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by Peter Hart


  Living conditions naturally improved further back from the line. Of course, the generals and their teams of staff officers did not share the privations and risks faced by the men in the front line. They needed to be at the centre of a communications hub that stretched forward to the battalions in the line and back to the High Command. The staff needed somewhere to work in reasonable safety, to draw up their detailed plans and from which they could disseminate their orders. They either occupied former German dugouts, or purpose built headquarters dug by the Royal Engineers.

  For the British infantry all hopes were centred on the time when they would be relieved at the end of their tour of duty in the front line. Nobody could stand it for long under these conditions and five days was about the norm. The relief rarely went entirely smoothly as the new troops often had trouble finding their way to the right spot in the wasteland that surrounded them. Then the officers and NCOs had to ensure that the new garrison understood the local situation, the strength and weaknesses of the trenches, the locations of the trench stores and the linking points with neighbouring units. It was often a long, drawn-out process. The combination of fear, exhaustion, stress, extreme physical discomfort and illness was a potent brew. Officers, NCOs and men were all ground down and at the end of their physical and mental tether by the time their tour in the line came to an end.

  I collected the remnants of my section and began to struggle back through countless mud-holes. I was so weak that I kept falling down, and in the process getting muddier and muddier. Stretcher bearers came running up to help, imagining that I had been wounded. With hindsight, I now feel that I refused their offer ungraciously. The main contributory cause of the weakness was an acute attack of dysentery from which I had been suffering for some days and at that time I would rather have died than reported sick. No latrines were available, and I was forced to evacuate in numerous shell holes.16

  Lieutenant Horace Paviere, 61st Company, Machine Gun Corps, 20th Division

  Next morning they would slowly begin to recover their natural vigour. However bad they may have felt, once they were removed from the source of the danger and privation the natural elastic resilience of youth served them well.

  It is queer by what stages one recovers from a whirl like that of the last few days, and they are invariably the same. During the worst rush one does not sleep, wash, or shave, and only eats haphazardly, a scrap here and there. The way these strains take me is that I can’t speak quickly or loudly. My voice dwindles to a sort of whisper and the words follow the brain in a slow and halting way. Sometimes I can’t think of even the simplest words in which to give an order. The first step to recovery is sleep. Then follows the first shave and a consequent feeling of increased morale and self-respect, then a wash and perhaps clean clothes, regular meals and the old order starts again.17

  Captain Philip Pilditch, C Battery, 235th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 47th Division

  APPENDIX B

  British Order of Battle The Somme 1916

  Guards Division

  1st Guards Brigade

  2/Grenadier Guards, 2/Coldstream Guards, 3/Coldstream Guards, 1/Irish Guards

  2nd Guards Brigade

  3/Grenadier Guards. 1/Coldstream Guards, 1/Scots Guards, 2/Irish Guards

  3rd Guards Brigade

  1/Grenadier Guards, 4/Grenadier Guards, 2/Scots Guards, 1/Welch Guards

  Pioneers:

  4/Coldstream Guards

  1st Division

  1st Brigade

  10/Glosters, 1/Black Watch, 8/Royal Berkshires, 1/Camerons

  2nd Brigade

  2/Royal Sussex, 1/Loyal North Lancashire, 1/Northamptons, 2/King’s Royal Rifle Corps

  3rd Brigade

  1/South Wales Borderers, 1/Glosters, 2/Welch, 2/Royal Munster Fusiliers

  Pioneers

  1/6th Welch

  2nd Division

  5th Brigade

  17/Royal Fusiliers, 24/Royal Fusiliers, 2/Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 2/Highland Light Infantry

  6th Brigade

  1/King’s Regiment, 2/South Staffordshires, 13/Essex, 17/Middlesex

  99th Brigade

  22/Royal Fusiliers, 23/Royal Fusiliers, 1/Royal Berkshires, 1/King’s Royal Rifle Corps

  Pioneers:

  10/Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

  3rd Division

  8th Brigade

  2/Royal Scots, 8/East Yorkshires, 1/Royal Scots Fusiliers, 7/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

  9th Brigade

  1/Northumberland Fusiliers, 4/Royal Fusiliers, 13/King’s Regiment, 12/West Yorkshires

  76th Brigade

  8/King’s Own, 2/Suffolks, 10/Royal Welch, 1/Gordon Highlanders

  Pioneers:

