Date

Diary Narrative

4 August 1914

Orders to mobilise received at 6pm
7.15 pm. Reservist conducting party left Portsmouth Town.

5

7.45 am. Horse collecting party under Captain H.R. Sandilands left.
8.30 am. Veterinary inspection of all horses
12 noon. Medical Inspections completed.
12.20. 1 Sergt. 24 men ( unfits ) left for Southampton.
2.30 pm. Captain E.E. Williams arrived to take over details.

6

9.40 am. 420 Reservists joined from the Depot.
12 noon. 18 draught horses drawn from billets in Hilsea lines.
11.15 pm. 221 Reservists joined from Depot under 2nd. Lt. Bassett.

7

3.0 am. Horse collection party returned with 39 horses.
Capt. A.P. Garnier, 2 Lieut. E.J.M. Buckley left with 15 NCO's and men for Newcastle to help train new unit.

8

32 NCO's and men of the Depot permanent establishment joined for duty.

9

The Battalion paraded in full service order at War Strength for inspection by Br. Gen. Shaw, C.B., Comdr. 9th Infantry Brigade.

10

Lieut. Lambert 8th Bn. proceeded to Depot with 201 NCO and men details for 3rd Bn.

11

100 NCO's and men arrived from depot to replace unsuitable reservists. 90 NCO's and men who were considered unsuitable left for Depot.

12

Captain R.S. Fletcher transferred to depot on reduction of establishment of Battalion.

13

The Bn. left Cambridge Barracks Portsmouth by two special trains for Southampton and embarked on S.S. Norman with transport and wagons being embarked on S.S. Italian Prince. Embarkation was completed at 3.0 pm. and the first ship sailed for an unknown destination at 4.0 pm. The 1st Bn. Lincolnshire Regt. and the Hdqrs. 9th Infantry Brigade were also on board. When we had been at sea about 1 hour it was given out that we were destined for Havre which port we sighted before midnight. The strength of the Battalion was:

Totals for S.S. Norman included Medical Officer and 1 Cpl. & 4 Ptes. R.am.C., and Armourer Sergeant and 1 Officer and 9 other ranks Div. Cycle Coy. Totals for S.S. Italian Prince includes 4 A.S.C. Drivers.

The Officers, of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who embarked for France 13th August 1914 were:

14

S.S. Norman was tied up at 3.0 am. and the Battalion disembarked at 5.0 am. Leaving a platoon to unload the wagons marched to a rest camp about 51/2 miles N.N.E. of Havre. This was a very hot march and 82 men of the battalion fell out owing to the intense heat. The rest camps were hardly ready for us and there was a scarcity of water the men being unable to wash. The transport which could not leave on account of the horses being on an other ship did not leave the dock until 3.0 pm. and there being a steep hill some 2 miles long up into the camp many transport wagons broke down which XXX blocked the road. Our transport being in the rear of a motor lorry which was stuck in a narrow place did not reach the camp until between 9 and 1 pm. and 2 G.S. wagons and one S.A.A. cart did not arrive before midnight.

15

A very wet morning and the roads being very heavy there was much difficulty experienced in getting the remainder of transport into camp. Orders were received at 5.0 pm. that the Battalion was to move to Havre railway station and be ready to entrain at 3.0 am. of 16th. The rain was continuous until midnight and it was with great difficulty that the transport was moved from the stubble on which it was parked and the horses being unable to move it was necessary to fall in large fatigue parties and man handle the wagons on to the road. The battalion paraded at 12 midnight in the drenching rain.

