Chris B Has Just Posted a New Entry Entitled Ibstock's Tigers, 6Th and 7Th Battalions

Chris_B has just posted a new entry entitled "Ibstock's Tigers, 6th and 7th Battalions Leicestershire Regiment…." in blog "Ibstock War Memorial".

Richard Philip Foster

Leonard Lovatt,

Arthur Price,

Joseph Miller Benn

Frank Gray.

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While nearly a quarter of the men named on the Ibstock war memorial served in various battalions of the Territorial Force, another sizeable proportion responded to Kitchener's call to arms and joined the County's “New Army” Battalions. The 6th (service ) Battalion of the Leicestershire regiment had been the first to be formed at Leicester in August 1914 as part of K1. The 7th was formed in September 1914 as part of K2, and the 8th and 9th followed in the same month as part of K3.

Whatever the original intention was, in March 1915 before any of them had left England, they were formed into 110th Brigade, which became known as the ‘Leicester’ or ‘Leicestershire’ Brigade, or ‘The Tigers’ in recognition of their cap badge, part of the 37th Division. On the 28th and 29th July 1915, the Leicestershire Brigade left Perham Down in Hampshire where they had been training for several months, for front line service on the western front initially in Flanders.

Richard Philip Foster, a married man with with two children, who had been employed in the Ibstock brick works before the war, served in the 6th Battalion as private 235022, he had previously been private 33395 which places him as a conscript in late 1916. (Private Joseph Hodgkinson 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment 32989/235028, enlisted 6 November 1916 and served in BEF from Jan 1917). It is likely that Richard Foster first served with the 6th Leicesters in Flanders in early 1917, before the 110th Brigade, by now part of the 21st Division, were moved to follow the German withdrawal to the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line, taking position in the front line near Henin sur Cojeul. On 3rd May 1917 the Leicestershire Brigade took part in an assault on the Hindenburg Line as part of the Battle of Bullecourt where the 6th were in reserve. This attack was unsuccessful, as was another assault on the night of the 15th June 1917. In September 1917, the 21st Division including the Leicestershire Brigade had returned to Flanders and took part in the action at Polygon Wood on 1st-3rd October 1917.

The Leicestershire Brigade spent the winter of 1917/18 in the Epehy area improving the defences, digging new trenches and emplacements and with concrete defences being built by the Royal Engineers. The German spring offensive is launched, on the 21st March 1918 at 2.30am with German shock troops following an intense artillery barrage. The men of the Leicestershire Regiment retired as planned. Despite support from two hidden tanks, the Brigade was forced back and ordered to abandon Epehy and Pezieres. The Brigade ended up in position on a ridge near the village of Hem, with the fighting almost over by 30th March. In this period the 110th Leicester Brigade had lost around 1200 men killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Amongst them was private 235022 Richard Philip Foster, killed in action on the third day of the onslaught on 23/3/1918, with no known grave his name appears on panel 29 and 30 of the Pozieres Memorial.

Four men on the Ibstock war memorial served in the 7th Leicesters: Private 15990 Leonard Lovatt, Private 17879 Arthur Price, Private 21187 Joseph miller Benn and Private 25635 Frank Gray.

Leonard at 35 years old was mature family man who originated from Burton, as did his wife Lydia, and Burton was the place of birth of his first four children, with baby Lydia born in Ibstock in the summer of 1914. Perhaps Leonard Lovatt regarded it is as his patriotic duty to volunteer, and he was no stranger to the military as he had served 3 years in the North Staffordshire Volunteers. Miner Leonard Lovatt signed his papers at Coalville on 13th November 1914, just one day before my own Grandfather Albert had done the same at the other end of the country at Wimbledon. There would have been little time to make his goodbyes as Leonard was posted to Aldershot on 22nd November 1914.

The tented Bourley camp may have seemed almost idyllic to those who had arrived in the summer of 1914, but as the weather deteriorated parts of the camp turned into a muddy quagmire not so different to some of the conditions they were yet to experience at the front. Christmas at the camp was a dull, cold and wet affair.

Kitchener's inspection on January 21st of his “New Army” at the Queen's Parade Aldershot included the 6th 7th 8th and 9th Leicesters. Heavy snow turned to rain, and the sodden troops were left waiting for three hours and then only to see Lord Kitchener's motorcar flash past. After the anticlimax, there was nothing left to do but trudge back to barracks and try to dry out.

Toward the end of his training, Leonard hears of the sad news of the death of his baby daughter Lydia on 11th June 1915. No pause from Army life is recorded. On 25 June the entire 37th division assembles for an inspection by the King at Sidbury Hill. On 22 July 1915 the Division began to cross the English Channel and by 2 August all units were concentrated near Tilques, with Leonard Lovatt amongst the ranks of the 7th Leicesters.

Miner Arthur Price of Ibstock, a single man in his thirties, had waited to spring of 1915 before volunteering at Coalville. Although born in Nailstone, Arthur's family had lived in Ibstock for at least 15 years before the outbreak of war. His training could have been as short as four months, as he was sent to France a little over four weeks after Private Lovatt, on 25.8.1915.

