64–7; prepares for continuation of
the offensive, 87, 88, 92, 97, 104–5;
problems with Lloyd George
147–8; decides to continue the
campaign, 152–3; campaign of
attrition, 166, 187; orders attack on
higher reaches of the salient, 168;
cancels amphibious attack on coast
183; Lloyd George visits, 186–8;
refuses to terminate campaign, 201;
refuses to call off attempt on
Passchendaele, 217
Hamburg House, 233
Hammersley, Joe, 214
Hankey, Colonel, 64, 92, 186, 188
Hardy, Corporal, 162
Harrison, Lieutenant, 37, 40, 42, 47, 50
Harvey,R., 135
Harvey, W. J., 197, 198
Hellfire Corner, 96, 144
Herenthage Chateau, 119
Hertfordshire Regiment, 125–6
Highland Division, 51st, 103, 124
Highland Light Infantry, 109–12, 195
Hill 35, 160
Hill 60, 15, 17, 19, 25, 26, 31, 42, 45–6, 167, 174
Hill 63, 34, 35
Hill 70, 217
Hilltop Farm, 93, 104, 124
Hinchcliffe, Padre S., 205–6
Hobday, 28, 58
Hodgson, F., 229
Holt, 169
Hooge, 11, 145, 173
Hooge Ridge, 13, 113–14, 116, 117
Horridge, Captain George, 168–72
Houlihan, 232
Houthulst Forest, 220
Hume, Sergeant Ecky, 134
Humphries, Colonel, 91
Inverness Copse, 119, 120, 121, 182
Irish Division, 16th, 41, 50, 51
Iron Rations, 40, 47–9, 55, 118
Italian front, 92, 187
Jagger, Corporal, 164
Jargon Trench, 142–3
Jellicoe, Admiral, 65
Jelly, Lieutenant, 139, 140, 141n.
Jesus Farm, 104
Johnston, Captain E., 175
Jones,Lieutenant, 35, 52
Kemp, Sister Madeleine, 223–4
Kenchington, Lieutenant,E., 81
King, Lieutenant, ‘Paddy’, 86, 136, 202–8, 217–18
King, Sister, 223
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 37, 40, 41–2, 44, 47, 50, 150
Kircaldy, Colonel Jimmy, 232
Kitchener’s Wood, 104
Knight, Lieutenant, 163, 164
Knowles, 28, 58
Kruisstraat, 41
Lamb,Tommy, 134
Lamerant, Cyriel, 75
Lancashire Fusiliers, 168–72
Langemarck, 106, 128, 138, 148–50, 173
Lauder, Harry, 57–8
Lauder, Captain John, 58
Law, Andrew Bonar, 64
Leake, Corporal, 13
Le Brun, Private Reginald, 225–7, 230–31, 232, 233, 235, 237
Lee, Corporal A. E.(‘Nick’) 39, 48–9, 55, 117–19, 143
Levey, Lieutenant Sivori Antonio
Joachim, 28, 36, 58
Limencourt, 57
Lister, H. E., 157–8
Lloyd George, David, 26, 63–6, 92, 147, 186–8
Lockey,W., 114–16
Locre, 72–3
Longstaffe, P. H., 224, 230
Longstaffe, Vic, 230
Low Farm, 168–9
Lowry, Captain, 125
Ludendorf, General Erich, 173
Lugg, Gunner Walter, 119, 120–23
Lyle, Sister, 223
McCormack, Sergeant, 109, 111–112
Macfie, StaffNurse Catherine, 90–91, 223
Macfie, Corporal D. R., 215
McHerron, Brock, 215
Machine Gun Company, 62nd, 176
Machine Gun Corps, 39
Marr,jock, 104
McKenzie, 56, 57n.
McLellan, Sergeant C. E., 227
MacLeod, Major Rory, 93–4, 105–7, 124, 130–31, 148–9, 160–62, 163, 165, 178
McNab, Corporal, 195
McPherson, J., 177
Malcolm, Neill, 123
Manitoba Battalion, 52nd, 227
Maori Pioneer Battalion, 214, 216
Marguerite(of Locre), 73
Martin, Colonel, 181
Mathieson, Basil, 95, 101–2, 126, 159n.