16

The transport started in front of the battalion but the horses were tired and roads heavy with mud, it was also very dark, and both water carts belonging to the battalion turned over in a narrow lane leading from the camp which delasyed the march about 1½ hours.
The railway station which was only some 3½ miles distance from the camp was not reached until 3.45 am. but the horses, transport and men were ready to move an hour and half before the train was due to leave. The whole battalion was in one train which left at reaching Rouen at 10.45 where a halt was made for I hour and men were given coffee by French officials. Our destination was now know to be Busigny. On our way we were greeted by enthusiastic crowds who gave the soldiers fruit, flowers and cigarettes. Busigny was reached at 9.55 pm. and we were told there that we had to go on to Landrecies where we arrived at 11.30 pm. and detrained, the men were billeted in some barracks evacuated by a French regiment which had gone to the front. The officers were lodged in the local girls school which was also evacuated.

17

Marched at 10.30 to Noyelles a distance of about 6 miles where the battalion was billeted in barns and farm houses.

18

Remained in our billets at Noyelles.

19

Remained in billets at Noyelles. The battalion took part in a short route march with the remainder of 9th Brigade.

20

Remained in billets and another short Brigade route march was undertaken to exercise the men.

21

Left Noyelles at 5.45 a.m and marched to Longville, a distance of 12½ miles, where the battalion was billeted.

22

Left Longueville at 5.45 am. and marched to Cuesmes at Blaregnies. B and C Companies were detailed to take up an outpost position on the Mons - Conde canal under Major C Yatman.

23: The Battle of Mons

B and C Companies in the position they had taken up on the 22nd and which they had strengthened by barricading the 3 bridges in their area and by fortifying the houses and barricading the streets south of the canal. The line was continued to the west by the Brigade and on the right by the R. Scots Fusil. and 4th Royal Fusiliers.
The attack developed on C Company about 11 am. by heavy shell fire which was turned on to B Coy about noon, in this case being supplemented by heavy rifle fire and the enemy gradually massed in large numbers in the dead ground in front of B Coy. and were able to bring two field guns to within 150 yards of the main barrier which was blocking the chief street leading to the bridge head. Owing to the smoke from the houses that were burning and the dust caused by the gun fire it was impossible to locate their position accurately but the enemy must have lost very heavily. Two men of B Coy Ptes Green and Batton was in a house defending the bridge head with Corporal Johnson. This house was blown up and Cpl Johnson killed and the 2 men got into the cellar which had a window looking onto the bridge. Here they remained unable to retire with their Company. ten minutes after the barrier had been vacated the Germans started to cross the bridge and were marching across it in fours continuously for 3 hours. these two men escaped at dusk and rejoined the battalion 5 days later. At 10 .0 am. on this day A & C Coy with head grenadier of Battn. were sent to the N outskirts of Cuesmes to take up a position to cover the retirement of the support line. Here they remained till about 2.0 pm. when they were ordered to retire. B & C Coys. having made good their retirement to the W. the whole Brigade retired on Frameries and were attacked from the W. by a force of Germans who had evidently followed up B and C Coys. The R. Scots Fusiliers were the first to meet this attack and were severely handled. A & D Coys were sent to their support and continued doing a Flank guard movement until dark when the Battalion concentrated on the high ground W of Frameries with the Lincolnshire regiment on the right and Worcestershire Regiment on our left.
MONS. Casualties 23rd August 1914.

Killed:

X ( B ) Coy. 1592 Pte Grey.: 8658 Pte Hughes.: 1188 Pte Thompson.755 Pte Will.: 1247 Cpl. Johnson.: 1496 Pte Vines. 898 Pte Tucker.
Z ( C ) Coy. 1931 Pte Neave.

Wounded:

X ( B ) Coy. 8766 L/Cpl Hitchens.: 9376 Pte. Addams.: 9489 Pte Hurst.
2446 Pte Nicholson.: 3340 Pte Monohan.: 9924 Cpl Quinn. 1278 Pte Collins.
Z ( C ) Coy. 2352 Sgt. Gammon.: 5183 L/Cpl. Betmead.: 3716 Pte Richardson.: 9281 Pte Gould.

See Note (1) below.

