THE HEREFORDSHIRE REGIMENT

Their First World War ‘Story’ – January 1917

The ‘Bigger’ Picture

The Home Front

- General Sir Douglas Haig promoted Field-Marshal - Southwold and Wangford on the Suffolk coast shelled by German destroyers.

Diplomatic

- Inter-Allied Conference assembles in Rome to discuss co-operation, and the questions of Macedonia, Greece, the command of the Salonika expedition, and to convene a shipping conference.

- Greek Government make formal apology to the Allies for the occurrences of December 1st, 1916.

- Inter-Allied Conference (Commission de Ravitaillement) (Russia, France, Great Britain and Italy represented) assembled at Petrograd to discuss war policy, finance, supplies and co-operation - Entente Governments send joint reply to President Wilson's Note. Allied war aims outlined - Belgian Government reply to President Wilson's Note placing themselves in hands of Allies - Austro-Hungarian and German Governments issue Note repudiating responsibility for continuance of war, and declaring that they will prosecute the war to successful end - German Government send instructions to German Minister in Mexico (von Eckhardt) to negotiate alliance with Mexico and Japan against the United States - M Tropov, Russian Premier, resigns and is succeeded by Prince Golitsin - M Pokrovski, Russian Foreign Minister resigns

- Inter-Allied Chartering Committee established for chartering shipping

- Allied Naval Conference held in London as to policy in Mediterranean

The Western Front Winter sets in with a commensurate reduction in operations.

- First units of Portuguese Expeditionary Force land in France

Other Fronts

EASTERN FRONT

RUMANIA

- Focsani taken by German forces.

- Braila taken by German forces.

- Last Russian and Rumanian forces evacuate Dobrudja.

EGYPT/PALESTINE

- Action of Rafah. Last Turkish troops in Sinai recross the frontier

ARABIA

- Wejh captured by Arab forces

MESOPOTAMIA

- Battle of Kut, 1917, begins

EAST AFRICA

- General Hoskins succeeds General Smuts in command of British Forces, East Africa

- Action of Beho-Beho

At Sea

North Sea

- Harwich flotilla action with German 6th torpedo boat flotilla in the North Sea: HMS Simoom sunk.

- Italy accedes to Franco-British Convention as to naval prizes

- Russian battleship Peresvyet (below) sunk by mine off Port Said.

- Japanese battle cruiser Tsukuba (below) sunk by internal explosion in Yokosuka harbour (Japan), with the loss of 305 crewmen.

U Boat Warfare

- German Government announce forthcoming unrestricted submarine warfare and threaten to sink hospital ships

- HMS Cornwallis sunk by German submarine U-32 in Mediterranean 60 miles east of Malta. Some of her stokeholds flooded, causing her to list about ten degrees to starboard, but counterflooding corrected the list. About 75 minutes after the first torpedo hit, another did, also on the starboard side, and Cornwallis rolled quickly to starboard. Fifteen men were killed in the torpedo explosions, but she stayed afloat long enough to get the rest of the crew off. She sank about 30 minutes after the second torpedo hit.

HMS Cornwallis had supported the landings and subsequent operations at Suvla Bay.

HMS Cornwallis firing a broadside at Suvla Bay

HMS Cornwallis ‘rolling’ before sinking.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 211 ships

of 380,000 tons gross; the highest monthly amount of the war to date.

The ‘Herefords’

Casualties

Whilst operations were light in the Middle East 2 members of the 1st Bn were killed; both were serving with,

and had been in action with the Imperial Camel Corps (ICC).

The confusion of the ex Hereford men who had served with the 11 Border Regt on The Somme continued to

become more clear with the fate of missing soldiers being realised.

