January 1917 was one of the coldest winters in living memory. So far the French Army had lost 1,300,000 casualties, "nearly one life for every minute of the war" and was demoralised. General Robert Nivelle promised a breakthrough to win the war within 48 hours by a return to the offensive doctrines of 1914. British generals and French politicians doubted that the plan would work; while both the French Army and people were worn out from the war. Nivelle prepared a great offensive along the Chemin des Dames, even employing Senegalese and Russian troops.
The Germans also suffered from the winter cold. During the Somme battles of 1916 Ludendorff had ordered the building of a major defensive position up to thirty miles behind the German lines. In February 1917 the Germans fell back on this line, called the "Hindenburg Line" by the British, through fear of the coming French attack, leaving behind them a devastated area. British and French generals feared that the withdrawal would weaken the effect of the forthcoming attack, but Nivelle disagreed. First the British attacked on 9th April at Arras to set a hard shoulder for the French offensive, the Canadians capturing Vimy Ridge.
Then the French attacked on 16th April. The Germans knew the time of the attack to the hour, and counter-attacked at once. The French lost 90,000 men in the first day and altogether 180,000 over three weeks. The Germans lost about 160,000 including 40,000 prisoners and were pushed back a few miles. The real blow was to French expectations. Rumours in Paris exaggerated the French loss, while in fifty four French divisions men announced that they were prepared to hold their own trenches but would not attack again.
These mutinies continued into May and June. Nivelle was dismissed and replaced by General Philippe Pétain, who set about to re-establish morale. Pétain improved rest camps for the troops and increased the amount of leave; but he also made examples of some mutineers: 400 were condemned to death and at least fifty five - the official figure - shot. The French managed to keep these mutinies secret both from their allies and enemies, and all the time the line was held. But the French Army was incapable of further offensive effort - of all the Allies only the British were still capable of that. However, on 6th April the USA had declared war against Germany, providing fresh troops - "there was hope again".
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Saturday, 8 August 2009
The Question of Enlistment
I have had a reply from The Great War Forum with a possible dates for Jonathan's enlistment, but first I'd like to mention that during the early part of 1916 Parliament was discussing conscription for men as opposed to volunteering.
January or May 1916 is the date for that new law, The Military Service Act 1916 and stated this
Every British male subject who
- on 15 August 1915 was ordinarily resident in Great Britain and who had attained the age of 19 but was not yet 41 and
- on 2 November 1915 was unmarried or a widower without dependent children
To further read this new law go here - http://www.1914-1918.net/msa1916.html
So back to the reply from Andy Pay -
Looking at a few men with similar numbers that were in either the 7th, 8th or 9th RB, the closest one that I could find was only a couple of numbers after your relations we find that the attestment was early December 1915 (12/12/15) and then sent straight to the Army Reserve, mobilised in June 1916 and after training posted to the relevant battalion with quite a few of these being killed in action at the Battle of Arras in either April or May 1917.
Ok, so this is my very rough working out of dates - (please correct me)
Jonathan had his first child in 1913, then my Grandfather in early January 1916, going back 9 months would take us to early April 1915, he may of enlisted voluntarily in December 1915 and as above states then going to a training camp (see here for training - http://www.1914-1918.net/training.htm ) I wonder if the above reads after enlisting he was told to mobilise in June of 1916, which meant he had from December 12th 1915 till June 1916 at home. Come June 1916 the training continued for a few months (maybe 5 months?) untill he was sent to France.
A story doing the rounds in the family thinks he may of been in France for only 5 months. That would make it December 1916 in France, I guess he would of had training in France before being sent to the front, and skimming the diarys I see early 1917 the battalion are doing a lot of training.
Your thoughts?
The Great War Forum
A few days ago I posted of this very informative web site a question of how I can go about finding out the month/year of my Great Grandfathers enlistment, below is my original question -
One question I would like to ask here and after asking some family members is about his enlistment, the facts I do know are - Enlisted - Camberwell, SE LondonResident - Peckham, Fowler StreetFormerly - Kings Royal Rofle Corp (Brigade) R/26235Possible that he enlisted around November 1916, but not sure, this is information of his unit - 7th Battalion The Rifle Brigade (The Princes Consort Own)Serial Number - S/26127he was 29 when he died.
I got a first reply within hours from Andy Pay -
The 7th Rifle Brigade were in Support for the attack on the 3/5/17 but suffered from shell-fire. Find attached page 3117 from the Rifle Brigade medal rolls, if you would like the full size page let me know and I will send it to you. As you can see he served only in the 7th.
He has sent me a photo of this card via email and shows Jonathan Rowe listed. I posted back a great big thanks to him for this document that I didnt even knew exsited, for which another reply came back, first with this written -
The Rifle Brigade is something of a passion of mine developed over the years with particualr interest in the 14th Division (or 8th Division as it was until more troops came home from overseas billets and then renumbered the 14th) and the 8th Rifle Brigade especially, which IMHO is unique in certain aspects and with the way that Ronnie Maclachlan recruited his officers (all Oxbridge and Eton)
As I was reading this a picture was loading also on the page, and to my utter surprise a picture showed up on the page of a grave, Jonathan's grave in Wancourt Cemetary. Well to say that I was in shock is an understament, I didnt ask where or how he got this picture but to finaly see it and still not move from my chair in front of this computer is amazing.