24

About 3.30 am. the Germans who had located our position over night opened a heavy shell fire to which our guns was unable to respond for some time. The German Infantry started to attack about 7 am. and the Artillery ( Major Metcalf's battery ) found a good target. the enemy were held in check all along our part of the line and on our right were retiring. The Brigade on our left was now ordered to retire and the left of our line was in grave danger of being turned, however about an hour later the 9th brigade was ordered to retire and fall back through the town of Frameries where a certain amount of street fighting took place. The retirement was unmolested after leaving the town and the brigade formed up about 4 miles W.S.W. of the town, where they halted for about 4 hours to allow the transport to get clear. In the evening the Brigade continued the retirement and came into bivouac at Bermerries at 10.30. pm.

Casualties:

Killed.:

D (Z) Coy.: 174 Pte Smart.: 1071 Pte Seage.: 1368 Pte Smith.

Wounded.:

B (X) Coy. 9184 Pte Wildman.: 8815 Pte McCarty.: 4898 C.S.M. Hone.
1729 Pte Bradley.
C (Y) Coy. 9822 Col Buck.: 3255 L/Cpl Calvert.: 2841 Pte Atkins. 2383 L/C Page.: 1672 Pte Cain.: 9736 Pte Patterson. 398 Pte Pennison.: 9642 Pte Kennedy.: 99 Pte Nicholson. 9267 Pte Crouch.
D (Z) Coy. 6658 Sgt Fenemore.: 782 Pte King.: 8240 Pte Robinson. 9542 Pte Walker.: 1001 Pte Wood.: 1400 Pte Dale. 737 Pte Wilcox.: 1122 Pte Turner.: Sgt Samuels. 1011 Sgt Groves.: 3746 Pte Durham.: 9309 Pte Cairns. 91 Pte Holland.: 8814 Pte Thorley.: 9181 Pte Towle. 1372 Pte Farmer.: 60 Pte Knowles.: 9967 Pte Cowle.
Captain H.R. Sandilands.:
Captain M Leckie.

See Note (2) below.

25

The march S.W. was continued at 5.0 am. and after a long and tiring march the brigade arrived at Inchy in drenching rain at 6.0 pm.

26: the Battle of Le Cateau

The regiment was practically under armes all night and at dawn marched out and took up a position which had been prepared beforehand S of the town. The trenches which had been prepared were not considered suitable and before proper trenches could be dug the enemy opened fire which however did little harm and digging with entrenching tools was continued quite good cover being obtained before any infantry fire opened. Opposite our part of the line our guns were mors than a mach for the enemy’s. Everything seemed to be going well when the brigade on our right was seen to be trtiring and the enemy advancing in force, this was about 2 pm. Shortly after the 9th Brigade was ordered to retire and had there been any number of enemy opposed to our part of the line our losses must have been very heavy as we ahd to retire upon an open slope for about 600 yards. The battalion formed up in a field behind the village of Audencourt, there were many men missing as the brigade on our right had retired almost across the line of our retirement. The battalion was formed into rear guard to the brigade which marched all night. The enemy did not follow up.

Casualties:

Killed.
‘ B’ Company: 9588 Pte Smith, 1706 Pte Fawkes.
Wounded.
‘ A’ Company: 207 L/Cpl. Keeling, 3302 L/Cpl. Woodrow, 1623 Pte Tonkinson, 2510 Pte King,
‘ B’ Company: 3196 Pte McGrath, 9645 Pte Robson, 922 L/Cpl. Marquis, 1636 Pte Tweedell.
‘ C’ Company: 1573 Pte Groom, 9626 Pte Tweedy and 2374 Pte Middlebrook.
‘ D’ Company: 9288 L/Cpl. Pickering, 9468 Pte Roberts, 1223 Pte Meadows.
2nd Lieut. Dorman Smith, Capt. Toppin and Lieut. Ovans.

27

The brigade retired all day halting for a short time at mid - day at Hargicourt and arrived at Vermand at 5.0 pm. where we remained until 11.30 pm. when the march was resumed.