Maxwell, J. E., 127, 151, 158–9
‘Mendinghem’, 81, 82, 90, 132
Menin Gate, 13
Menin Road, 124, 144, 177
Merton, Corporal, 178–80, 183
Messines, Battle of, 17–59
Messines Ridge, 15, 17–59
Meunier House, 225
Middlesex Regiment, 29
Miles, Charlie, 69–72, 192–3
Miller, 58
Miller,Sergeant John, 38
Milner,Lord, 64, 92
Minty’s Farm, 103, 133
Mockler-Ferryman, Captain E., 222
Mont des Cats, 91, 92
Moore, Keith, 212
Morgan, Bill, 29–30, 109–12, 128–9
Le Moulin, 180, 181
Naylor, Lieutenant J. W., 43, 55–57, 194
New Zealand Field Artillery, 34–5, 52–3, 68–9, 196, 209–10, 211–15
New Zealand forces, 34–5, 51–3, 68–9, 196, 200, 209–16, 222
New Zealand Machine Gun Company, 211–16
New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 53
Newell, Corporal Tom, 13, 17–18, 24–5, 43
Nicholson, Sergeant, 232
Nieuport, 86, 136, 202
Norfolk Regiment, 225
North Staffordshire Regiment, 173–5
Northumberland Fusiliers, 205–6, 216
Notts & Derbyshire Regiment
(Sherwood Foresters), 114–16
Oblong Farm, 130
Onraet, Remi, 75
Ostend.64, 65, 86, 136
Ostler, 58
Ouderdom, 89
Passchendaele, 147, 166, 191–238
Partinson,Lieutenant, 172
Paula (of Locre), 73
Pershing, Lieutenant-General, 63
Petit Bois, 22
Pickard, Jim, 232–3
Pilkem, 11
Pilkem Ridge, 101, 104, 126, 138, 159
Pincombe, Corporal Joseph, 141–2, 144–5
Pinneo, Corporal R. G., 221–2
Ploegsteert Wood, 52
Plumer, General Sir Herbert, 72, 86;
replaces General Smith-Dorrien, 9;
mines Messines Ridge, 15, 25, 26;
preparation for Battle of Messines
27, 29; Battle of Messines, 41, 63; on
saluting officers, 84–5; to attack
higher reaches of the salient, 168;
proposes closure of campaign, 201;
decides to go ahead to attack
Passchendaele Ridge, 210; tries to
postpone the attempt on
Passchendaele, 216–17; agrees to
Currie’s conditions, 219
Poelcapelle, 168, 200, 205–7, 216, 220
Pollock, Sister Mary, 82, 90
Polygon Wood, 119, 121, 145–6, 180, 183, 186, 195
Poperinghe, 15, 68, 79–81, 82–3, 188
Porter, 28, 46, 58
Potijze, 15
Preece, 40
Prince of Wales’ Own West Yorkshire
Regiment, 28, 36–7, 42–3, 46, 58
Proven, 81–2, 151, 158
Pugh, Corporal, 200–201
Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, 53, 54
Queen’s Westminster Rifles, 141–6
Rawlinson, General, 86
Read, Sergeant William, 69, 71
Reid,Corporal, 235
Reigersburg Chateau, 93, 105
Remy Siding, 131–2
Reninghelst, 157, 158
Renshaw, 169
Reuter, CQMS, l42
Revenge, 40, 47–9, 55, 117–19
Rifle Brigade, 77, 78, 79, 82, 127, 138, 149–52, 184–6, 206
R
issik, Captain Albert, 149–51, 152
Ritchie, John, 104, 128
Robertson, Captain Hume, 135–6
Robertson, General Sir William, 64, 66, 97, 147–8, 150
Ross, Corporal S. T. H., 192
Rowbotham, Sergeant Major, 71
Royal Engineers, 13–14, 17–25, 43, 50–51, 54, 95, 101, 159, 192
Royal Field Artillery, 35, 43, 56, 81, 93–4, 105–7, 120–23, 124, 148–9, 160–62, 165, 166, 177, 194, 222
Royal Fusiliers, 69–72, 178–80, 192–3
Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch), 218
Royal Irish Rifles, 41, 47, 115–16
Royal Naval Division, 201, 232, 238
Royal Scots Regiment, 103–4, 127–8, 133–4, 160, 166
Royal Sussex Regiment, 104–5
Royal Welch Fusiliers, 200–201
Runciman, Sergeant, 134
Rupprecht, Crown Prince, 32
Russell, Lance-Corporal Henry, 45
St Eloi, 26
St Julien, 11, 106, 124, 125, 130, 220
St Omer, 29–31, 97, 186