  20/King’s Royal Rifle Corps

  4th Division

  10th Brigade

  1/Royal Warwicks, 2/Seaforths, 1/Royal Irish Fusiliers, 2/Royal Dublin Fusiliers

  11th Brigade

  1/Somerset Light Infantry, 1/East Lancashires, 1/Hampshires, 1/Rifle Brigade

  12th Brigade

  1/King’s Own, 2/Lancashire Fusiliers, 2/Essex, 2/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment

  Pioneers:

  21/West Yorkshire

  5th Division

  13th Brigade

  14/Royal Warwicks, 15/Royal Warwicks, 2/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1/Royal West Kents

  15th Brigade

  16/Royal Warwicks, 1/Norfolks, 1/Bedfords, 1/Cheshires

  95th Brigade

  1/Devons, 12/Glosters, 1/East Surreys, 1/Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  1/6th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  6th Division

  16th Brigade

  1/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 8/Bedfords, 1/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 2/York and Lancaster

  18th Brigade

  1/West Yorkshires, 11/Essex, 2/Durham Light Infantry, 14/Durham Light Infantry

  71st Brigade

  9/Norfolks, 9/Suffolks, 1/Leicesters, 2/Sherwood Foresters

  Pioneers:

  11/Leicester

  7th Division

  20th brigade

  8/Devons, 9/Devons, 2/Borders, 2/Gordon Highlanders

  22nd Brigade

  2/Royal Warwicks, 2/Royal Irish, 1/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 20/Manchesters

  91st Brigade

  2/Queen’s, 1/South Staffordshires, 21/Manchesters, 22/Manchesters

  Pioneers:

  24/Manchesters

  8th Division

  23rd Brigade

  2/Devons, 2/West Yorkshires, 2/Middlesex, 2/Scots Rifles

  24th1 Brigade

  1/Worcestershires, 1/Sherwood Foresters, 2/Northamptons, 2/East Lancashires

  25th Brigade

  2/Lincolns, 2/Royal Berkshires, 1/Royal Irish Rifles, 2/Rifle Brigade

  Pioneers:

  22/Durham Light Infantry

  9th (Scottish) Division

  26th Brigade

  8/Black Watch, 7/Seaforths, 5/Camerons, 10/Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  27th Brigade

  11/Royal Scots, 12/Royal Scots, 6/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 9/Scottish Rifles

  South African Brigade

  1/Cape Province, 2/Natal & O.F.S., 3/Transvaal and Rhodesia, 4/Scottish

  Pioneers:

  9/Seaforth

  11th Division

  32nd Brigade

  9/West Yorkshires, 6/Green Howards, 8/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 6/York and Lancaster

  33rd Brigade

  6/Lincolns, 6/Border Regiment, 7/South Staffordshires, 9/Sherwood Foresters

  34th Brigade

  8/Northumberland Fusiliers, 9/Lancashire Fusiliers, 5/Dorsets, 11/Manchesters

  Pioneers:

  6/East Yorkshires

  12th Division—Major General A. B. Scott

  35th Brigade

  7/Norfolks, 7/Suffolks, 9/Essex, 5/Royal Berkshires

  36th Brigade

  8/Royal Fusiliers, 9/Royal Fu
siliers, 7/Royal Sussex, 11/Middlesex

  37th Brigade

  6/Queen’s, 6/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 7/East Surreys, 6/Royal West Kents

  Pioneers:

  5/Northamptons

  14th (Light) Division

  41st Brigade

  7/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 8/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 7/Rifle Brigade, 8/Rifle Brigade

  42nd Brigade

  5/Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 9/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 9/Rifle Brigade

  43rd Brigade

  6/Somerset Light Infantry, 6/Dukc of Cornwall’s Light Infantry; 6/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 10/Durham Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  11/King’s

  15th (Scottish) Division

  44th Brigade

  9/Black Watch, 8/Seaforth, 8th/10th Gordons, 7/Camerons

  45th Brigade

  13/Royal Scottish, 6th/7th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 6/Camerons, 11/Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  46th Brigade

  10/Scottish Rifle, 7th/8th King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 10th/11th Highland Light Infantry,

  12/Highland Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  9/Gordons

  16th (Irish) Division

  47th Brigade

  6/Royal Irish, 6/Connaught Rangers, 7/Leinster, 8/Royal Munster Fusiliers

  48th Brigade

  7/Royal Irish Rifles, 1/Royal Munster Fusiliers, 8/Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 9/Royal Dublin Fusiliers