28

The march was continued till 3.0 pm. in the afternoon when we arrived at Cresolles where the night was spent in billets.

29

The battalion was on outpost duty all day and marched in the evening about 6.0 pm. and with many checks owing to the number of troops on the road. Marched continuously until 6.30 pm. the following evening where we went into billets at Presson le Long.

30

Halt at 2.30 am.; for one hour, continue marching until 9.45 am. wait for order; march off at 1.45 pm. and halt for the night at 7 pm.

31

Left our billets at 6.45 am. and marched to Vauciennes where we billeted.

1

Marched all day with the exception of a 2 hours halt at midday and arrived in the evening at Bouillancy and billeted.

2

Marched to Penchard.

3

Marched to Villemareil where the battalion were on outpost duty.

4

Remained in outpost position until 3.0 pm. then marched all night arriving at Chatres at 7.30 am. 5th September.

5

Remained at Chatres all day and night. Lieut. H.C. Stephen joined with 50 men of 1st reinforcements, slept in our billets.

6: the Battle of the Marne begins

Our retirement finished, we once again advanced north and arrived in Lumigny at 4.30 pm. and billeted.

7

Marched to La Martroy and billeted at 5.30 pm. where Lt Platt DSO and 97 N.C.O's and men 2nd reinforcements joined the battalion.

8

Left La Martroy at 6.0 am. and engaged in a skirmish at Orly which resulted in the capture of some prisoners. The machine guns were in action with 8th Brigade. Billeted that night at La Fucheres.

9

Left our billets at 4.30 am. and crossed the Marne as advance guard. The brigade was delayed all day by wood fighting and in the evening took up a position and entrenched and slept the night in it near Ventrelet farm. We had several casualties.

Killed.:

X Coy. 692 Pte Connor.
Z Coy. 8811 Pte Cawthery.: 963 Pte Lucker.

Wounded.:

X Coy. 740 Pte Barron.: 1170 Pte Chatfield.: 925 Pte Lumerton. 703 Pte Morris.
Z Coy. 1066 Pte Bestwick.: 8707 Pte Lough.: 1574 Pte Demain. 1606 Pte Wheeler.: 1307 Pte Gandon.: 1375 Pte Williams. 9310 L/C Udale.
Lieut. C.T.S. Cogan.

10

Marched at 5.30 am. and met a rear guard of the enemy holding some woods in the vicinity of Veuilly which the battalion was ordered to clear. A & B companies went through in line with C Coy in Support echeloned to the left rear D Coy in reserve. there was a stream in the middle of the wood which was waist deep and had to be forded. There only appeared to be a few snipers in the wood 12 of whom were killed or captured without any casualties to ourselves. Six hundred of the enemy were taken prisoners this day by the division. There was every sign of the enemy having made a very hasty retirement. the battalion billeted at about 4.0 pm. at Dammard.

11

Left Dammard at 7.15 am. and marched to Grand Rozoy where B, C, and D Coys were outposts to the Brigade. It was a very wet night.

12: the battle of the Aisne begins

Left Grand Rozoy at 6.45 am.. The brigade was advance guard but although the enemy was engaged several times during the day the battalion did not come into action. billeted at 4.30 pm. in Brenelle.

13

Left Brenelle at 7.0 am. and marched E to a position which would protect the advance guard of the Division advancing from Braine. Here the brigade remained all day as the column from Braine was held up by gun fire from N. side of the R Aisne. At dusk moved into billets at Vailly crossing the Aisne in single file as the bridge had been broken, we did not reach our billets until nearly midnight.