Salisbury-Jones, Lieutenant G., 134
Sanctuary Wood, 120, 121, 141, 142
Sansom, Major, 225
Schaballie, M., 80–81
Scherpenberg, 29, 32
Scots Guards, 135
Scott, Sergeant, 46
Scottish Division, 15th, 108–12
Seaforths, 160, 166
Sherwood Foresters, 114–16
Shuttleworth, 140
Simpson,Colonel, 35, 36, 56
Sims, Corporal, 232
Smith,jimmy, 167–8, 175–6
Smith,Sergent, 213–14
Smith, Sid, 72
Smith, W., 211, 212–13, 213–14, 214–15, 215–16
Smith, W. B., 230
Smith-Dorrien General Sir Horace, 9,
Smuts, General, 64, 92
Snarey, 184–5
South African forces, 182
Spanbroekmolen, 17, 42, 46–7
Stanley Heading Machine Company, 22
Steenbeek, 124, 127, 133, 138–9, 149–50
Stevens, Sergeant,J., 181
Stewart,Harold, 212–13
Stewart, Sergeant Jock, 212–13
Stinson, 225
Stirling Castle,see Herenthage Chateau
Stokes, Gunner Bert, 34–5, 52–3, 68–9, 195–6, 209–10, 211–12, 213, 214, 215
Storey, Major, 101, 126
Strazeele, 69
Suffolk Regiment, 180–81, 181–2, 206
Surbiton Villas, 116, 119
Tahon,Albert, 89–90
Tahon, Artur, 89
Tank Corps, 39–40, 47–9, 53, 55, 116–19, 162–5, 192
Taylor, 225
Territorial Force Nursing Service, 82, 90–91
Thomas, Albert, 88
Tickler, Captain Bill, 168–9, 170, 171, 172
Times,The, 44, 46, 47, 51, 165–6, 208–9
Todd, Lieutenant Jim, 28, 29, 42–3, 46, 58
Tombes, 237
Tor Top, 176
Tower Hamlets, 183
Trenchard, General, 88n.
Tyne Cot, 229
Ulster Division, 36th, 41
Unbearable Trench, 53
United States of America,enters the war, 63
Verlorenhoek, 11, 109
Victoria (of Dranoutre), 73
Vinck, Baron de, 113
Vlamertinghe, 21
Wall, Corporal, 140
Wallace, Bombardier, 35
Walleghem, Pastor van, 31–2, 35, 74–5, 76, 86–7, 89–90, 107, 157, 234
Waterloo Farm, 209, 211, 215
Webb, Sergeant, 230
Welsh Division, 38th, 102, 134–5
Werner, jeff, 118–19, 142
West Yorkshire Regiment, 138–41
Westhoek, 114, 173
Westhoek Ridge, 115, 124, 138, 180, 194
Westhoff Farm, 68–9
Westroosebeek, 220
Whitby, Lieutenant, 144
Whitehead, Colonel, 204, 208, 217
Williams, L., 231
Williams, General, 174
Wilson,Lance-Corporal John, 19–20, 29, 46, 50, 79
Winnipeg Farm, 148
Winnipeg Grenadiers, 232–3
Winterbourne, George, 142, 143–4, 145–6, 152
Witherow, Lieutenant T. H., 41, 46–47, 50
Wood, 28, 58
Worcestershire Regiment, 45
Worker, Johnny, 135
Worrell,W.(‘Bill̻) 77, 82–3, 138
Wytschaete, 15
Ypres, 3–9, 196
Ypres Times, The, 24n.
Zeebrugge, 64
Zillebeke, 13, 141, 142
Zonnebeke, 106, 177–8, 180, 181, 182, 197
Zonnebeke Lake, 180, 181, 198
* The Ypres Times, Vol. I, No. 9.
* Extract from his book Slaves of the War Lords (Hutchinson, 1928).
* Many of the Irishmen, both Southerners and Northerners, who were killed by the fall-out from the Spanbroekmolen mine lie where they fell in tiny Lone Tree cemetery, just down the hill from the Spanbroekmolen mine crater. Of the twenty-one mines laid, two failed to fire. In 195 j one exploded in a field, set off by lightning during a thunderstorm. The other is still lying somewhere in the area. Its exact location is unknown.
* McKenzie returned four days later after he had been reported ‘missing’. He was completely unscathed and brought back valuable information. When he was asked why he had not sent it back by carrier-pigeon, he replied, ‘Pigeons? I ate ‘em!’
* Captain J. Lauder is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery near Albert.
