World War I City of London Rifles

1 world war i

1.1 mobilisation
1.2 1/6th battalion

1.2.1 loos
1.2.2 vimy
1.2.3 high wood
1.2.4 ypres
1.2.5 messines
1.2.6 bourlon wood


1.3 2/6th battalion

1.3.1 bullecourt
1.3.2 menin road
1.3.3 villers-bretonneux
1.3.4 amiens


1.4 3/6th battalion
1.5 zeppelin raids

world war i
mobilisation

the battalion had arrived in camp @ cowgate, eastbourne, annual training on sunday 2 august 1914 when news reached them of mobilisation of continental powers. battalion entrained london , men returned homes, whence summoned following day (3 august) farringdon road in anticipation of official mobilisation orders, issued on 4 august. within day or battalion @ full strength, having been joined 200 recruits krrc cadets. other london tf units, sufficiently high proportion of clr volunteered foreign service make battalion eligible sent overseas. men did not volunteer, or unfit, constituted second battalion flood of new recruits directed. named 2/6th londons, service battalion becoming 1/6th londons. later reserve battalion, named 3/6th londons, organised train , supply drafts other battalions serving overseas.

1/6th battalion

in mid-august battalion went camp @ bisley, surrey , month later moved crowborough, sussex, trained in field operations. 5 november, number of individual london tf battalions had been sent overseas , 1/6th transferred 4th london brigade in 2nd london division bring full strength in order proceed france formation. battalion moved watford join new brigade, , field training continued until 16 march 1915, when entrained southampton embark western front

during night of 17/18 march 1/6th londons sailed le havre aboard ss la marguerite. 2nd london division, afterwards numbered 47th (1/2nd london) division, went line near béthune instructed in trench warfare regular 2nd division. 1/6th londons teamed 1st bn krrc , 2nd bn south staffordshire regiment. during april battalion began take responsibility holding own section of line, , suffered first casualties.

the 1/6th bn not involved in 47th division s first attack, @ battle of festubert (15–25 may), heavily shelled several days while holding line adjacent attacks.

loos

the battle of loos 1915



british infantry advancing through gas cloud @ loos 25 september 1915

the first full-scale attack carried out clr @ battle of loos on 25 september 1915. rehearsed attack following 4 days of bombardment , release of gas cloud. 1/6th bn s objective german trench system running mining spoil tip known double crassier lens–béthune road. battalion reached german front line few casualties, wire in front of second line more serious obstacle, there no natural cover, , battalion suffered many casualties here. however, objectives taken 08.00, after battalion consolidated position , beat off counter-attacks.

vimy

1/6th battalion withdrawn loos sector on 30 september, , after period of line-holding, sent in mid-november rest , training new equipment such lewis guns , rifle grenades. returned line in mid-december, , carried out regular tours of duty around hulluch , march 1916 on vimy ridge. on 30 april 1/6th bn suffered on 80 casualties when germans exploded mine under line. however, clr occupied , fortified resulting crater, named mildren crater after commanding officer.

on night of 20/21 may, 140 bde relieved formation further tour of duty on vimy ridge, following day (while supporting artillery being changed on , not offer support) front line heavily bombarded, support line in zouave valley in 1/6th bn stationed. germans began attack @ 19.45, taking of front line, , @ 22.00 1/6th ordered make counter-attack restore position. battalion made progress, flanks in air . @ 02.00 on 22 may attacked again, once again flanking units held up. however, germans had achieved object (to destroy british mine shafts under ridge) , withdrew on flanks, positions recaptured 1/6th became new british front line months come.

high wood

the 47th division s attack @ high wood, 15 september 1916

in late july 1916 1/6th marched south begin training enter ongoing somme offensive. battalion practised on positions marked out flags, , adopted identification stripes on arms: company blue, b co green, c co red , d co yellow. on 15 september, 47th division attacked high wood cover left flank of tank-led attack of adjacent divisions on flers. first objective 140 bde line clear of high wood (the switch line), second starfish line on forward slope, after 1/6th londons pass through take flers line. leading waves engaged in heavy fighting , brigade got starfish line, after 1/6th pressed on. battalion suffered badly enfilade machine-gun fire direction of high wood (which had still not been cleared), when whole waves of men mown down in line . although few men reached flers line not held, , remaining 2 officers , 100 men (including 50 came transport lines) consolidated position known cough drop, group of german trenches in valley west of flers, though position unknown headquarters. following day follow-up attack linked 1/6th holding out in cough drop, , @ dawn on 18 september battalion contributed mixed force succeeded in occupying flers line. 1/6th relieved in cough drop on morning of 20 september. regiment received battle honour flers-courcelette action.

