by Ian Uys
By this time Gordon Forbes had had enough of front-line fighting. “Still in Delville Wood awaiting relief. Found Hook lying dead and handed his disc and papers to Cooper. Relieved at 4 pm and marched to Carnoy where we slept a lovely sleep with no shrapnel or high explosives to startle one from pleasant dreams of home.”
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Fred Hampson and his two companions were fortunately out of the battle.
“We awoke in the morning of the 20th, drank more rum, filled our water bottles with rum and didn’t care too much about the war. Later that day we found the remnants of D Company; out of nearly 300 men (our company was larger than usual) there were 13 of us alive to attend the roll-call.”
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Corporal Archie Dagnin and eight others of the 1st SAI survived with Thackeray.
“What tried our nerves more than anything was to see our men and friends fall to rise no more, dropping, shot through the head and heart without a murmur. At roll-call we could not speak. Words failed to come to us. I was put down as missing in the papers.”
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William Hewitt, 22, was among the draft of raw recruits who had arrived one week earlier. Bill Hewitt came to South Africa with his parents in 1905. He had enlisted in the SA Police and served in the SA Constabulary and Natal Police. In 1909 he went farming in Natal. He enlisted in November 1915 and was sent to France to join the 2nd SAI on 12 July.
For some unaccountable reason, Bill Hewitt picked up an abandoned Lewis gun and carried it to the camp at Happy Valley. Captain Davis, the new company commander, brusquely told him that in future he would be the number one on the Lewis gun as the whole of the section were casualties.
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Early on the 20th the Germans launched another attack on the weary survivors in Buchanan Street. Lieutenant Edward Phillips, although himself wounded, fought on. He later recalled:
“Even when the situation was at a most critical stage, Lieut-Col Thackeray issued orders to hold the line at all costs, and when the men were absolutely beat by fatigue, he went up and down the trenches encouraging the men. On the second attack early on the morning of the 20th, he grabbed a rifle and fought with the utmost gallantry, his acts inspiring the men to do their utmost.”
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Corporal Geoffrey Williams commanded a strong point in Princes Street. His determination and coolness in handling his men under fire was to earn him a Military Medal.
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A Johannesburger Pte Syd Brown, 18, had served through SWA with the SA Irish before joining the brigade. He was wounded at Agagia and recalled being carried back to Mersa Matruh on a stretcher slung on a earners back. His recollections of Delville Wood were to be far more painful.
“When we went in it was a leafy wood of big trees, all around were fields of corn. When we came out it was a wilderness of stumps and shell-holes. Hopes were high of a major breakthrough on that day, July 14. The cavalry had been brought up and I remember seeing squadrons of the 7th Dragoon Guards and 20th Deccan Horse on our left screening an advance of infantry towards High Wood.
“But the Germans brought every man and gun they could find against us and we passed to the defensive. For four and a half days we held Delville Wood against unending German attacks. We faced the front and shot down Jerries wherever they showed themselves. The artillery bombardment never stopped.
“Shelter was in shell-holes; there was no trench system other than that which we made ourselves. At one time I sheltered in a shell-hole with two dead Germans. We tried to help casualties as best we could but all around us were dead men.
“At last we observed fresh troops crawling up to relieve us. There was no order to retire that I heard. We knew instinctively that these men were our relief and gave our places to them and ourselves crawled away. On the way out I stopped some shrapnel in my neck and arm …”
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The commander in the wood, Col Thackeray, briefly summed up the events of the last two days. “Then the enemy brought up a fresh division and made repeated attacks. The next two days and nights the remnants under my command just had to stand and take it while still clinging desperately to the south-west corner of that wood.
“We suffered incessant shell fire and sniping, the latter now from very close quarters. At last on the evening of the 20th, five days after we had gone into the wood, we were relieved.
“We marched out, two other officers and myself, all wounded, and 140 other ranks. When we paraded the next day at a place ironically enough called ‘Happy Valley’ there were less than 800 of us, as against the 5,000 that went into the battle.”
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Private Charles Long was proud of Col Thackeray as they made a “last ditch” stand.
“How I came out without a scratch passes my comprehension. We were attacked on three sides every day and night, and bombarded with scores of guns, about 300, for 13½ hours; the last ten hours most severely.
“The papers will tell you how only a few of us, some 143, came out with only one officer, and him our colonel. He was determined to die fighting; it was really fine to see him standing on the parapet, throwing hand grenades for all he was worth.
“How many times we actually attacked I cannot say. The last time the Bosches came so near that they could throw their bombs in our trench, but we bombed them back again. They actually charged with their bayonets, but wouldn’t dare to come right up to us.
“Our colonel thanked me personally for my part in the battle, and said he had mentioned me in his reports. I don’t know, of course, what that will mean; time will tell.”
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By now, Harry Cooper’s main concern was how “lousy” he felt.
“News came through that we were to be relieved and I was told to make my way back. No better news had I heard in all my life and I needed no further instructions. I knew my way back. Someone told me that the Bantam regiment had gone in. I did not know and I cared less. We had held that hell-hole quite long enough and I was covered with lice-bite sores which were driving me frantic.