†Levey at first appeared to be recovering but later had to have his other leg removed and died of complications. The officers who died are buried in one grave, Plot 7, Row N, Grave 5, in Railway Dugouts Cemetery, Zillebeke.
* It was an unfounded argument for two reasons. Firstly, the shipping losses, which had indeed reached worrying proportions, were, thanks to the convoy system, showing signs of diminishing. Secondly, the submarines were mainly operating from German ports. There were only a few submarine bases on the Belgian coastline.
* Marguerite has had her revenge. Sixty years later, as the owner of the same cafe, she entertains a stream of old soldiers now anxious to enjoy her company and recall old times.
* Words were fitted to a haunting tune which, many years later, became a ‘hit’ again with new words and a new title, ‘Under the Bridges of Paris’ (‘Sous les ponts de Paris’)
* Haig may have been led to believe that the situation of the French Army was more serious than was the case, for as he revealed (although in retrospect, ten years later), he was under constant pressure by the French insistence that he should attack and keep on attacking in Flanders. He may too have been influenced by eyewitness reports by people such as General Trenchard, who, while inspecting airfields in the French sector, was appalled at the lack of discipline and morale among the French troops.
* The Supreme Command, 1914–1918, Lord Hankey (George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1961).
* Only 48 per cent of the 134 tanks engaged in the battle reached their first objective. It was only after the Second World War that Nick Lee met Jeff Werner again. He and his wife looked him up on impulse when they were on holiday in Munich. Werner, by then a Professor at Munich University on the point of retiring to the Rhine valley, was overwhelmed by delight. He would certainly have been in touch himself, he informed Lee, had it not been for the fact that his wallet, with Lee’s address in it, had been stolen. The Werners and the Lees struck up a cordial friendship, and Frau Werner frequently remarked that her husband had never tired of saying how kindly he’d been treated by the English. Nick Lee has never thought it necessary to inform Herr Werner that he was the one who shot him in the first place – nor that he was awarded the Military Medal for doing so.
* A few of the Herts eventually got back – a very few. Of the 650 who had attacked through St Julien to the Langemarck
-Zonnebeke Road, 136 were killed and 400 wounded. The 1st Herts had temporarily ceased to exist.
* 2nd Lieutenant Jelly survived and was evacuated to base hospital in Rouen, where he later died. He was twenty-one.
* Ftom his diary.
* The Fifth Army, General Sir Hubert Gough GC, MC, KCB. KCVO (Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. 1931)
* ROD, in this case, stood for Railway Operating Division. Sapper Bill Mathie-son, who recalled this incident, has never got over the coincidence that 1945 actually marked the duration of another war.
* Lance-Corporal Jagger MM, D Battalion, awarded the DCM at Bulow Farm near St Julien on 22 August 1917. His tank received a direct hit killing his officer and sergeant. Under very heavy shell and machine-gunfire, he transferred a wounded member of his crew to another tank, returned and evacuated the remaining two wounded to a shell-hole. After handing over his Lewis guns to the infantry, he found that the two wounded had been buried by shell-fire, and he succeeded in digging them out with his hands and taking them to the dressing-station. From the Tank Book of Honour, privately published for the Tank Corps. Although Jagger’s citation refers to one wounded member of his crew, Addy insists that he took two aboard Delysia.
* It is of interest that during the same period the Germans were faring no better. Of 23 German divisions defending the Passchendaele Ridge, 17 had to be withdrawn as unfit – and 9 replacement divisions had to be brought to the salient from the French front in Champagne, thus partially vindicating Haig’s policy of ‘attrition’.
* Sergeant Carmichael’s citation: For most conspicuous bravery. When excavating a trench, Sergeant Carmichael saw that a grenade had been unearthed and had started to bum. He immediately rushed to the spot, and shouting to his men to get clear, placed his steel helmet over the grenade and stood on the helmet. The grenade exploded and blew him out of the trench. Sergeant Carmichael could have thrown the bomb out of his trench, but he realised that by so doing he would have endangered the lives of the men working on top. By this splendid act of resource and self-sacrifice Sergeant Carmichael undoubtedly saved many men from injury, but it resulted in serious injury to himself.
* If Ernie Gays’ body was recovered after the war, it was never identified and presumably lies in the grave of an ‘Unknown Soldier’. His name appears on Panel 154 (South Apse) of the Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot Cemetery: ‘20971, Private Ernest Gays, X Corps Cyclist Battalion, Army Cyclist Corps. Aged 19.’
They Called it Passchendaele Page 32