APPENDIX I

Heavy artillery

On arriving in England, the five batteries of the South African Heavy Artillery Brigade were armed with six-inch howitzers and affiliated to the Royal Garrison Artillery, becoming the 73rd, 74th, 71st, 72nd and 75th siege batteries. In April 1916, a sixth battery, the 125th, was formed. Early in 1918, a seventh battery, the 542nd, and an eighth, the 46th, were created, but when they arrived in France they were broken up, and their guns and personnel distributed, the first between the 75th and the 125th, and the second between the 72nd and the 74th. A ninth battery, the 552nd, armed with eight-inch guns, was formed in the autumn of 1918, but the war ended before it could be brought into action.

At first the batteries were independent units, allotted to various corps and heavy artillery groups. It was not until the beginning of 1918 that they were brought together, and two South African brigades formed, the 44th and the 50th. The 44th included the 73rd (SA), 71st (SA), 125th (SA) and 20th batteries; the 50th included the 74th (SA), 72nd (SA), 75th (SA) and 275th.

73rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

After a period of training in England, the 73rd landed at Le Havre on 1 May 1916, under the command of Major Walter Brydon. On 9 May, it reached Bienvillers-au-Bois, in the Somme area, where it took up a battle position under the command of the 19th Artillery Group. On 15 May, it fired its first round for sighting purposes.

On 1 July, when the First Battle of the Somme began, the 73rd covered the infantry advance on Gommecourt, attaining a record of 32 rounds in eight minutes with each gun. On 17 July, it moved to the village of Berles-au-Bois and was engaged in smashing enemy trenches and counter-battery work in the neighbourhoods of Monchy-au-Bois and Ransart. On 25 August, it moved back to Doullens and thence to Albert, where it took up position in the ruins of La Boisselle. Here it supported the attack on Pozières, Courcelette and Thiepval. Major Brydon was wounded while observing for the battery in the front trenches. In October, the 73rd advanced to Pozières, where it suffered considerably from enemy fire and had its fill of discomforts from the weather during that appalling winter.

In February 1917, Brydon returned to duty. On the 15th of that month, two battery officers, Lieutenant Campion and Second-Lieutenant J. Currie, advancing with the infantry to capture Boom Ravine, rallied two companies whose officers had all been killed and captured two strong machine-gun posts. Campion fell in this gallant exploit, and Currie received the Distinguished Service Order.

In March, in heavy snowfall, the 73rd left the Somme and went north to the Arras area. In the Battle of Arras on 8 April, it supported the Canadians’ attack on Vimy Ridge. By noon the advance had progressed so far that the battery was now out of range, and so it moved forward to Thélus, where it suffered many casualties. Notably, on 1 May, Brydon was wounded for the second time. Soon after, the 73rd was relieved and retired to Houdain for its first spell out of the line since its arrival in France.

With Captain P.A.M. Hands temporarily in command, the battery returned to Thélus on 28 May, where it remained until the last day of June, when it was transferred to Flanders. At its new position in the Ypres Salient, at the village of Zillebeke and close to Hill 60, the 73rd was exposed to enemy fire within 1 000 yards of the front line. Owing to this, working parties had to be sent up overnight and travel in single file for over three miles, past such dangerous places as ‘Hellfire Corner’ and ‘Shrapnel Corner’.

The guns were in position by 17 July, and on 25 July Major Brydon returned from hospital. The 73rd was bombed night and day by enemy aircraft, and had no means of making shell-proof cover, for the water was only two feet below the surface of the ground. On 29 August the battery was relieved for a short period, but it was not until 1 November that it finally left Zillebeke and the Second Battle of Ypres. During the four months there, the 73rd had nine guns put out of action by hostile fire. On 7 October, Major Brydon had been gassed and sent to hospital for the third time.

The battery returned to Thélus, which was now a quiet area, before moving to Liévin, west of Lens. Here the men had comfortable quarters, but were kept busy preparing positions in anticipation of an attack. The 73rd pulled out to Béthune for Christmas, and on 5 January 1918, took up position at La Loisne, where it received news of its inclusion in the new 44th (SA) Brigade.

71st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

The 71st, under the command of Major H.C. Harrison, arrived at Le Havre on 16 April 1916. Destined for the impending offensive on the Somme, its first position was at Mailly-Maillet in the VIII Corps’ area of operation. On 2 June, however, it was ordered north to Ypres, where the Canadians were heavily engaged. On 18 June, the battery returned to Mailly-Maillet, where it participated in the first days of the First Battle of the Somme. On 5 July it moved to Bécordel-Bécourt and supported the attack on Mametz Wood, Ovillers, and Contalmaison, and the September attack on Martinpuich and Flers. On 20 September it moved forward to Bazentin, where it fought in the Somme mud until the end of the year.