“The remnants were played in by Scottish pipers and did we get a reception. Oh! Was it nice to see people walking about without a care in the world, and being able to drink a cup of tea and munch a biscuit. In the distance they were still at it. But here it was really heaven. Our colonel, the only officer left, lined up what was left of us. If I remember rightly, there were 13 privates, no non-coms.
“It was a sad day for our colonel. He tried to tell us what he thought of us, offered field commissions to anyone who would step forward. Yes! It was very hard for the grand old chap. Nobody moved forward. We were not after honours; too many had been earned in that wood and there was nobody left to vouch for them.
“The ‘Senussi Brigade’ had held that wood against enormous opposition. We had made a name for ourselves and did the 9th Division take us to their hearts! To think that a lot of untried civilians from all parts of South Africa had held the crack German battalions at bay for six days and nights? In the wood time for us was just night and day, holding on to what we had been told to do and caring for nothing else.
“My troubles had not ceased. I said before that the lice had done a good job on me. I had not received a scratch on me from all that shelling and bullets, but was I in need of a good bath and a delousing clean-up!
“Numbers of men newly arrived from South Africa were in a camp nearby and, after recognizing a few, I was sent over for scabies treatment, and then to a farm to help dig turnips to recover from the effects of our pals, ‘blue cross’ and ‘greybacks’ (soldiers’ slang for lice).
“It is a long time since all this happened, but I shall never live it down. To tell all the many incidents I witnessed would be too terrible. South Africa can be proud of that gallant band who went in, never gave up and did their job. May God rest their souls in peace.
“Dedicated to my pals who did not return.”
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The youngest survivor was probably Pte James T McGill Rousseau, 17, of the 3rd SAI, who was born on 1
9 January, 1899.
Throughout the defence of the wood L/Cpl W Flanagan and Pte R Beland had signalled to aircraft in the area with lamps, despite themselves being under heavy fire for five days. Flanagan was to receive the MM and Beland a mention in despatches.
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Second-Lieutenant Donald Ross, 35, was born in Ross-shire, Scotland. As a youngster he had joined the 1st (Volunteer) Seaforths and served with them for eight years. Then five years in the SA Constabulary followed, during which time he was one of Baden-Powell’s Scouts during the South African War.
For the following eight years Ross was a member of the 1st Transvaal Scottish as well as one of the first motor dealers on the Reef. This may be why he became grey in his thirties! He was a colour-sergeant in SWA with the Jocks and was mentioned in despatches.
Ross served as a sergeant-major at Bordon, where he was accounted as a crack-shot. His promotion to lieutenant had scarcely been gazetted when his company went into Delville Wood. He was reported killed in action on the 20th.
After his officer was killed, Cpl Horace Sumner rallied his men and held strong-points in Princes Street. Although they were Jocks, they were attached to the Trench Mortar Battery.
One of the company’s bandsmen, Pte John Quayle Greggor, 21, had been fighting in the wood since the 15th. He was born on the Isle of Man where his grandfather had been a boat-builder. Greggor was a plumber in Kensington, Johannesburg, before joining up for SWA.
Lance-Corporal John Hall, 21, was a small Cornish carpenter, standing 5 ft 4½ ins and weighing 130 lbs. He lived with his mother in Johannesburg and had served in the RLI for two years. He had been promoted to lance-corporal on 1 July, barely in time to control a Lewis gun team at Delville Wood. Between 18 and 20 July he held a strong point in Princes Street and through his determination held it under very trying conditions.
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Major Hunt and the remnant of the Jocks rested at last. “July 20. Talus Boise. All had a good sleep. Captain Mitchell came to see us. He cried when he saw what was left.”
Chapter 11 — Aftermath
The emotions of the South African commander after the battle are described in Ulundi to Delville Wood.
“It was a pathetic spectacle that was witnessed next day in the ‘Happy Valley’ to which the brigade was withdrawn. All that remained of it mustered before their general. They had marched out seven days earlier a stalwart force of 121 officers and 3,032 men. On the parade of 21 July, the total strength was 5 officers and 750 men.
“General Lukin took the salute, and as he looked at his shattered corps he bared his head and the tears trickled down his cheeks. ‘You see,’ he said, when he spoke afterwards of that day, ‘I know the fathers and mothers of those lads. They’re not just ‘cannon fodder’ to me: I feel responsible for them to their parents.’ The dark murk of war and slaughter hung heavy on the general.
“In Delville Wood and throughout the war Lukin seemed to possess a charmed life. Coolly walking among the bursting shells and the pelting bullets day by day, nothing hit him. But he did not leave that fatal wood scatheless. He wore no mask, and gas cloyed every hollow. It found the general.
“When the parade was dismissed, the doctor insisted that he must be treated in hospital. For a few days he submitted, but could not bear the restraint any longer. Perhaps it made no difference, but there is more than a suspicion that the German poison gas was the origin of the malady that nine years later caused his death.”
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No greater compliment can be paid than by an erstwhile enemy. Anno Noack later said, “I can assure you that you have the respect of your enemy. You gave us a test of hell on earth … We Germans were left with the impression that the South Africans were a formidable enemy. Today I can speak with you, not only as your friend, but also as one of your countrymen!”