The 7th Leicesters were based in the Beinvillers sub-sector from mid September 1915 until early February 1916. As the weather deteriorates, trench conditions worsen with one man killed as a dug falls in on 2nd November 1915. There is a steady toll of casualties as working parties out digging and wiring are sniped at or hit by rifle grenades. A small patrol looking for a missing man on 30/1916 clashes with a larger German patrol in no man's land, another casualty is sustained. Enemy snipers continue to be active and others are wounded or killed. In early March 1916 the 7th Leicesters are in the Berles sector and mount a small raid in the hope of securing prisoners. But the raiders were blocked by two thick rows of new barbed concertina wire and “gooseberries” which was undetected from the reconnaissance. In later May and early June 1916 still at Beinvillers more men are lost during digging and wiring and when hit by trench mortars. In 29th June a strong raid is made on enemy trenches at BailleulMont. After a short preliminary bombardment, the attack starts at 2.30am. Many enemy were accounted for as dug outs and trenches were bombed or torpedoed. After two hours of fighting the raiders were withdrawn as the enemy's retaliatory bombardment increases. The raid is not without cost: one officer dies of wounds, 2 men are killed and 28 wounded.

Leonard Lovatt and Arthur Price were somewhere amongst all this. The raid may given the battalion a chance to exercise tactics and engage the enemy at close quarters, but a far stiffer challenge was to face them as they moved to the Somme in preparation for an assault on Bazentin Le Petit Wood. The war diary entries for the preceding days are:

11/7/16

BOTTOM WOOD. The Battalion having moved up, the 7th YORKSHIRE REGT. were relieved early in the morning. Guides were provided at FRICOURT, but it was almost daylight before the relief was complete. The QUADRANGLE TRENCH was reoccupied by C and D Company with a platoon from B and D in the QUADRANGLE SUPPORT, HQ., A Company and the remainder of B COMPANY were in BOTTOM WOOD. During the night previous and daytime, the enemy kept up a slow bombardment with 105mm shrapnel and 150mm Howitzers.

12/7/16

BOTTOM WOOD. QUADRANGLE TRENCHES and BOTTOM WOOD intermittently bombarded all day. We suffered about 30 casualties including 2nd Lt. SPENCER, D Company killed.

13/7/16

BOTTOM WOOD. After a more or less slow bombardment all day including 77mm guns. The Battalion was relieved by 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and marched back to rest in FRICOURT. The day was spent resting and preparing for the attack on the morrow.

It's hard to know just how men like Leonard Lovatt and Arthur Price prepared themselves for going over. Some would have scribbled a last letter home making light of their situation, thinking first of their loved ones and family. No doubt there was black humour amongst those trying to keep their spirits up, but nerves must have jangled as the final hours passed.

The attack's objective was to clear the Germans from their positions in front of Bazentin le Petit Wood, and to capture the village behind it. The entire 110th Brigade was used, with the 9th Battalion initially in reserve. The 7th Battalion is drawn up in four lines. The first three to capture and hold the German's first line with the fourth to push on to capture the enemy's support line. By 2.55am the troops had assembled, already taking casualties. Zero hour is 3.25am, the short bombardment of the enemy's first line lifts and it is a race to cover around 500 yards of no man's land before the enemy man their front line again. There are many references to this action on the web, but I make no apology for quoting the 7th Leicesters war dairy for this day and those that followed:

