Part 2

Early in 1915, the Editor, as an Officer who had served in all three Battalions, was deputed by the three Commanding Officers to keep a record of Commissions and Honours then being obtained by members of the Regiment and of casualties suffered, there being in the nature of things no provision in Official regimental documents or T.F. Records for following up the career of a man after he had been struck off the Artists on obtaining a Commission in another unit. Correspondents were appointed in each Battalion to assist the Editor, and on the first anniversary of the Declaration of War the first Edition of the present work, containing 1508 names, was published.

The intention was to re-issue the pamphlet periodically until the end of the War, and on the second anniversary a second Edition brought up to date, containing 3434 Commissions, was printed and on the point of distribution when the Press Bureau Order was issued, which prohibited any reference to places, numbers of Battalions and other details in which the book abounded.

These copies were accordingly sealed up, but monthly supplemental lists were published in the Regimental Journal for a time, the publicity thus obtained being a valuable check against error. Presently the Journal itself was also suspended for some months, but eventually it was allowed to reappear, and the supplemental lists were resumed after being shorn of all offending details, and were continued until the Armistice.

It then became necessary to dig out from every available source the particulars which had not been previously obtainable, such as dates and places of deeds and deaths, and this research has occupied an unconscionable time. Still it has been done, and the result is a much more complete and reliable record than was previously obtainable.

With regard to the plan of the book, the original scheme was to make it a record only of Commissions and Honours, with a list of casualties in all ranks, but whilst this final edition was in the press a very strong desire was expressed for a complete Roll comprising every one of the 15,000 Artists who at one time or another during the War had served in the Regiment in any capacity. An additional Section No. IV has therefore been compiled and added containing the names of all N.C.O.’s and privates who are not known to have taken Commissions. Here, however, the Editor came up against an insurmountable difficulty. It soon became evident that this Section not having been, like the rest of the book, entered up from day to day, it would now be absolutely impossible to ascertain what had happened to a very large number of men who had been discharged or transferred to other Regiments since August, 1914. In these circumstances it has not been practicable to make Section IV more than an alphabetical list of some 4,800 “other ranks” not included in the Roll of Commissions, with the addition of reference letters and symbols indicating those who are known to have served overseas with the 1st Battalion or in other units, or to have been killed, wounded, etc.

It is probable that there may be discovered in this Section the names of many men who had in fact obtained Commissions, some further casualties, and possibly a hidden D.S.O. or other Honour.

In these circumstances it will be realised, and the Editor desires to emphasize the fact, that the absence of any reference letter against a man’s name in Section IV is no reflection upon him. It simply means that the news of his promotion, reward or other event has not reached the Regiment. And the list includes the very large number of cadets who were under instruction in England on the cessation of hostilities, at least 2,000; also men discharged during the War as medically unfit.

[Illustration:

_Crown Copyright._] By permission of the Imperial War Museum.

EMBRYO OFFICERS.

Cadets leaving Barracks at St. Omer, on completion of Course, 1915.]

[Illustration: EMBRYO OFFICERS.

Passing-out Inspection of Cadets at Romford, 1917.]

The Editor much regrets that he is compelled strictly to limit this Section IV to those who enlisted originally in the Artists, as recruits. He recognises that this means the exclusion of those members of other units who were transferred or attached to the 1st Battalion in France, wore their regimental badge, fought and died with them. Probably they are included in their own Regimental War Records, but they were all so thoroughly imbued with the spirit and traditions of their new unit, that he would willingly have inserted in this book every one of the hundreds of additional names had the exigencies of space and expense permitted. He has, however, been sufficiently inconsistent to include their Officers, together with their Military Crosses and other Honours if gained whilst serving with the Artists.

In conclusion, the Editor warmly acknowledges his very great indebtedness to his hosts of correspondents in every theatre of war, to sympathetic Record Officers at home and abroad, and to the patient and painstaking members of his constantly changing staff, without whose meticulous care in the laborious daily task of searching Gazettes and Casualty Lists against their ever-growing Card Index, the compilation of this gigantic record would have fallen through. To enumerate all those who during a period of nearly five years lent a hand in this way, invalids and light duty men at home, Officers and men on leave, cadets awaiting Gazette, and other keen helpers would fill pages, and it is useless to attempt it.