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On 21 July Gen Furse sent a memorandum to his division.
“The 9th Division is being withdrawn from the battle line.
“It has played a conspicuous and honourable part in one of the greatest battles in the world’s history. We may all of us with justice be proud of having served in the division during the past three weeks.
“From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you all — Officers, NCOs and men — for all you have done during these weeks of strenuous fighting.
“The demands made on all branches of the division have been great, and right well have been answered.
“The infantry, Highlanders, Lowlanders and South Africans have, as usual, had to bear the most continuous strain. To sustain appalling and continuous shell fire, to try to dig for themselves trenches amongst the fallen trees and through the roots of Bernafay and Delville Woods, to suffer heavy casualties amongst their comrades and friends, to go on day and night for a week or more without any relief, and with only snatches of disturbed sleep, to bear all this time the stern responsibility of being the guardians of the very pivot of the commander-in-chief’s manoeuvre, and to maintain throughout as they have done an uncomplaining resolution and cheerful bearing — for all this, we who have had other work to do offer the infantry our whole-hearted admiration and thanks.
“And the infantry, I am sure, will be the first to recognise the continuous assistance they have received from the artillery, who have been working at the highest pressure day and night since 24 June and are still in the line, as also from the engineers and from the pioneers, whose skilful help has always been at hand.
“Equally deserving of our gratitude are the surgeons and their untiring assistants, including the chaplains, for the care they have given to the wounded without thought for their own safety; and none of us will easily forget all the difficulties overcome by the Supply and Transport Services.
“Lastly I would thank the brigadiers and their staffs — and the various members of my own staff — for their zealous and efficient work which has had so much to say to the successes we have gained. Nor do I forget the Signal Service — that invaluable and hard-worked channel of orders and reports.
“We shall miss with lasting regret the many comrades and friends we have lost, but they with you, thank God, have won fresh honour for the 9th Division and success for our arms.”
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General Rawlinson, commander of the Fourth Army, added his thanks on 25 July.
“As it will be impossible for me to speak personally to the 9th Division, I desire to convey to every officer, NCO and man my thanks and congratulations for the splendid work the division has done during the Battle of the Somme.
“The attack and capture of the hostile second-line system of defence, and the village of Longueval, on 14 July was a feat of arms which will rank high among the best military attainments of the British Army, whilst in the capture of Delville Wood, the gallantry, perseverance and determination of the South African Brigade deserves the highest commendation.
“Not only has the fighting spirit of the infantry of this division been admirable, but the manner in which the divisional artillery has helped and supported the infantry shows that a high degree of training has been attained, and it is with regret that I am informed that the division is to be transferred to another army. I trust that at some future time I may again have the honour of finding them under my command.”
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Sergeant Leonard Arrons of Brigade HQ felt that Delville Wood should be commemorated annually. He ended a letter he wrote from hospital with the words, “In conclusion, may I humbly suggest that July 17 be a public holiday in South Africa, kept in remembrance of the flower of our manhood, whom we buried in Longueval and Delville Wood?”
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The 1st Brigade had stood against three crack German divisions — successively the 10th Bavarian Division, the 8th Division of the 4th Corps and the 5th of the 3rd Corps.
Buchan summed up his chapter on Delville Wood eloquently:
“There is no more solemn moment in war than the parade of men after battle. The few hundred haggard survivors of the brigade in the brigh
t sunshine in Happy Valley were too weary and broken to realise how great a thing they had done.
“Tributes had come to them from high quarters. Sir Douglas Haig had sent his congratulations. The commander of the Fourth Army, Sir Henry Rawlinson, had written that ‘in the capture of Delville Wood the gallantry, perseverance, and determination of the South African Brigade deserves the highest commendation.’
“They had earned the praise of their own intrepid commanding officers, who had gone through the worst side by side with their men. ‘Each individual’, said Tanner’s report, ‘was firm in the knowledge of his confidence in his comrades, and was, therefore, able to fight with that power which good discipline alone can produce. A finer record of this spirit could not be found than the line of silent bodies along the Strand over which the enemy had not dared to tread.’
“But the most impressive tribute was that of their brigadier. When the remnant of his brigade paraded before him, Lukin took the salute with uncovered head and eyes not free from tears.”
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Major Frank Heal also shed a brave man’s tears.
“It has been an awful time, but by heaven we’re proud of them all. South Africa will never know what those men did for her; no one who was not there can ever realise it; no imagination under the sun can ever grasp that awful hell.
“The German soldier we don’t give a d--n for. We can beat him every time, and he’s a fine fighter, too; but then we’re South Africans, and that means a lot. But, and there’s always that ‘but’, the German artillery and machine-guns are the limit, and they know how to use them, what’s more.
“Poor old ‘D’. (1st SAI) I cried when they formed up after the battle — only 36 were left. They had eight officers during those few days, and only one was left, and he started as a lance-corporal.
“If ever the CPR march through Cape Town, every man should take off his hat. I told you that they were sound — I trained those boys, and I know.
“Delville Wood is written in letters of blood, but if we were wiped out, the Germans lay in a thick carpet of grey, in places piled up, over the whole of the wood.