14

At 5.0 pm. the Battalion marched out to support the 4th R Fusiliers who were in an outpost position close to the enemy on the road to Rougemaison Farm due N of Vailly. A position taken up in continuation of and to the left of that occupied by the R. Fusiliers. In taking up this position the enemy was encountered in some force and the gun fire to which our artillery could not reply was very galling. C company was on the right and took up an advanced position from which they had to retire with some loss. a & B Coys under Captain H.S. Toppin were engaged in wood fighting on our extreme left but had to retire from the advanced position they had taken up to the general line of the brigade which in one part of the position was marked by the line of a sunken road remaining due E & W . Our casualties this day were very heavy especially in officers. The battalion entrenched the position taken up and gained touch with the 8th brigade on our left and the R. Scots fusiliers on our right. Towards midnight the enemy made a half hearted attack but withdrew after a few minutes firing.

Killed.: Captain H.S. Toppin .:
W Coy. 5625 C.S.M. Longden.
X Coy. 493 Pte Brown.: 201 Pte Earles.: 8712 Pte Master. 2128 Pte Leith.
Y Coy. 6000 C.S.M. Luke.: 854 Pte McAulay.

Wounded.:

W Coy. 701 Pte Gardiner.: 1420 Pte Atkins.: 9205 Pte Ables. 680 Pte Baines.: 1585 Pte Barker.: 9182 Pte Hoyle. 689 Pte O'Brien.: 9924 Pte Peper.: 757 Pte Phillipson. 9543 Pte Armstrong.: 1059 Pte Devereaux.: 695 Pte Perry.
X Coy 9316 Pte Coates.: 9857 Pte Wand.: 195 Pte Grace. 1190 L/Sgt. Baldwin.: 9274 Pte Martin.: 9294 Pte Greenfield. 9764 Pte Mearns.: 253 Pte Wilson.: 5953 Pte Leatherley. 9655 Dmr. Moore.
Y Coy. 9936 Pte Evans.: 553 Pte McGreavy.: 2107 Pte Moore. 9176 Pte Brand.: 559 Pte Cluer.: 636 Pte Patterson. 9285 Pte Buck.: 8773 Pte Davidson.: 3004 Pte Spiers. 8045 Pte Sweethove.: 8701 Pte Himbrow.: 3254 Pte Oates. 484 Pte Popplewell.: 9352 Pte Percival.: 7757 Pte Ryan. 9153 Pte Barlow.: 1954 Pte Bennett.: 145 Pte Clark. 468 Pte Gilchrist.: 430 Pte Garrod.: 8183 Pte Denton.
8514 Pte Carner.: 292 Pte Alexander.: 266 Pte Welch. 1033 Pte Ford.: 1404 Pte Hill.: 1312 Pte Youngs. 287 Pte Struther.: 1575 Pte Thompson.: 577 Pte Gibson.
997 Pte Morgan.: 3714 Pte Doolan.: 9351 Pte Cunningham. 8778 Pte Revell.: 75 Pte Beanland.: 3839 Pte Taylor. 290 Pte Walker.: 8807 Pte Johnson.: 3728 Pte Norman. 1162 Pte Sutcliffe.: 9950 Pte Milway.: 1017 Pte Edwards. 1138 Pte Groves.: 9856 Pte Kealey.
Z Coy. 8835 Pte Septon.: 9522 Cpl. Woodhead.: 9341 Pte Broguin. 431 Pte Hammond.: 9960 Pte Tidy.: 9505 Pte Higgins. 683 Pte Fairbairn.: 691 Pte Wilson.: 6943 Pte Coulton. 1639 Pte Bennett.: 5709 Sgt. Brown.: 340 Pte Clements.
Cpl. Wadsworth.
Captain. Forster.: Lieut. H.L. Ovans.: Lieut. G.O. Sloper.
Wounded and Missing.: Captain R.F. Gatehouse.: Lieut. H.O. Sutherland.

15

Remained in trenches all day improving them as far as possible but when working parties showed themselves too much shell fire was always drawn from front and left flank causing several casualties. The enemy resumed that attack again this night and was supported by gun fire but as on the evening before retired after a short time having done very little damage.

Killed.: Captain J.H. Mattews.
W Coy. 491 Pte Prater.