  49th Brigade

  7/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 8/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 7/Royal Irish Fusiliers, 8/Royal Irish Fusiliers

  Pioneers:

  11/Hampshires

  17th Division

  50th Brigade

  10/West Yorkshires, 7/East Yorkshires, 7/Green Howards, 6/Dorsets

  51st Brigade

  7/Lincolns, 7/Border Regiment, 8/South Staffordshires, 10/Sherwood Foresters

  52nd Brigade

  9/Northumberland Fusiliers, 10/Lancashire Fusiliers, 9/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 12/Machesters

  Pioneers:

  7/York and Lancaster

  18th (Eastern) Division

  53rd Brigade

  8/Norfolks, 8/Suffolks, 10/Essex, 6/Royal Berkshires

  54th Brigade

  11/Royal Fusiliers, 7/Bedfords, 6/Northamptons, 12/Middlesex

  55th Brigade

  7/Queen’s, 7/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 8/East Surrey, 7/Royal West Kent

  Pioneers:

  8/Royal Sussex

  19th (Western) Division

  56th Brigade

  7/King’s Own, 7/East Lancashires, 7/South Lancashires, 7/L.N. Lancashires

  57th Brigade

  10/Royal Warwick, 8/Glosters, 10/Worcesters, 8/North Staffordshires

  58th Brigade

  9/Cheshires, 9/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 9/Welch, 6/Wiltshires

  Pioneers:

  5/South Wales Borderers

  20th (light) Division

  59th Brigade

  10/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 11/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 10/Rifle Brigade, 11/Rifle Brigade

  60th Brigade

  6/Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 12/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 12/Rifle Brigade

  61st Brigade

  7/Somerset Light Infantry, 7/Duke of Cornwall’s light Infantry, 7/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 12/King’s

  Pioneers:

  11/Durham Light Infantry

  21st Division

  62nd Brigade

  12/Northumberland Fusiliers, 13/Northumberland Fusiliers, 1/Lincolns, 10/Green Howards

  63rd Brigade2

  8/Lincolns 8/Somerset Light Infantry, 4/Middlesex, 10/York and Lancaster

  64th Brigade

  1/East Yorkshires, 9/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 10/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 15/Durham Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  14/Northumberland Fusiliers

  23rd Divison

  63th Brigade

  10/Northumberland Fusiliers, 11/Northumberland Fusiliers, 12/Durham Light Infantry, 13/Durham Light Infantry

  69th Brigade

  11/West Yorkshires, 8/Green Howards, 9/Green Howards, 10/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

  70th Brigade3

  11/Sherwood Foresters, 8/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 8/York and Lancaster, 9/York and Lancaster

  Pioneers:

  9/South Staffordshires

  24th Division

  17th Brigade

  8/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 1/Royal Fusiliers, 12/Royal Fusiliers, 3/Rifle Brigade

  72nd Brigade

  8/Queen’s, 9/East Surreys, 8/Royal West Kents, 1/North Staffordshires

  73rd Brigade

  9/Royal Sussex, 7/Northamptons, 13/Middlesex, 2/Leinsters

  Pioneers:

  12/Sherwood Foresters

  25th Division

  7th Brigade

  10/Cheshires, 3/Worcesters, 8/Loyal North Lancashires, 1/Wiltshires

  74th Brigade

  11/Lancashire Fusiliers, 13/Cheshires, 9/Loyal North Lancashires, 2/Royal Irish Rifles

  75th Brigade

  11/Cheshires, 8/Border Regiment, 2/South Lancashires, 8/South Lancashires

  Pioneers:

  6/South Wales Borderers

  29th Division

  86th Brigade

  2/Royal Fusiliers, 1/Lancashire Fusiliers, 16/Middlesex, 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers

  87th Brigade

  2/South Wales Borderers, 1/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,

  1/Border Regiment

  88th Brigade

  4/Worcestershires, 1/Essex, 2/Hampshires, Royal Newfoundland Regiment

  Pioneers:

  2/Monmouth

  30th Division

  21st Brigade

  18/King’s, 2/Green Howards, 2/Wiltshires, 19/Manchesters

  89th Brigade

  17/King’s, 19/King’s, 20/King’s, 2/Bedfords

  90th Brigade

  2/Royal Scots Fusiliers, 16/Manchesters, 17/Manchesters, 18/Manchesters

  Pioneers:

