The 2/5th Battalion, the North Staffordshire Regiment
This summary of the battalion's day-to-day history covers the period from 24th to 30th september 1917, when they were among the battalions supporting an assault in the Battle of Polygon Wood, a phase of the Battles of the Ypres 1917 (better known as the Battle of Passchendaele).
| Date and place | Events |
| 24 Sept 1917, east of Wieltje |
Dispositions of the battalion on the morning of the 24th are:
Battalion HQ at Capricorn Keep, C18d5.7; two
Companies (B and C) being in support at C18b4.2 and Dont
Trench D13c1.4 respectively and two in reserve - A
Company at C23c7.7 and D Company at C23c8.3 in Cambrai Reserve
trench. In the afternoon orders are received that the 176th
Infantry Brigade would be relieved at night by the 177th and
178th Brigades. The 178thy being on the left, and the 2/5th
North Staffs being relieved by the 2/6th and 2/7th Sherwoods;
completion of relief being reported at 12.15am on 25th. On completion
of relief the battalion marched to Ypres by
platoons and was billeted in cellars, with Battalion HQ being
established at I7c9.7. Casualties 2 OR killed and 2 wounded. |
| 25 Sept 1917, Ypres |
Orders having been received that the 2/5th North Staffs would
be attached as battalion in reserve to the 178th Brigade for
the attack on 26th September and would assemble in Capricorn
Trenches. The battalion moves of from Ypres at midnight,
and assembles in position ready for the attack at dawn on 26th. |
| 26 Sept 1917, east of Wieltje | Dispositions of the battalion when the bombardment previous to the attack commenced at 3.50am: Battalion HQ at C18d3.1 behind the old German pill box. A and D Companies being in the front line, and B and C in support; A and B on the left, and C and D on the right, of the Wieltje-Gravenstafel road. Regimental Aid Post at Battalion HQ. Zero hour was at 5.50am, and until 11.30am the battalion remained in its forming-up place, Capricorn Trenches. At about 11.30am, Companies commenced to move forward and take up new positions about Keir Farm in D13d, at 2.35pm. Battalion HQ moved forward and was established behind Pond Farm at C18b70.02, the RAP also moving to this new position. Dispositions of the battalion on the evening were Battalion HQ and RAP at Pond Farm; B Company holding the line north and south of D13a5.2, C, D and A holding the line Gallipoli, D13d4.1 to D13d5.9. During the day, and at about 5.00pm, previous to a counter-attack the enemy put down a very heavy barrage causing a good many casualties. Rations, water and hot tea in petrol tins surrounded with straw inside a pack were brought up as far as Spree Farm at 6.00pm on pack horses, from where they were fetched by carrying parties. |
| 27 Sept 1917, Pond Farm and trenches | Dispositions of the battalion at noon had changed to this: A Company were at Kansas Cross D14a1.2, B at D13a5.2 and C and D Companies at Keir Farm D13d8.4. During the afternoon orders were received for the battalion to assemble in the vicinity of Spree Farm as soon as it was dusk, for the purpose of finding carrying parties. On completion of carrying to return to old German front line trench at C28c8.6 and then rejoin 176 Brigade, but owing to enemy counter-attack taking place at dusk this move was postponed. At 7.54pm, B Company was ordered to move forward and clear up the situation by counter-attacking if our line had been penetrated. Finding they were not required they remained at Kansas Cross. At 10.00pm, A C and D Companies were ordered to assemble at Capricorn trenches and commence to carry up SAA, rations and water to the four battalions of 178 Brigade. At the same time B Company was ordered to move to Martha House D14c3.6 in support to the right battalion of the Brigade, but the guide sent was unable to find his way. B Company was ordered to return to Kansas Cross. Orders were for the battalion to remain until dawn on 28th in case of enemy attack. |
| 28 Sept 1917, at Pond Farm and trenches | Orders were received at 3.00am to move back to Call Reserve Trenches and rejoin 176 Brigade, which was completed at 6.15am. Battalion HQ was established at Call Farm C23c7.7, with the Companies in Call Reserve and Call Support. About noon, orders were received that the battalion should proceed after dark to Vlamertinge. At 8.30pm the 2nd Otago Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Brigade arrived to relieve the battalion. However, as A and D Companies were at that time acting as carrying parties (moving SAA, rations and water to the 2/5th and 2/6th Sherwoods), relief was not completed until 11.15pm. Companies marched with 100 yard intervals to Ypres Station H12d9.5, via the main Ypres road, and then ordered to entrain for Vlamertinge at 3.00am. |
| 29 Sept 17, Vlamertinge |
Having waited a couple of hours until 3.30am
and no train arriving, the battalion was compelled to march
to Vlamertinge, where they were billeted in huts at H9c4.7,
arriving about 5.00am. Moved off
in motor buses at 4.30pm to the
Watou area. Companies encamped in Howe
Camp at K11c9.3, having arrived at 6.00pm. |
| 30 Sept 17, Watou | Voluntary church parades. During the evening orders were received that the Division would be moving to the Steenbecque area on 1st October, the battalion to move by motor bus. Casualties for the 26th and 27th September: Killed: 2/Lt T.F. Rathbone (26th) [27 year-old Tom Rathbone is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery], and 18 Other Ranks. Missing: 3 Other Ranks. Wounded: Capt J. Hodgkinson, 2/Lts H.E. Saff, J.H. Worrall, E.M. Cofie, F.W Llewellyn (gassed), and 119 Other Ranks. Wounded but remained at duty: 2/Lts E. Carhart, E.S.W. Thomas, and 9 Other Ranks. |
| This is an extract from the Battalion war diary which is held at the Public Record Office, in document WO95/3021. | |