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

1914 1915 1916 1917

NAME INIT RANK NO DATE HOW WHERE HOMETOWN Notes (Serving with)

Bevan James PTE 4514 12/01/17 KIA F&F Walford BORDER 11

Chant Herbert PTE 4569 12/01/17 KIA F&F Bridgnorth BORDER 11

Clayton William PTE 3256 09/01/17 KIA EGYPT Hay on Wye ICC 5

Davies Arthur Henry

PTE 3480 23/01/17 DOW EGYPT Burghill ICC 5

Davies George Henry

PTE 4383 03/01/17 D F&F Hereford BORDER 11

Dutton Horace Frederick

PTE 2673 31/01/17 D F&F Hereford BORDER 11

Holman Arthur Vincent

CAPT 09/01/17 D HOME

Maddox Thomas Edmund

PTE 3186 12/01/17 KIA F&F Canon Pyon BORDER 11

Stokes Albert Edward

PTE 2591 12/01/17 KIA F&F Wellington BORDER 11

Walker Alan PTE 2863 12/01/17 KIA F&F Ledbury BORDER 11

The 11 Border men, were ex Herefords who had fought in the last phase of The Somme battle at Redan

Ridge.

The following lists show the burial of soldiers in Kantara and Port Said Cemeteries:

Capt Holman, who had commanded C (Ledbury) Coy in 1914, died ‘at home’.

The London Gazette

Honours & Awards

Publication

Date Detail

01/01/1917 Drage G DSO

12/01/1917 Povall 239253 Pte J MM (attached KSLI)

Promotions & Appointments (extracts from the London Gazette)

Publication

Date Detail Effective Date Remarks

26/01/1917 Baillie RG reverts to lieutenant 30/11/16

26/01/1917 Banks AV reverts to lieutenant 30/11/16

02/01/1917 Carver WL reverts to lieutenant 19/10/16

26/01/1917 Crossley AH reverts to lieutenant 30/11/16

24/01/1917 Greenly JHM correction to spelling of name 2 Jan 1918

03/01/1917 Gurney RG seconded RE 20/12/16

03/01/1917 Marshall Alfred W to be second lieutenant; seconded Mons Regt

19/12/16

11/01/1917 Nott FT to be major 23/11/16

02/01/1917 Pilkington CEG to be captain coy comd 01/11/16

26/01/1917 Pilkington CEG reverts to lieutenant 02/12/16

11/01/1917 Smith MV reverts to captain 23/11/16

02/01/1917 Trumper FA to be captain coy comd 20/10/16

HEREFORD

Depot functions continue.

Enlistments continue, but recruits are allocated to regionalised initial training Battalions and on completion

of training are posted to units.

Some of those recruited in Hereford and allocated to the Battalion were:

NAME INIT RANK NO1 HOMETOWN Notes (later served with)

Eaton Thomas Pte 238962

Edwards David Ernest Pte 239005 Llanguello KSLI 4 & LAB C

Friend Horace Richard Pte 228815 Wellington RE

Gomery John Pte 238951 W Bicknor LAB C

Grass Charles Pte 238853 Wellington Salop SUFFOLK

Kitson Albert Edward Pte 238862 LAB C

Maund Charles Pte 238884 Clun KSLI 6 & 7

‘Normal’ administration took place and 4191 Pte PH Davies, who had enlisted in Jan 1916 was transferred to

the Military Foot Police (MFP), during the process he had to make a pledge as indicated.

Some of those discharged were:

NAME INIT RANK NO1 TERM HOMETOWN Notes

Clarkson R PTE 5867 xvi

Dent John Hinde PTE 6100 xvi

Evans R PTE 5534 xvi

Farmer Charles PTE 3788 xvi

Gent Thomas PTE 5724 xvi

Hargraves J PTE 5812 xvi

Irwin D PTE 5695 xvi

Lamb Thomas PTE 5697 xvi

Lingard D PTE 6101 xvi

Mccann C PTE 6004 xvi

Merrick FG PTE 5589 xvi

Sharratt W PTE 5809 xvi

Smith Arthur John PTE 2764 xvi Bromyard

Summers Charles PTE 5532 xvi Shawbury

Tudge Frederick Charles LCpl 1794 xvi Colwall

White Charles PTE 5784 xvi

Wilks Solomon PTE 5959 xvi

Williams LJ LCPL 2649 xvi Hereford

xvi - unfit through either wounds or sickness

iiicc - unlikely to become an efficient soldier

timex - Territorial soldier whose time of commitment has expired.