after 8 days rest depleted 1/6th returned front line on 4 october, opposite mound known butte de warlencourt. next day battalion seized old mill west of eaucourt l abbaye. here battalion observed enemy digging new trench on butte, , 140 bde ordered attack , go on take mound. because of losses, 1/6th not involved in unsuccessful attacks on next 2 days, suffered badly retaliatory shellfire. relieved on night of 9/10 october. action won regiment battle honour le transloy

ypres

the 47th division transferred ypres salient, , 1/6th bn absorbed large draft of reinforcements. training continued between spells spent holding line. on 20 february 1917 1/6th carried out large-scale trench raid involving 4 rifle companies attached sappers 520 company royal engineers , 2nd australian tunnelling company, total of 20 officers , 640 other ranks. dummy raids, mines , bombardments on neighbouring sections of line used deceive enemy. stokes mortar barrage on german front line cut wire in front of attack , kept defenders in dugouts, while field guns laid box barrage seal off area attacked. attack went in @ 17.00, led second-in-command of 1/6th sounding hunting horn, , met no hostile fire. record number of prisoners taken, dugouts, emplacements , mine shaft destroyed, , considerable intelligence gained. after hour, raiders retired own lines dusk fell.

messines

the 47th division @ messines, 7 june 1917

the 1/6th took part in battle of messines on 7 june. 140 brigade attacked south of ypres–comines canal white chateau , adjacent outbuildings , trenches objective. 1/6th left trenches @ 05.30, 2 hours after 0 hour, pass through , complete assault on final objectives. finding white chateau still uncaptured, supporting tanks bogged, , surroundings being covered enemy fire, battalion had improvise. company sergeant-major c. bitten of b company climbed onto chateau ruins , threw grenades , bricks @ enemy machine-gun teams, scattered, allowing battalion occupy position. while battalion hq set in chateau ruins, battalion advanced behind barrage take outbuildings , german reserve line. 2 officers , 30 other ranks killed in attack, , 81 ranks wounded – comparatively low number period.

the 1/6th bn spent summer of 1917 holding line in ypres salient, taking part in usual small actions , trench raids, , during autumn in oppy sector.

bourlon wood

on 29 november 1917 47th division took on defence of bourlon ridge, captured during recent battle of cambrai. defences rudimentary, , germans attacked following day. @ first attacks fell on neighbouring battalions on both flanks, 1/6th s fire on these attacks attracted frontal attack, penetrated between 1/6th , 1/15th londons right. position on ridge enfiladed , casualties mounted under repeated attacks, including ground attack aircraft. position restored counter-attack led commanding officer , including available men @ battalion hq. battalion s casualties on day heavy, amounting 13 officers , 369 other ranks, many of whom captured positions rolled up.

on 2 january 1918, lt-col w.f. mildren, had been commanding officer of 1/6th since august 1915, promoted command 141 bde in 47th division, , not replaced. in february 1918 number of british infantry battalions disbanded because of manpower crisis. 1/6th londons among selected disbandment: 8 officers , 198 other ranks sent 2/6th battalion in 58th division (see below). other drafts sent 1/15th , 1/18th londons in 47th division. remaining men of 1/6th sent join remnants of 9 other battalions form 6th entrenching battalion.

2/6th battalion

the 2/6th battalion formed @ farringdon road after 1/6th bn marched away in august 1914. regimental staff overwhelmed recruits, 1100 being attested immediately. in october 1914 london tf association rented large country house, mount felix @ walton-on-thames, accommodate battalion , provide training facilities. 2/6th bn assigned 2/2nd london brigade (later 174th (2/2nd london) brigade) in 2/1st london division, numbered 58th (2/1st london) division in august 1915. brigade concentrated in sussex in november 1914, first @ burgess hill, later @ crowborough. in may , june 1915 whole division concentrated in east anglia.

initially, 2/6th bn s role provide reinforcements 1/6th bn, , sent large drafts senior battalion in february (just before 1/6th went overseas), august , september 1915 (after battle of loos). after that, practice stopped 58th division prepared overseas service, , duty of providing reinforcements fell on 3/6th bn.

in july 1916, 58th division left coastal defence role , concentrated @ sutton veny final training on salisbury plain before embarkation western front. battalion disembarked @ le havre on 25 january 1917 , went quiet sections of line near arras familiarise trench warfare. in march advanced follow german retirement hindenburg line.

bullecourt

the battalion s first offensive operation on 20 may 1917, when joined in battle of bullecourt. 6 weeks village had been attacked british, australian , new zealand troops, , in hands 17 may. 2/6th londons entered ruined village following day , task capture bovis trench beyond village. , b companies made attack behind barrage, other 2 companies protecting flanks. attackers not recognise shelled-out trench objective, went 200 yards beyond , tried dig in. having lost direction, gap had opened between them , c company on left flank, enemy parties infiltrated. attackers had suffered badly german defensive barrage, , battalion reduced small parties, forced german counter-attack. failure cost newly arrived battalion half strength in officers , men. unable make major effort several months, although did support attack on hindenburg line north of bullecourt 173 brigade of 58th division on 15 june. 58th division withdrawn quiet area.