14/7/16

MAMETZ WOOD. ATTACK ON BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD and village by the 110th Brigade. The Battalion was drawn up for the assault in four lines. The first three lines were in front of MAMETZ WOOD and were to move forward in succession at ZERO, the first line to take, clear and hold the German first line, the remainder to push on to capture and consolidate the FOREST TRENCH (enemy support line). The fourth line were drawn up behind the north edge of MAMETZ WOOD to move forward half an hour after ZERO, and push forward through FOREST TRENCH ready to assault the German third line. By 2.55am. all dispositions were made, each platoon being on its correct adjustment. A number of casualties were suffered during this operation, one platoon of “C” Company losing almost half its number. The men behaved admirably under trying conditions. At ZERO 3.25am. when the barrage lifted our first line trench was hardly close enough to it to rush the first line before the enemy could man it, as a result the advance was rather ragged. The right (A) Company in conjunction with the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. had little difficulty in entering the trench. The left (D) Company were momentarily held up by machine gun fire but managed to keep up close to the parapet and rush the line. The two centre (“B” and “C”) Companies were held up for about 20 minutes by machine guns. The pressure was relieved by parties from the right working down a flank. The centre Companies were then able to rush the trench. The second and third lines coming on, swept the remainder of the first line then, and made for the second line (FOREST TRENCH). By this time of the officers of “B” Company only 2nd Lt. EVANS was left, in “C” Company only 2nd Lt. REED, while in “D” Company all the officers were out of action. The enemy in the first line trench at first made some resistance but many were caught in their dug outs, and the rest seeing that they could not stop our rush retreated into the WOOD and made no resistance in the FOREST TRENCH. By 4.00am. our whole line was in occupation of FOREST TRENCH and the work of consolidation was begun. Captain A. A. CLARKE taking command. 2nd Lt. EVANS then sent back Company Sergeant Major GEARY to ensure that the German first line was cleared of the enemy. This N.C.O. with his party found a number of the enemy who had been passed over in the rush. In the meantime the left Company (D) after pushing on too eagerly under our barrage and being forced to retire, turned towards the flank and established connection with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 4.25am. Captain A. A. CLARKE, leaving 2nd Lt. EVANS in charge of the first trench, went forward in charge of the party to capture the third objective. No resistance was met with on the right, but on the left considerable trouble was caused by a machine gun and by snipers and close by the observation post in the tree both Captain CLARKE and Lt. WAKEFORD were hit. This left the assaulting line without an officer, but Sgt. WALKER (“A” Company) and L/Sgt. SHERLOCK (“C” Company) rallied their men and made good this line. There was no German trench in this position an in some cases the men again pressed forward and came under fire from our own barrage. Meanwhile the left (“D” Company) being checked by the machine gun on the crest of the wood and being unable to make headway were rallied by L/Cpl. BUSH, and an attempt was made to get round the position on the right, with the result that this party lost direction in the wood and finally found itself among the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. L/Cpl. BUSH then placed himself under the orders of an officer of that Battalion. Almost before the barrage lifted, the party under Sgt. WALKER rushed the German trench on the north side of the wood. The enemy made no resistance here and being caught between the barrage of shell fire and our advancing line gave themselves up. By 6.45am. we were established in the line on north edge of the wood. Subsequently officers of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT., bringing up supports took over command of this sector. About 7.15am. Captain GWYTHER was commanding the Battalion, ordered 2nd Lt. EVANS to push forward from FOREST TRENCH in support of the front line, on reaching the position selected for the strong point on the RAILWAY, this party came under machine gun fire from the north west corner of the wood, 2nd Lt. EVANS took up the line covering the strong point and prepared for reconnaissance. The position therefore at 8.00am was:- Northern edge of the wood held by us. Possession of the north west corner doubtful. Line of RAILWAY and strong point secured by us. Throughout the morning the enemy kept up an intermittent bombardment with 150mm Howitzers and a few 77mm’s, which grew in intensity about midday and during the afternoon. About 1.00pm it was believed that the Germans were still holding the entire edge of the wood at the north western corner and an assaulting party of the 7th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. was organised to clear them out. The bushes and trees were very thick round this point which necessarily made progress slow, the enemy evacuating and manning a trench about 30 yards from the wood, before our men could get through we suffered several casualties from a machine gun in the above mentioned trench. An attempt was made about 9 o clock to reorganise the Battalion, as they were considerably mixed up, most of the officers becoming casualties. Lt. Col. DRYSDALE was wounded whilst the Battalion was marching to its position in front of MAMETZ WOOD, Captain and Adjutant A. A. ALDWORTH taking command. Captain’s WRIGHT, GIFFORD, Lt’s. BURNETT, HOLLIS, ABBOTT and 2nd Lt’s. NEWTON, GUTTERIDGE and BAIN being all killed before our troops reached the first line. 2nd Lt. PICKERING-CLARKE, SIMPSON and REID also Lt. WAKEFORD were killed in the wood. The wounded officers were Captain A. A. CLARKE, Lt. HOUGHTON and 2nd Lt’s. THOMPSON, WEBB and ORRIT-NICHOL. Our total casualties were 18 officers and 535 men killed and wounded. Our men along with the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT manned the trenches at the edge of the wood and remained there until next morning. The night was quick.

15/7/16

BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD. By next morning about 100 men answered the roll, so they were sorted out and given a piece of trench about 150 yards along the north side of BAZENTIN to PETIT WOOD. About 2.00pm. 40 men were taken up to support the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. in a further attack on the north west corner. The troops holding the corner had been obliged to withdraw a few yards as the bombing and rifle grenading from the enemy 90 yards away was becoming intense and there being many casualties. It was believed that the enemy had again reached the corner, but by the time our troops got through, he had retired again to his redoubt. The 40 men were left in the strong point under the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. until the Battalion was relieved, nothing more of importance happened during the day or night and the enemy guns were quieter.

16/7/16

BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD. The day was quick except a few shells on the strong point during the afternoon and evening. The Battalion was relieved by the 10th YORKSHIRE REGT. at 10.00pm. It was raining, and the route was very bad. The enemy was dropping gas shells into MAMETZ WOOD which had no effect except that gas helmets were put on. The Battalion bivouacked for the night near FRICOURT WOOD.

17/7/16

FRICOURT. The day was spent resting, and at 6.00pm the Battalion marched to RIBEMONT arriving about 12 midnight.