I'd like to thanks Andy Pay for the help in such a short time, more than I could of asked for.
See the picture above, if you've not already seen it:)
The War Illustrated
9th June 1917 - Volume 6 Number 147 
26th May 1917 - Volume 6 Number 145
The War Illustrated was a British war magazine published in London by William Berry (later Viscount Camrose and owner of The Daily Telegraph). It was first released on 22 August 1914, eighteen days after the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, and regular issues continued throughout World War I. The magazine was discontinued after the 8 February 1919 issue, but returned 16 September 1939 following the start of World War II. It was extremely popular: at its peak at the end of WWI, The War Illustrated had a circulation of 750,000A few of the issues had stories of The Battle of Arras -
http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Arras/Arras_02.htm6th May 1917
10th May 1917
26th May 1917
9th June 1917
There was also an issue that had an article on the Ronville Caves at Arras -
http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Arras/Arras_01.htm30th November 1918
I have found on ebay 2 of these original papers, they are 26th May 1917 and 9th June 1917, I made a bid and WON!, should be getting them next week, but for now the above pictures show the front covers.
Images of Arras 1917
Arras City Square 1917
Arras Battlefield 1917
Triangle Wood (mid right)
British Soldier at Arras 1917The Rifle Brigade (Princes Consort Own)
The Rifle Brigade fielded 28 battalions in the First World War, from its original compliment of 4 regular and 2 reserve, seeing service primarily on the Western Front, but also in Macedonia. The regiment lost 11,575 killed in the course of the war.
They were awarded many battle honours, 10 Victoria Crosses and many other decorations.
The 8th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (together with the 7th & 9th battalions) was part of the 41st Brigade of the 14th (Light) Division of XV Corps.
They were mainly made up of volunteers from the outbreak of WWI.
The battalion saw action including Ypres salient and the Somme. Notably the action they were in at Hooge, Belgium (30/31 July 1915) saw the first use of flamethrowers by the Germans, Sidney Clayton Woodroffe was awarded the VC for his actions in this battle.
7th (Service) BattalionFormed at Winchester on 21 August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 41st Brigade in 14th (Light) Division.
Moved to Aldershot, going on to Elstead in November and returned to Aldershot in March 1915.
May 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
27 April 1918 : reduced to cadre strength.
17 June 1918 : returned to England with Division and cadre absorbed by 33rd Bn, the London Regiment.King's Royal Rifle Corps ·
Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) was raised in 1800.
Battalions during the Great War.
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
5th (Reserve) Battalion
6th (Reserve) Battalion
**7th (Service) Battalion **
8th (Service) Battalion
9th (Service) Battalion
10th (Service) Battalion
11th (Service) Battalion
12th (Service) Battalion
13th (Service) Battalion
14th (Reserve) Battalion
15th (Reserve) Battalion
16th (Service) Battalion (St Pancras)
17th (Reserve) Battalion
18th (London) Battalion
19th (Western) Battalion
20th (Northern) Battalion
21st (Midland) Battalion
22nd (Wessex & Welsh) Battalion
23rd (North Western) Battalion
24th (Home Counties) Battalion
25th (Reserve) Garrison Battalion
41st Brigade.Prior to being reduced to Cadre.
7th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 19 Aug 1914 - 02 Feb 1918.
To the 43rd Brigade.
8th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 21 Aug 1914 - 16 Jun 1918.
Reduced to Cadre on 27 Apr 1918. Cadre to the 34th Division.
7th Bn Rifle Brigade. 21 Aug 1914 - 17 Jun 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 27 Apr 1918. Cadre absorbed by the 33rd Bn London Regt.
8th Bn Rifle Brigade. 21 Aug 1914 - 16 Jun 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 27 Apr 1918. Cadre to the 34th Division.
3rd May 1917 (War Diary)
May 3
Zero was at 3.45am
"A" Coy moved forward to HERON trench
"B" to GANNETT and
"C" to EGRETTThe Bn was not asked upon to take active part in the ? , our role was to support the attack when ordered.
The blue line was captured with little resistance.
The red line was captured E. of CHERISEY.? left of the dirt front failed owing to heavy M.G fire from TRIANGLE WOOD.
A heavy counter attack was made by the enemy and owing to both flanks being ? in the air, the brigade had to withdraw.
The first formation of the actual withdrawal came from the forward coy in HERON trench, meanwhile the battalion was subjected to a violent bombardment of 5.9 shells which targeted all trenches from HERON to EGRETT.
afterwards lifting to DUCK trench and the COJEUL Valley so that these were symptoms of the counter attack being intended to reach the high ground by WANCOURT Tower.
Our ? was at ? placed on the BLUE line and afterwards put back to ? line.
The divisions on both flanks who failed to hold their objectives.
Casualties Capt. R.C Brown MC wounded 2/Lt B.Foster shellshock
26 O.R. killed, 27 wounded, 9 shellshock. see appendix 77a for list.
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