In the mass of detail dealt with in this work and the circumstances under which it was collected, there are no doubt mistakes and omissions: possibly a considerable number. To meet such cases the copy of the book which is to be deposited in the War Memorial recently erected at Headquarters will be interleaved and if short particulars of any serious error that may be discovered are forwarded to “The Hon. Secretary, Roll of Honour,” Artists Rifles, Duke’s Road, Euston Road, W.C.2, it shall be rectified in such Headquarters copy. Arrangements may also be made for periodical publication of lists of corrections in the Regimental Journal.

SUMMARY OF WAR HONOURS, 1914–1919.

Victoria Cross 8 C.B. 1 C.M.G. 1 M.V.O. 3 Order of the British Empire K.B.E., 1; C.B.E., 2 „ „ „ „ O.B.E., 43; M.B.E., 37 Distinguished Service Order 52; Bars, 4 Distinguished Service Cross 4; Bars, 1 Military Cross 822; Bars, 63; 2nd Bars, 6 Distinguished Flying Cross 23; Bars, 3 Air Force Cross 15 Royal Victorian Medal 4 Distinguished Conduct Medal 6 Military Medal 15 Meritorious Service Medal 14 Foreign Decorations 90

Mentioned in Despatches 564 Brought to notice of Secretary of State 70

STRENGTH.

Numbers on Mobilization 621 Recruits during the War (including past members rejoined) 14,401 ------ Total of Muster Roll 15,022

Gazetted to Commissions (so far as ascertained) 10,256

CASUALTIES.

------------------------+----------+----------+-------- | As | As Rank | Nature. | Officers.| and File.| Total. ------------------------+----------+----------+-------- Killed in action or died| 1,614 | 389 | 2,003 Wounded or gassed | 2,816 | 434 | 3,250 Missing | 418 | 114 | 532 Prisoners of War | 256 | 30 | 286 | | | ----- | | | 6,071 ------------------------+----------+----------+--------

NOTE.--The above figures include only enlisted Artists, not officers or men transferred or attached from other Regiments.

A CALENDAR OF REGIMENTAL NUMBERS.

showing at a glance the approximate date on which any recruit joined, or old member rejoined, by reference to his Regimental Number[5]

+------------+------------------------++ | DATE. | HIGHEST NO. || +------------+------------------------++ | | =1st Battalion.= || | | || | | Old style New[6] style|| | | || | =1908= |{ 1 to } { 760001 || | |{ 425 } { 760032 || | =1909= | 787 48 || | =1910= | 940 57 || | =1911= | 1037 64 || | =1912= | 1137 75 || | =1913= | 1281 98 || | Aug. 3/=14=| 1345 760111 || | „ 30 „ | 1749 165 || +------------+------------------------++ | =1914= | =2nd Battalion.= || | Aug. 31 | 1907 760188 || | Sep. 1 | 2000 200 || | „ 15 | 2500 276 || | Oct. 30 | 2800 300 || | Nov. 24 | 3000 375 || | Dec. 31 | 3063 391 || +------------+------------------------++ | =1915= | =3rd Battalion= || | Jan. 5 | 3100 760400 || | Feb. 2 | 3300 455 || | Mch. 16 | 3500 500 || | Apr. 20 | 3700 552 || | May 27 | 3900 580 || | June 21 | 4100 600 || | July 13 | 4200 612 || | Aug. 20 | 4400 643 || | Sep. 23 | 4500 700 || | Oct. 29 | 4800 760 || | Nov. 12 | 5000 800 || | „ 29 | 5500 761000 || | Dec. 6 | 5800 100 || | „ 10 | 6000 180 || | „ 13 | 6100 200 ++ | „ 28 | 6300 290 || | | || | =1916= | || | | || | Jan. 1 | 6400 761300 || | „ 14 | 6600 400 || | „ 27 | 6900 500 || | Feb. 1 | 7000 570 || | „ 7 | 7100 600 || | „ 17 | 7300 720 || | Mch. 1 | 7600 860 || | „ 7 | 7700 920 || | Apl. 27 | 7800 970 || | May 7 | 7850 944 || | June 8 | 7900 762000 || | „ 14 | 8000 100 || | July 1 | 8100 150 || | Aug. 24 | 8200 200 || | Sep. 13 | 8300 300 || | „ 20 | 8400 400 || | „ 26 | 8500 500 || | Oct. 4 | 8600 600 || | „ 17 | 8800 800 || | „ 25 | 9000 763000 || | „ 30 | 9100 100 || | Nov. 6 | 9200 200 || | „ 11 | 9400 400 || | „ 20 | 9600 600 || | „ 27 | 9700 700 || | Dec. 11 | 9800 800 || | „ 14 | 9900 900 || | „ 18 |10000 764000 || | „ 29 |10200 200 || | | || | =1917= | || | Jan. 6 |10400 400 || | „ 8 |10515 764516 || +------------+------------------------++ | End of re-numbering.[6] || +-------------------------------------++