Wounded.:Z Coy. 631 Pte Daley.: 2407 Pte Davis.: 1618 Pte Cowleshaw.
Lieut. A.F. Geddes.

16

The work of improving our protection continued but we were again subjected to much gun fire operated from our left. In the evening Captain Hardman Jones with 2nd. Lieut. Tottie arrived for duty with the battalion.

Killed.: Z Coy 4170 C.S.M. Wilkinson.

Wounded.: X Coy 880 Pte Neal.
Z Coy.: 2336 Dmr. Dowtill.: 338 L/C Clark.: 3467 Pte Clements. 9146 Pte Kent.: 9145 Pte Warner.: 11239 L/Cpl. Hood. 1097 Pte Bailey.: 2592 L/Cpl. Sheridan.: 8717 Pte Dalton. 9387 Pte Collins.: 9234 Pte Clements.

Our piquet was driven in in the early morning and a still stronger piquet was sent out but owing to its position it was decided to withdraw about 150 yards and to have a strong post in the wood to prevent the enemy from manning there so a piquet of 50 men was placed in the wood.

Killed. W Coy.: 1837 Pte Brine.
Y Coy.: 1500 Pte Vernon.
Z Coy.: 1263 Pte Lundy.

Wounded. X Coy.: 574 Pte Berry.: 828 Pte Thurgood.
Y Coy. 2642 Cpl. Lamb.: 9778 Pte Harris.: 9340 Pte Maughan. 938 Pte Murray.: 181 Pte Patterson.: 929 Cpl. Kreley.
Z Coy. 1616 Pte Chattle.: 1742 Pte O'Reilly.: 1840 Pte Stewart. 437 Pte Jameson.: 9506 Pte Elliot.: 810 L/Sgt. Pawsey.

20

The enemy's snipers got into the n edge of the wood during the night they had built trenches near our position from which they continually sniped the trenches causing a xx number of casualties especially among the officers. The enemy showed an inclination to attack but nothing came of it except a few parties of snipers got into the wood which was cleared by the maximum gun. Lieut. J Lambert with 103 other ranks joined the battalion.

Killed.: Lieut. E.F Boyd. .
W Coy. 1460 Pte Drewry.: 9096 Pte Marsden.
Y Coy. 3729 Pte Burkin.
Severely Wounded.; Capt. Selby.: Lieut. Tottie.: Lieut. Fisher RAMC

Wounded.: W Coy. 952 Pte Osborne.: 9347 Pte Brown.: 365 Pte Moffitt.
9482 Pte Parsons.
Y Coy. 530 Pte Gill.

21

The situation remained much the same except the snipers in the woods were less active. In the evening we were told that we were to be relieved the following day and during the night. The Middlesex Regt. and 2 Companies of The Buffs came up to behind our position.

Died of Wounds.: Capt. B.H. Selby.

Wounded.: Y Coy. 972 Pte Webster.

22

The 2 Companies of the Buffs took over the right of our position and the Middlesex Regt. the left portion of it and in the evening the battalion marched to Courcelles into billets to be held in general reserve for a few days during which time we were to rest and refit. The casualties during the week on Vailly height were heavy particularly in officers.

Died of Wounds.: Lieut. E.F. Tottie .

23

Remained at Courcelles. Lieut. Hon. D Mitford and Lieut. C Leather with 162 other ranks joined the battalion.

24, 25

Remained at Courcelles.

26

Left Courcelles at 5.15 pm. and marched back to Vailly where C and D Coy took up the post of the position which had been handed over by the regiment to the Middlesex Regiment. A & B Coy. remained in reserve.

27

Support A & B Coys under Major C Yatman DSO were sent on detachment to the right of the 16th Brigade which was on the right of the 9th brigade and about 3 miles to the E of the remainder of the xx battalion. There was a certain amount of gunfire both by night and day and we had three or four casualties.

28-30

Remained in our position.