The Volunteer Bn (Hereford - formerly the Volunteer Training Corps (VTC))

The Volunteer Bn continued to train and recruit throughout the County as indicated by the weekly orders for A (Hereford) Company as published in The Hereford Times

1st Battalion

German-led Ottoman forces had occupied the Sinai Peninsula, then part of the British Protectorate of Egypt

in January 1915 in an attempt to ‘take’ or disrupt passage through the Suez Canal. The Battles of Romani in

August 1916 and the Magdhaba in December enabled the Allied advance into the Sinai. In January 1917 the

newly formed Desert Column completed the recapture of the Sinai at the Battle of Rafa. These three victories,

resulting in the recapture of substantial Egyptian territory, heralded further advances into Turkish dominated

southern Palestine

From the history of the 53 (Welsh) Division history:

On 20 January the Division marched from the Canal in 2 columns, and on the last day of the month HQ arrived

at El Arish.

Date Location Detail

1 Jan El Ferdan Field firing classification and company training. Bad weather prevented musketry and

parades.

2 Jan Capt Capel rejoined battalion on termination of 3 months attachment to brigade HQ.

Capt P Ashton to brigade HQ for training as Brigade major.

3 Jan Preparation for move

4 Jan Kantara Bn with remainder of Bde, 1/1st Welsh Field Coy RE, 1/3rd Welsh Field Ambulance

commenced move by route march to El Arish leaving El Ferdan 10.30 arriving at Kantara

16.45. Sleeping accommodation was found for Bn in tents of rest camp and tents and

mess huts of 19th Rifle Bde.

5 Jan Move postponed until 6th in order that tents might be dried. Tents pitched and dried.

Struck in afternoon and dumped ready to move tomorrow morning.

6 Jan Column moved to Gilban starting at 10.00, arriving at 15.30. Lt Gen Sir Charles Dobell

KCB, CMG, DSO GOC Eastern Force inspected column as it marched out of Kantara.

2Lt Baillie and 17 ORs to Romani to join Depot Bn.

7 Jan Column moved to Pelusium starting at 09.00, arriving at 12.30. Water pipes, pumping

gear out of order and no water was available until a water train from El Abt arrived at

4.30pm.

8 Jan Column moved to Mehemdia starting at 08.00, arriving 3pm. Owing to condensing plant

being out of order at Mehemdia, there was a shortage of water and all animals were

ordered to remain at Romani.

2Lt ES Russell was left at Romani in command of Lewis Gun sections and with mules and

riding horses. 2Lt HH Foster rejoined from leave in England.

9 Jan General fatigues, all men bathed in sea in afternoon. The camp had previously been

pitched by advance party under 2Lt Chipp.

From Kantara to Mehemdia all ranks bivouacked, 2 blankets per man and officers valaises

carried daily on light railway.

10 Jan Coy training; classes of instruction for subaltern officers & SNCOs. Water and ration

fatigues. Camp inspected by BGC in forenoon.

11 Jan Oy training. Officer and SNCO courses of instruction and bathing. News was received of

thee successful recce in force against Rafa.

13 Jan Training, bathing – same as yesterday.

14 Jan Sunday. Church Parade, bathing. 5 ORs rejoined from England.

15 Jan Coy training – subaltern officers and NCOs course of instruction; bathing.

16 Jan Bn route march; bathing

17 Jan Coy training – subaltern officers and NCOs course of instruction; bathing.

18 Jan Maj ALB Green rejoined from England.

News received that Lt Col Drage had been awarded DSO; supplement to London Gazette

of 6 Jan 1917.

Coy training, bathing etc.

Capt EA Capel resumed command of D Coy.

19 Jan Divisional exercises cancelled owing to orders for 158 Bde and 159 Bde to move to El

Arish.

159 to move tomorrow and 158 on the 21st.

20 Jan Preparations for move. General fatigues. Kit bags and haversacks packed and taken to

station dumps. Camp struck and tents taken to station dump.

21 Jan 158 Bde with 1/1st Welsh Field Coy RE and 1/3 Welsh Filed Ambulance moved by route

march to Rabah starting at 09.00 and arriving at 14.10 en route for El Arish.

22 Jan Column removed march at 10.30 arriving at Khirba 13.00. Rations arrived late due to

breakdown on railway.

23 Jan Column resumed march at 10.30, arriving at el Abd 13.00, where it will remain for a few

days.

Lt CEG Pilkington and 2Lt Crossley rejoined from Zeitoun School of Instruction.

24 Jan Fatigues. Companies paid. Washing. Administration by companies. Lectures by Coy

Comds on ‘outposts’.