+----------+-----------+ | DATE. |HIGHEST NO.| +----------+-----------+ | | =3rd Bn.= | | | | | =1917= | | | | | | Jan. 11 | 764517 | | „ 13 | 700 | | „ 16 | 900 | | „ 7 | 200 | | „ 21 | 300 | | Mch. 27 | 400 | | „ 26 | 600 | | May 7 | 700 | | „ 25 | 900 | | June 7 | 766000 | | „ 29 | 200 | | July 20 | 400 | | „ 31 | 500 | | Aug. 9 | 600 | | „ 30 | 800 | | Sep. 25 | 767000 | | Oct. 26| 200 | | Nov. 16 | 300 | | Dec. 7 | 400 | | | | | =1918= | | | | | | Jan. 24 | 600 | | Feb. 20 | 800 | | Apl. 5 | 900 | | „ 24 | 768000 | | May 29 | 200 | | June 15 | 400 | | „ 28 | 500 | | July 10 | 700 | | „ 27 | 900 | | Aug. 7 | 769000 | | Sep. 4 | 200 | | Oct. 2 | 400 | | „ 21 | 600 | | Nov. 11 | 769703 | +----------+-----------+

[Illustration: THE “FALL-IN.”

August 4th, 1914.

(_facsimile._)]

[Illustration: THE “CEASE FIRE.”

November 11th, 1918.

(_facsimile._)]

THE FIRST FIFTY.

Roll of N.C.O.’s and men of the Overseas Battalion who went into action in November, 1914, as Probationary 2nd Lieutenants in the 7th Division.[7]

[7] This Roll does not entirely agree with the Army List, as some of the above Officers were killed, and others (marked ♦) had been transferred to other Battalions before a belated Gazette recognised the appointment of the remainder to Commissions as above.--ED.

20th INFANTRY BRIGADE.

1st Grenadier Guards.

1076 Cpl. CRISP, F. E. F. 1634 Pte. ♦EDLMANN, F. J. 1464 „ ♦HILLAS-DRAKE, R. F. 1186 „ MOLLER, A. A.

2nd Border.

392 Cpl. ♦CLOSE, M. A. 1614 Pte. CUTHBERTSON, F. T. 1551 „ SAMPSON, H. F. 1613 „ ♦WORNUM, T. H.

2nd Gordon Highlanders.

691 Cpl. CHATER, A. D. 1437 Pte. HORSLEY, O. 1436 „ HORSLEY, S. M. 997 L/Cpl. MULOCK, E. R.

21st INFANTRY BRIGADE.

2nd Yorkshire.

2220 Pte. CROSSE, M. E. B. 1167 „ CUTTLE, G. 2255 „ HOLLIS, H. L. 1794 „ PICKUP, A. J.

2nd Bedfordshire.

1260 Pte. BREWER, C. H. 1929 „ DABELL, N. V. 1033 L/Cpl. DE BURIATTE, H. 1030 Pte. WILLANS, H.

2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers.

1760 Pte. ♦RAYMOND-BARKER, C. L. 1755 „ STEWART, J. 1578 „ WALLACE, J. R. 1573 „ ♦WHITE, L. S.

2nd Wiltshire.

1823 Pte. CARDEN, R. H. 1138 „ KITCAT, A. J. 1536 „ SHEPHERD, W. S. 1725 „ STRAWSON, F. M.

22nd INFANTRY BRIGADE.

2nd Royal Warwickshire.

1101 Pte. HERBAGE, P. F. W. 1285 „ MONK, G. B. 539 „ PEACE, G. V. 787 Sgt. STANDRING, B. A.

2nd Royal West Surrey.

693 Sgt. AUSTIN, C. F. 1372 Pte. HUMPHREYS, D. F. 1390 Cpl. MESSOM, H. 1371 Pte. ROUGHT, C. G.

1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

954 Cpl. JONES, L. 608 L/Cpl. PARKES, H. F. 1429 Pte. REES, J. T. 1934 „ WINTERS, J. W.

1st South Staffordshire.

706 Cpl. ♦FROST, K. 1744 „ MACKINTOSH, H. L. 1087 L/Cpl. SILCOCK, A. 1399 Pte. ♦WEST, F.

ROYAL ENGINEERS.

