The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 2 of 3Ponsonby, Frederick
History
The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 2 of 3
Ponsonby, Frederick
Great Britain. Army. Grenadier Guards; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The 2nd Battalion reached Plumstead Camp between Herzeele and Proven
on August 3, and remained there training until the 21st, when it moved
into bivouacs at Bluet Farm. On the 28th it went to Harrow Camp, and
was employed in carrying up material to the front line. There was a
great deal of promiscuous shelling by the enemy’s artillery, and one
shell pitched on the cookers of the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards,
killing 3 men and wounding 14, while later two of its travelling
cookers were blown to pieces, but the 2nd Battalion only had one man
wounded. On the 31st it moved back out of the shelled area. During the
month the following officers joined: Lieutenant H. White, Captain C.
N. Newton, M.C., Second Lieutenant R. H. R. Palmer, and Second
Lieutenant H. B. G. Morgan.
[Sidenote: Sept.]
On September 8 the Battalion took over the front trenches immediately
to the left of the Staden Railway, where the line was held by a series
of posts running across the Broembeek. This was a very unpleasant line
to occupy, as it was wet and marshy, and the enemy was able
practically to overlook the trenches. Captain Walker, M.C., commanded
the Battalion, while Major Rasch temporarily took command of the
Brigade. During the three days in the line, 6 men were killed and 32
wounded. Second Lieutenant H. B. G. Morgan and three other ranks were
slightly wounded, but remained at duty. On the 10th the Battalion
spent four very disagreeable days at Rugby Camp, where it was
continually bombed, shelled, and gassed. The men were employed in
carrying up material to the front line, but considering they were
constantly subjected to shell-fire they suffered very little: 3 men
were killed, 3 wounded, and 11 gassed. Just as the Battalion was
leaving camp, six 8-inch shells fell close by, but fortunately without
causing any casualties. After a fortnight at De Wippe Camp, where it
was employed on fatigues, the Battalion moved on the 23rd to Plumstead
Camp, where it remained until October 6. On September 22
Brigadier-General G. D. Jeffreys, C.M.G., having been given command of
the Nineteenth Division, left the 1st Guards Brigade to take up his
new appointment, and was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel C. R. C. de
Crespigny. Lieutenant R. Y. T. Kendall and Second Lieutenant H. D.
Stratford joined the Battalion on the 14th, and Second Lieutenant G.
H. Hanning on the 21st.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 2ND BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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