brother of Frank Robinson (4^th NF) and George Sydney Robinson (1^st Buffs) originated from Hexham. (Grint, p. 160) He was wounded in April 1915, but after returning to service with the 3/4^th NF was drafted back to the 1/4^th on the 4^th of Aug 1915. John is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. George was to die on the 26^th April 18 
75. Major N. I. Wright
76. 2^nd Lt Frederick James Larken was only drafted to the Bn on the 17^th of October 
77. 2^nd Lt Alan James Derrick (d. 15 Nov 1916) 7^th NF Thiepval Memorial
78.  Pte William James Newman (4/9048) (b. Wandsworth, Surrey) was transferred from the Norfolk Regt. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
79.  Pte Arthur Ernest Pyatt (4/5107), aged 25, and his brother Henry (4/5106), aged 34, enlisted in the Norfolk Regt at Hackney Baths. Thiepval Memorial 
80.  Pte Joseph Davies (4/5304) was transferred to the 4^th from the 1^st NF. Joseph is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
81.  Pte Ernest Leopold Douglas (4/5133) served previously with the 1/4^th East Yorks Regt, Norfolk Regt and 5^th NF. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
82. Pte Alfred George Woodward (4/5156) was transferred from the 1/4^th East Yorks Regt. Alfred is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
83.  Pte Richard Dover (4/5379) (b. Brandon, Co Durham) served previously with the DLI. Richard is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
84. Pte Frank Bradbury (4/5301) (b. Saddleworth, Yorkshire) and transferred to the 4^th from the 1^st NF. Frank is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery
85. Pte Bertie William Adcock (4/9007) served previously with the Norfolk Regt. Bertie is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
86. Pte John Glass (4/6656) (Scotswood, Newcastle) was transferred from the 1/6^th NF. John is buried at Warlencourt British Cemetery
87.  Pte Herbert Albert Boast (4/5206) (b.Norwich) and enlisted in the Norfolk Regt. He was transferred to the East Yorks Regt and then 1/4^th NF. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial 
88. Sgt William Anthony Charlton (4/35) (b. Hexham) (e. Hexham). William is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
89.  The 10^th (Service) Bn Gloucester Regiment were part of the 1^st Bde, 1^st Divn 
90.  The Bombing School was most likely to have been near the village of Montigny-sur-l'Hallue, approximately nine miles west of Albert
91. Lt Col Scott Jackson
92. The Royal Engineers raised a total of eleven Labour Bns. They consisted of navvies, tradesmen and semi-skilled men and were used in construction of rear defence lines and similar works
93. Bns were equipped with handcarts for the Lewis guns. Pack ponies -
94.  The 4^th Army Infantry School of Instruction was in Flixecourt - 
95.  2^nd Lt Bernard Roger Philip Hawken 
96. Pierrots were at the height of popularity in seaside resorts at the end of the 19^th Century, providing family orientated shows with music, song, dance, acrobatics and comedy sketches  
97. 2^nd Lt Coatsworth
98. The 2^nd Welsh Regiment was part of the 3^rd Bde, 1^st Divn. The Bn had been on the Western Front since August 1914
99. 1^st and 3^rd Bdes (1^st Divn)
100.  The 1^st South Wales Borderers were part of the 3^rd Bde, 1^st Divn and had been on the Western Front since August 1914 
101. Captain, later Lt Col. Hugh Liddell, DSO, MC (1/7^th NF)
102. Listed in the London Gazette
103.  London Gazette (1917) Capt. C. G. Arkwright M.C. 4^th NF, to be acting Major whilst serving on HQ of a Bn from 20 Oct 18 to 30 Mar 19. Date: 2 Dec 19 Issue number: 31673 (Gazette, London, p. 15037). Northumberland Fusiliers- Lt. C. G. Arkwright M.C, to be acting Major whilst employed as Major on HQ. 11 Aug 17. Lt. D. T. Turner to be acting Capt whilst commanding a Coy. 1917 published on the 21 Sep 17. Page 17 of 20
104.  2^nd Lt William Maxson Collingwood Wilson 
105. M.24.b.6.6 - Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.24
106.  Fishtail bombs were a small trench mortar bomb used by the German Army 
107. Pte Henry Spencer Beadle (4/5354) (b.e. Hessle, Yorks). Henry served previously with the 5^th and 6^th NF. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
108.  Bayonet Trench: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.18.d
109.  Cobham Trench ran between the communication trenches Goose Alley and Turk Avenue: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.24.c & N.13.c 
110. The Minenwerfer was a German trench mortar
111.  Cobham Trench: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Reference M.24.c. The junction of Yarra Reserve with Yarra Avenue – Reference: M.24.d
112. The 1^st Northumbrian Field Coy Royal Engineers was renumbered the 446^th Coy
113. Clark’s Dump - Longueval Map: 57c SW3 - Ref: S.3.d.4.7
114. Flers Reserve Trench -   Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.30.c.4.0- 
115. The 179^th Tunnelling Coy was formed in the 3^rd Army area in October 1915 
116.  Factory Corner was the crossroads north of Flers taken by the New Zealand Divn on 25^th Sep 1916: Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: N.19.c.9.1
117. Flers Reserve trench - Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.30.c.4.0
118.  BP Dump
119. Bazentin Circus - Longueval Map: 57cSW3 - Ref: S.8.d 8.0
120. High Wood Siding     - Longueval Map: 57cSW3 - Ref: S.3.d.4.7
121. Clarke’s Dump - Longueval Map: 57cSW3 - Ref: S.3.d.4.7
122. Seven Elms dump - Gueudecourt Map: 57cSW1-3A - Ref: M.28.d
123. ‘H’ Rations
124. BP Dump – Langly Circus
125. Canvas Camp -
126.  Loupart Wood and Grevillers are approximately one mile north of the Butte De Warlencourt 
127. A black frost was a dry freeze which kills and thus blackens vegetation because there is no protective layer of hoar frost
128. The Regimental Aid Post (RAP) provided the first line of medical treatment for a wounded soldier
129. Coy HQ comprised the CO (Maj), 2 i/c (Capt), Coy Sergeant Major (CSM), Coy Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS), two batmen and three drivers
130.  Pte Arthur William Hannan (4/5425) ( b. Birstwith, Yorks). He was transferred to the 4^th NF the 13^th NF. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
131.  Roye:  Lat/Long: 049 41’ 55 N  : 002 47’ 57 E
132. Command Post PC Hedevaux: Belloy Map: Reference: N.27.c.5.4
133. PC Buelow: Belloy Map: 62c and 62d - Ref: N.25.d.6.4
134.  Boyau Bouchet trench: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.34.b
135.  Argonne Trench: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.27.d 
136. French bomb store – Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.21.c.80
137. Trench de Hures: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.33.b 
138.  Bouchot: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.34.a
139.  Bois Damloup: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.34.a.5.7 
140. Support trenches at the southern end of the sector:  Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref: N.33.d
141. Annamites Trench: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 – Ref:  N.34.d
142. Marchal Trench: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 - Ref: N.34.a
143.  Trench de Hures: Belloy Map: 62cSW1 &2 - Ref: N.33.b