1150 ♦HUNTER, J. W. 1491 ♦HUTT, H. V.

WITH THE ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION.

A SHORT HISTORY OF 1/ARTISTS IN THE LINE, FROM JULY 1917, TO THE ARMISTICE.

Oppy Wood. Passchendaele. On the Somme (Marcoing). Withdrawal to Metz and Beaulencourt. Advance to Couillet Wood Sector. Retirement from Havrincourt Wood to Forceville. To Aveluy Wood Sector. Attack on Hindenburg Line. Rest at Bailleulval. Capture of Hindenburg Line. Fall of Cambrai. First British troops in at Blaugies and Sars-la-Bruyere. Pursuit to Harvengt and Harmignies. Mons.

63rd (ROYAL NAVAL) DIVISION. | | +--------------------+-------------------+ | | | 188th Inf. Bde. 189th Inf. Bde. 190th Inf. Bde. ------- ------- ------- 1/R.M.L.I. “Drake” Bn. 1/Artists. 2/R.M.L.I. “Hawke” Bn. 4/Bedford. “Anson” Bn. “Hood” Bn. 7/R. Fusiliers. “Howe” Bn. “Nelson” Bn. 4/Shropshire L.I.

From July to Sept. 1917, the Division was in the front line (“R3” and “R4” Sectors, Oppy and Gavrelle) and with the exception of a few casualties, nothing of special note occurred during this period so far as the Artists’ were concerned. After a normal tour, the Division was relieved by the 47th (formerly 2/London) Division, the Artists themselves being replaced by the 22/London, commanded by Lt. Col. C. F. H. Greenwood, an Artists’ Officer, and moved to La Comté.

On coming out of the line inexorable Anno Domini deprived us of our Commanding Officer, Col. Chatfeild-Clarke, while our esprit de corps was momentarily ruffled by the appearance of a reinforcing draft composed not of Artists, but of 119 men from another unit.

It was recognised however that pooling, not only of reinforcements but of C.O’s. was now inevitable: that as no other Battalion overseas was being exclusively fed from its own Regiment, the Artists could not expect different treatment.

During the ensuing twelve months they had five new Commanding Officers, all drawn from other Regiments.

OCTOBER 1917.

In October, the Division was ordered to the Ypres front: we journeyed to Houtkerque, thence to Reigersburgh and on the 28th left camp for our first big fight, the C.O. Major Edlmann, bringing news, that owing to the impossible state of the ground the Divisional front had not been advanced so far as had been expected, so that what was to have been our jumping off line would now be our objective. During the next thirty hours we suffered a good many casualties from long range artillery fire, D Co. losing their C.S.M., C. W. W. King.

The story of the battle for the Passchendaele Ridge, so far as the Artists are concerned, is soon told. Other Divisions before us had been taking their share in the slow process of gaining ground in this water-logged area, at tremendous cost. The 188th was the first Brigade of the 63rd Division to attack; and advancing under a terrific artillery and machine-gun barrage they, too, made some headway, but suffered severely. Early on the 30th our Brigade attacked, also under a very heavy barrage: the British artillery averaged one gun to every 9 yards of front. To reach our objective we had to cross the Paddebeeke, on the map an insignificant streamlet, but in fact by this time a wide and almost impassable swamp.

{ _B Co. (Capt. Bare)._ _A Co. (Capt. Mieville)._ _ORDER OF BATTLE_{ _C Co. (Capt. Chetwood) Support._ { _D Co. (Capt. Royds) Reserve._

The instant our attack started, the forward troops came under intense machine-gun fire from an almost invisible enemy who had taken refuge in their “pill boxes” during our bombardment, and were now posted in carefully chosen tactical positions. Simultaneously our supporting troops suffered heavy casualties from enemy artillery, while the ground to be traversed was a deep sea of mud, which drowned wounded men and clogged rifles and Lewis guns in the first few minutes, rendering them entirely useless. Consequently it was not long before the attack was brought to a complete standstill, and the very attenuated Battalions proceeded to consolidate as best they could on our side of the Paddebeeke.[8] On our right the Canadians continued to advance: being on higher and drier ground they were able to get on, so that presently there was a dangerous gap between their left and our right. This was closed by sending up the Shropshires from our Brigade reserve.