25 Jan Coy training. Sgt P J Holt proceeded to England to join Cadet Corps.

26 Jan Divisional ex

27 Jan Medical inspection of Bn under arrangements by 1/3 WFA. Washing etc.

2Lts Collins, Mitchell & Court and 8 ORs proceeded to Zeitoun School of Instruction.

CSM S Price proceeded to Zeitoun for officers’ course prior to receiving Commission.

28 Jan Sunday Church Parade

29 Jan Column resumed march arriving at Bir Salmana at 12.40.

30 Jan Column arrived at Tilul at 12.30.

31 Jan Column set off 08.00 and arrived at Birelmazar at 12.30.

Maj ALB Green

Date Location Detail

1 Jan Went to Hereford and saw old Wallis about Kingstone. Saw GL and OB Wallis – both

on sick leave. The former still very deaf and ears still bad. Saw Holman {*} at station

Hereford, on his way to Shrewsbury. Still seemed very dickey. Went down to Weir

End to dinner.

* My dear brother officer and intimate friend died a few months later. He had served

in the S African War and ought to have been a regular – soldiering was his joy.

2 Jan Went to Pybers to tea and dinner at weir end. Gave Mrs Walton notice to leave – very

rude and annoyed.

3 Jan Heard from Cooks that boat special does not leave til Saturday. Had tea and dinner at

weir end.

4 Jan Packed up; had tea in nursery with children and dinner at weir end.

5 Jan Left 1027 train for town. Saw father at Mitcheldean Rd. Went to Berners then round

shopping and paying bills. Had tea at Rumplemeyers and called on Powers. Dined at

princes with Charles and went to Playhouse to see The Misleading Lady, including

Gladys Cooper, Weedon Grossmith and Malcolm Cherry – quite good.

6 Jan Left Charing Cross at 11.50 in Bombay Express. Dorothy saw me off. Manders and

Blandy returning same boat. Saw Danielson, 6 R Warwicks on Channel boat. Train left

Calais at 5.45.

7 Jan Arrived Marseilles at 4pm after good journey. Went on board Nellone which doesn’t

sail till tomorrow. Went and saw Caledonia in dry dock before dinner – huge hole in

her side.

8 Jan Sailed soon after 10 am after little difficulty with MLD about travelling in uniform. As I

hadn’t got any I hid in my cabin til we sailed. Nellone old slow boat, about 12 knots,

and escort slower still as we had to keep going slow for her. Wind very cold and

rather rough. Had fiddles on for dinner.

9 Jan Another dull cold day – rain and spray but not so rough.

10 Jan Came on to roll pretty badly early this morning. Fiddles on table once more.

11 Jan Got into Malta about 10.30am and went ashore about 11.30. Boat said to be sailing at

4pm. Had lunch at club and went to Cathedral with Blandy and Mander. Came back to

ship and found was not sailing til 1pm tomorrow so after tea went on shore again and

had dinner at club and on to opera to see La Fovourita: music good but acting poor.

Had to buy mufti so got sports coat and flannel trousers.

12 Jan Very cold wet morning with heavy thunder storms. Didn’t get away till after 4 o clock.

Heavy swell outside the harbour.

13 Jan Strong following wind – a bit rough.

14 Jan Escort left us at 8am and fresh escort from Port said failed to appear. Much warmer

and calmer.

15 Jan Fine warm day. Great farewell concert in evening.

16 Jan Got into Port Said and tied up soon after noon. Went on shore and had lunch at

Casino with Ward, Mander, Maggie May and Mrs Bradford. Found I could not get

through to Regiment which is at Mahamdiza today, so stayed at Eastern Exchange

Hotel.

17 Jan Left Port said at 8.15 with Mander who was going to Romani. Was met at Romani by

Davies and Turner, the latter with horses so we rode straight over to camp by the sea

and very nice. Had a lively night celebrating the CO’s DSO, which he had not heard

about. Ashton at Bde and Capel returned.