  11/Sourn Lancashires

  31st Division

  92nd Brigade

  10/East Yorkshires, 11/East Yorkshires, 12/East Yorkshires, 13/East Yorkshires

  93rd Brigade

  15/West Yorkshires, 16/West Yorkshires, 18/West Yorkshires, 18/Durham Light Infantry

  94th Brigade

  11/East Lancashires, 12/York and Lancaster, 13/York and Lancaster, 14/York and Lancaster

  Pioneers:

  12/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

  32nd Division

  14th Brigade

  19/Lancashire Fusiliers4, 1/Dorsetshires, 2/Manchesters, 15/Highland Light Infantry

  96th Brigade

  16/Northumberland Fusiliers, 15/Lancashire Fusiliers, 16/Lancashire Fusiliers, 2/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

  97th Brigade

  11/Border Regiment, 2/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 16/Highland Light Infantry, 17/Highland Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  17/Northumberland Fusiliers5

  33rd Division

  19th Brigade

  20th Royal Fusiliers, 2/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 1/Cameronians, 5/Scottish Rifles

  98th Brigade

  4/King’s Regiment, 1/4th Suffolk, 1/Middlesex, 2/Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  100th Brigade

  1/Queen’s Regiment, 2/Worcestershires, 16/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 1/9th Highland Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  18/Middlesex Regiment

  34th Division

  101st Brigade

  15/Royal Scots, 16/Royal Scots, 10/Lincolns, 11/Suflblks

  102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade6

  20/Northumbcrland Fusiliers, 21/Northumberland Fusiliers, 22/Northumberland Fusiliers, 23/Northumberland Fusiliers

  103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade7


  24/Northumberland Fusiliers, 25/Northumberland Fusiliers, 26/Northumberland Fusiliers, 27/Northumberland Fusiliers

  Pioneers:

  18/Northumberland Fusiliers8

  35th (Bantam) Division

  104th Brigade

  17/Lancashire Fusiliers, 18/Lancashire Fusiliers, 20/Lancashire Fusiliers, 23/Manchester

  105th Brigade

  15/Cheshire, 16/Cheshire, 14/Glosters, 15/Sherwood Foresters

  106th Brigade

  17/Royal Scots, 17/West Yorkshires, 19/Durham Light Infantry, 18/Highland Light Infantry

  Pioneers:

  19/Northumberland Fusiliers

  36th (Ulster) Division

  107th Brigade

  8/Royal Irish Rifles, 9/Royal Irish Rifles, 10/Royal Irish Rifles, 15/Royal Irish Rifles

  108th Brigade

  11/Royal Irish Rifles, 12/Royal Irish Rifles, 13/Royal Irish Rifles, 9/Royal Irish Fusiliers

  109th Brigade

  9/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 11/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 14/Royal Irish Rifles

  Pioneers:

  16/Royal Irish Rifles

  37th Divison

  110th Brigade9

  6/Leicesters, 7/Leicesters, 8/Leicesters, 9/Leicesters

  111th Brigade10

  10/Royal Fusiliers, 13/Royal Fusiliers, 13/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 13/Rifle Brigade

  112th Brigade11

  11/Royal Warwicks, 6/Bedfords, 8/East Lancashires, 10/Loyal North Lancashires

  Pioneers:

  9/North Staffordshires12

  38th (Welsh) Division

  113th Brigade

  13/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 14/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 15/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 16/Royal Welch Fusiliers

  114th Brigade

  10/Welch, 13/Welch, 14/Welch, 15/Welch

  115th Brigade

  10/South Wales Borderers, 11/South Wales Borderers, 17/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 16/Welch

  Pioneers:

  19/Welch

  39th Division

  116th Brigade

  11/Royal Sussex, 12/Royal Sussex, 13/Royal Sussex, 14/Hampsnires

  117th Brigade

  16/Sherwood Foresters, 17/Sherwood Foresters, 17/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 16/Rifle Brigade

  118th Brigade

  1/6th Cheshires, 1/1stCambridgeshires, 1/1st Hertfordshires, 4th/5th Black Watch

  Pioneers:

  13/Glosters

  41st Division

  112th Brigade

  12/East Surreys, 15/Hampshires, 11/Royal West Kents, 18/King’s Royal Rifle Corps

  123rd Brigade

 

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