On this day the Artists went into action about 500 strong and suffered 350 casualties, amongst those killed being Captains Bare, Chetwood and Gordon Williams, Lieuts. Haslam and Howe, and our splendid Padre, Capt. Harry Dickinson. The toll of deaths would have been still higher but for the untiring efforts of our M.O., Capt. Matthew, who for 72 hours hardly rested from the work of collecting and dressing the wounded.[9]

The task set the Division appeared to be an impossible one, and no doubt would not have been attempted but for the urgent necessity of those tremendous attacks in this sector, which drew away all the enemy’s reserves from other points where it was of the utmost importance to prevent his attacking in force. It was not a case of lives being fruitlessly thrown away, but of sacrifices which enabled the whole Allied line to remain intact at a time when the Russian débacle was straining to the utmost our resources on the Western Front.

The next day the remains of the Battalion moved out of the line to refit, and while at Eringhem received a special message of sympathy in respect of their losses, and congratulations on the part they had played in the battle, brought direct to them from Earl Haig. They learned also from the Canadians (who were loud in their praises of the way in which our men had pressed forward) that several Artists had succeeded in actually crossing the Paddebeeke before being killed.

DECEMBER, 1917.

After a period of rest and reorganisation (during which Lt.-Col. John Harington, 3/Rifle Brigade, took over the command, Major Edlmann was appointed O.C. 63rd Divisional Wing, and substantial reinforcements arrived, including 6 Officers and a draft from 3/28th), the Battalion was on its way back to the Passchendaele sector, when the successful British offensive before Cambrai was checked and the Boche began to press back the wedge that had been driven into his line there. Thereupon the 63rd Division was sent to the Somme district, and at the end of December moved into the front line in the Marcoing salient (Couillet Wood sector).

On the 30th the enemy launched a terrific attack and succeeded in penetrating the front line to the east of the Welsh Ridge salient. The Artists who were in support at this point were detailed for a counter-attack which had to be made without artillery support. It was pressed for all we were worth but resulted in very heavy casualties without the achievement of our object. However, we heard subsequently that our efforts were not in vain as the enemy, deceived as to the strength of our available reserves by the promptitude and determination with which the counter-attack was delivered, refrained from exploiting their initial success. Had they done so, it is conceivable that their object in driving us from the Welsh Ridge might have been attained.

{ _A Co. (Capt. Pike)_----_B Co. (Lieut. Skinner)._ _ORDER OF BATTLE_{ _D Co. (Capt. Barnett) Support._ { _C Co. (Capt. Lepingwell) Reserve._

A very gruelling night followed, consolidation work having to be carried out in ground which was frozen hard. Sufficient praise cannot be given to the Medical Staff under Capt. Mathew, M.C., who were again working all day at high pressure and at night did much to assist in the recovery of the wounded men who were lying out in front of our line. Excellent work was accomplished by D Co. under Capt. Barnett in forming a defensive left flank, by Capt. Mieville in reconnaissance, and by Lt. Holland, these officers gaining on that occasion very hard-earned M.C’s.[10] Lt. Margetson also earned recognition for good work in the maintenance of signal communication[11] and R.S.M. Emslie did much to keep things going by the organisation of carrying parties to get hot food up during the night. One Corporal did yeoman service to his Company by going back under heavy fire, crossing a gas-filled valley and bringing up the Company water supply which had had to be abandoned in the rush of the morning.

Our casualties were nine Officers and 110 other ranks. Lieuts. Salisbury, English, Shinner and Lightfoot, with our M.G. Officer (Groom) and Intelligence Officer (Godfrey) were killed, while Pike, Lepingwell and Holland were wounded, and from this date the Battalion ceased to be exclusively officered by Artists. But although Officers and men came to us from many other Regiments the spirit and traditions of the Corps were maintained to the end: one of the most striking features in connection with the arrival of reinforcements from other units was the rapidity with which our new comrades assimilated Artists’ ideas and methods of getting things done.

JANUARY-MARCH, 1918.

During January and February, 1918, we put in further tours of duty in the front line (during one of which both the Boche and ourselves lived on top behind our respective parados, the trenches having become nothing but ditches of liquid mud several feet deep), while Col. Harrington left us to command the 2/Rifle Brigade (eventually becoming a Brigadier-General), and Major Lathom who had been temporarily in command of the Fusiliers was appointed acting C.O. of the Artists.

The Brigade was then withdrawn to Divisional Reserve at Beaulencourt where we were joined by Major F. S. B. Johnson, 1/Royal Lancaster, as our own new C.O. and our strength was brought up to 28 Officers and 766 other ranks by the addition of a complete half Battalion of the 2nd Bn. London Rifle Brigade which had been broken up on the formation of 3-Battalion Brigades.

* * * * *