18 Jan Started work Football match in afternoon between Div and Bde staffs and officers of

Bde over 35. The former won 3 – 0. Div Ex tomorrow at which I am chief umpire for

158 Bde.

19 Jan Div Ex cancelled at 9am and told to be ready to move.

20 Jan Received orders in morning to take charge of escorts with heavy baggage ro Romani.

After hanging about all day the train eventually got off at 1600 and reached Romani

at 1700 where we got off, loaded and handed stores over to Depot Bn. Stayed night

at Depot Bn. 1/7 RWF won the Bde inter company football.

21 Jan Joined Bde as it marched through Romani at 1015, and marched to El Rabah where

we bivouaced. Strong westerly wind, cold and sand blowing about. March 10 miles.

22 Jan Very cold last night and everything covered in sand when I awoke. Reveille 0600 and

got away at 0930, beastly wind again. Marched to Khirba 71/2 miles where we

arrived about 1300 and bivouaced – beastly wind swept plain. Daily train did not turn

up until 1900 owing to break down on line. Found piece of timber so erected a part

shelter for CO and myself and were much warmer.

23 Jan Marched at 1030 for El Abd, 7 miles. I was in charge of brigaded camel transport –

beastly job’ finally reached camp at 1500. Tents pitched on very rough scrub desert.

159 Bde here saw Merry. We move to Mazar on Monday.

24 Jan Coys spent day organising and washing. Rode round part of defences of Abd in

afternoon. Letter from Do dated 7/1/17.

25 Jan Bn organisation. In afternoon rode round NE sector of defences.

26 Jan Divisional exercise. Very boring day, badly run marched out at 0800 and did not

return until 1645 having learnt nothing. Saw King Power.

27 Jan Coys on training outposts. Hear half brigade including ourselves to go straight to El

Arish on Monday by route march 47 1/2 miles. I am to go in charge of train echelon.

Met Ashton at station in afternoon to arrange dumping grounds. Had tea at Bde.

Spent morning straightening out the mess a/cs.

28 Jan Mail in. Letter from Do telling me of poor Holman’s death. We are very sad. She

enclosed telegram granting me a weeks extention of leave received on Jan 10th. Not

much use to me now. Hear I have to stay here with Bde details and dumps for some

days.

29 Jan Bde marched out at 1000 for Bir Salmana. I am left in command of column train

echelon details, about 230 and 10 officers. After hauling tents etc to dump we

pitched our camp. Came on to blow in the evening with sand storm. Made out

standing orders for camp. Detailed guards for dumps etc.

30 Jan Morning devoted to clearing out old areas and tidying up our new one. Sand storm

came on towards midday which stopped all work. Trains very late coming up owing to

sand on line and so got no rations.

31 Jan A lot of wind during the night and again today. Some dead Turks uncovered beyond

our old area. HQ 53 Div moving on today.

Wilmott

Jan 4th. Marched to Kantara

Jan 6th As part of East Force under General Dobell? Marched to Gilban

Jan 7th To Pelusium

Jan 8th Through Romani to kandiya (40 miles in all)

Jan 21st Back through Romani, past Katia to Rabah.

Jan 22nd to Khirba

Jan 23rd Bir el abd

Jan 29th Salmana

Jan 30th To Tillul

Sgt Colley

For 3 months at Ferdan we carried out every conceivable operation in our training and on 4 Jan 1917

we moved to Kantara. This was the beginning of an offensive against the Turks, who had been given

a fairly good time by us, only being worried by occasional visits from our aircrafts. Three days

marching brought us to Mohamidieh, to the north of Romani. We spent 3 weeks here. It was during

our stay here that news came through that the enemy had been driven from RAFA by the mounted

troops and camel Corps. Another 3 days march brought us to Elabo – not a village but just a spot on

the desert, with a name. We rested 2 days here and then took another 6 days march to El Arish. A wire

track had been laid cross the sand and this greatly assisted in overcoming the difficulties of rank

marching with full pack etc.

El Arish is a native town of mud buildings. We were camped just outside and not allowed in the vicinity

of the natives, owing to the fact, perhaps that fever and disease were rampant amongst them.

Pte Griffiths with 2 pals in 1917.

A selection of photographs of men of The Herefordshire Regiment in early 1917.

The following account of how the Battalion had spent Christmas was published in The Hereford Times:

2nd Battalion - Lowestoft

The second battalion remained in Lowestoft as part of 205th Bde in 68 Div.

Reserve Battalion (formerly 3 Bn) – Oswestry