menin road

on 20 september 1917 2/6th bn (codenamed unbolt ) took part in 58th division s successful attack @ st julien during battle of menin road ridge. task leap-frog through 2/8th , 2/5th bns making initial attacks, , turn right attack german lines in flank support of tanks. objectives taken, numerous prisoners, , relatively few casualties german defensive barrage. battalion consolidated gains, messages sent dog , carrier-pigeon brought down supporting artillery fire on german troops seen attempting form counter-attacks.

on 30 october, canadian corps captured passchendaele village, company of 2/6th made diversionary attack in conjunction 2/8th londons. although company took objective, 2/8th stopped impassable mud. battalion spent rest of year providing labour royal engineers consolidating positions won during ypres offensive. left salient in january 1918.

when 1/6th bn disbanded in february 1918 (see above), 2/6th bn absorbed many of officers , men, , henceforth designated 6th bn (the 3/6th having been redesignated 6th reserve bn in 1916).

villers-bretonneux

during february , march battalion occupied positions in coucy forest both sides occupied no more line of outposts. when german spring offensive opened on 25 march battalion south of river oise , not attacked, of 58th division north of river driven back. battalion fell on 26 march, leaving fighting patrol in forest, , set posts guard crossings on oise , st quentin canal until bridges blown. separated rest of british fifth army, 58th division came under french command. since germans did not cross river, 6th battalion reoccupied coucy forest until relieved french troops on 1 april. moved villers-bretonneux, through 5th army retreating. battalion resting in town when german bombardment fell on 4 april , moved out later in day support australian troops attempting hold gap in line. advancing section rushes, 6th londons , 36th australians turned enemy advance, , dug in overnight in front of town. high-water mark of german operation michael offensive.

john singer sargent s painting gassed, in imperial war museum

after being relieved line, battalion sleeping in open on night of 16/17 april when subjected gas shelling. large number of casualties caused mustard gas, of them temporarily blinded, had led away in single file dressing stations. reduced battalion not directly engaged when reassembled 58th division helped beat off next phase of german spring offensive on 24–26 april (the second battle of villers-bretonneux).

after rest , reorganisation, 6th bn spent next few months in reserve or holding line. during july introduced 132nd infantry regiment these duties.

amiens

the 58th division took part in battle of amiens on 8 august 1918, 6th bn having objective of taking malard wood , adjacent quarry. rather attack frontally, plan envelop wood, morning mist made direction-keeping difficult , wood taken mix of different battalions, including supports. following day battalion ordered continue attack on chipilly ridge 3 tanks in support. again there confusion, 6th londons collected disorientated troops , took objective. battle resounding success, battalion suffered casualties of 12 officers , 308 other ranks on 2 days. despite losses, 6th bn attacked again on 27 , 28 august @ maricourt, after took part in becoming war of movement against german rearguards. when battalion taken out of line, total casualties between 8 august , 11 september amounted 28 officers , 638 other ranks.

when unit returned action in october, pursuing @ 10 miles day, skirmishing rearguards , raiding parties, , suffering occasional gas attacks. on 27 october battalion reached rongy, began practise in moat of chateau assault crossing of river escaut. in event, german infantry retreated before crossing on 8 november, , battalion crossed plank bridge no opposition except steady shellfire caused few casualties. when armistice came effect on 11 november, battalion route marching in pursuit , meeting no opposition.

the 6th londons settled winter quarters in belgian town of péruwelz. in april 1919 joined british army of rhine occupying rhineland. august, of men had been demobilised, , cadre returned england.

3/6th battalion

the clr , other badges preserved @ fovant

the 3/6th battalion formed @ farringdon rd in march 1915 1300 strong. training held in regent s park , victoria park, moving in august 1915 hurst park racecourse stands, outbuildings , stables used billets , royal box became sergeants mess. winter approached, 3/6th moved billets in surbiton, training on esher commons. in january 1916 battalion moved fovant on salisbury plain, there large purpose-built training centre.

while quartered on salisbury plain, men of 3/6th cut regimental badge turf of fovant down reveal white chalk beneath, making visible long distance. maltese cross badge , initials clr have been preserved, have number of badges subsequently cut other regiments in camp.

the 3/6th bn redesignated 6th reserve bn london regiment on 8 april 1916, , assigned 1st london reserve group (later brigade). left fovant @ end of 1916 , moved nearby hurdcott camp, newton abbot, , blackdown in april 1917, remained rest of war training replacements , convalescents service on western front. excursion blackdown week spent in newport in july 1918 during miners strike in south wales coalfield; there no incidents , strike settled.

memorial plaque on zeppelin building , 59–61 farringdon road, london ec1.


zeppelin raids

on night of 8 september 1915, zeppelin l13 commanded kapitänleutnant heinrich mathy attacked london, , 2 of bombs hit messrs frank stadelman s warehouse @ 59–61 farringdon road. falling masonry building did considerable damage 6th londons drill hall behind.

on 31 march 1916, sgt j.c. charlie may of 2/6th bn won first military medal awarded bravery in inland britain, rescuing members of section burning house during zeppelin raid on stowmarket. coincidentally, raider once again mathy in l13.