After a short period of rest, the 71st found itself at Ovillers on 2 January 1917. During February and March, it moved slowly eastward, following the German retreat. In April it was engaged against the Hindenburg Line and had a share in the fierce fighting around Bullecourt.

In July and August, the 71st had a position at Croisilles, some 2 000 yards from the enemy front. One section moved north on 31 August to a position just outside the Menin Gate at Ypres, and the rest followed on 15 September. Here the battery took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, supporting the South African Infantry Brigade’s attack on 20 September. This was the first time the 71st saw action with its own infantry. Its position was badly exposed and it suffered many casualties from enemy shell fire and aerial bombing. The battery was relieved on 22 October.

Much worn out, the 71st now moved to Liévin in the Lens area, where the men found some respite. On 8 November, the 71sts swopped guns with the 73rds and went south to Bapaume. From its new position on the outskirts of Gouzeaucourt, the battery participated in the Battle of Cambrai on 20 November. The German counterattack of 30 November came very near its position, and during those stormy days the battery, now under the command of Major P.N.G. Fitzpatrick, did brilliant work under difficult circumstances. Unhappily, on 14 December at Beaumetz, Fitzpatrick was killed by a chance shell. On 18 December, the guns were withdrawn to Beaumetz, and by the end of the month the 71st was on the front between Béthune and Lens, one section going to La Bourse and the other to Beuvry. Here it became part of the 44th (SA) Brigade.

125th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

The 125th was organised on 4 April 1916, under the command of Major R.P.G. Begbie. It arrived at Le Havre on 21 July and reached the Third Army’s area of operation on 26 July, during the fourth week of the First Battle of the Somme. The battery was positioned at Sailly-au-Bois, on the extreme left of the battleground, where its principal targets were the German batteries at Puisieux, Bucquoy, and Grandcourt. On 19 October, the 125th moved to the eastern edge of Englebelmer Wood, where it was attached to Sir Hubert Gough’s Fifth Army. Here it prepared for and participated in the attack on Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November. This was a difficult task, because the battery’s gun positions were far from the road and every 100-pound shell had to be carried some 400 yards through a swamp until a line of rails could be laid.

On 20 January 1917, the 125th moved to a new position on the Auchonvillers road, half a mile north of Mailly-Maillet, where for the next few weeks it was engaged by enemy batteries and a German heavy-calibre naval gun. On 22 February, after suffering many losses, the 125th was moved to better quarters at Beaumont-Hamel.

On 22 March, the battery moved over challenging roads north to Arras, where its first position was beside the Faubourg d’Amiens. On the second day of the Battle of Arras, the 125th moved east to Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, and on 16 April moved forward a mile east of Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines, on the Arras–Cambrai road. Here the battery was too exposed and so, three days later, it was moved back to Tilloy Wood. For the next month its guns were constantly in action day and night. On 11 May, the 125th was pulled out for a much-needed rest, during which time it received reinforcements to bring it up to strength.

On 18 June, the battery moved to Roclincourt in the Oppy sector, where its first leave to England was granted. On 21 July it took up position in Béthune, near Lens, where it fell under the First Army. From 15 to 23 August, the 125th was heavily engaged in supporting the Canadians’ attack on Hill 70, east of Loos. On the evening of the 23rd, the battery moved forward into the ruins of Loos and rendered brilliant service in the action of the following day. Its cables were constantly cut by shell fire, and on 5 September it suffered 28 casualties from a deluge of German gas shells. The battery was withdrawn to rest on 8 September, but resumed its work on 21 September until 8 October. When the four guns were brought back to Béthune, it was found that not one was fit for further action.

The battery was now attached to the Belgian Army as one of the 13 siege batteries constituting the XIV Corps Heavy Artillery. It was positioned in swampy country in the neighbourhood of Steenvoorde and Oostkerke. On 3 December it moved to the La Bassée area and rejoined the First Army, taking up position at Annequin. Following a short respite at the beginning of January 1918, Major Begbie handed over command to Major J.G. Stewart and the 125th became part of the 44th (SA) Brigade.

44th (South African) Heavy Artillery Brigade

On 29 January 1918, South African Defence Force lieutenant-colonel T.H. Blew took command of the 44th (SA) Heavy Artillery Brigade headquartered at Beuvry Castle. The four batteries that made up the brigade were in position east and south of Béthune. As this was a quiet sector during February and March, the batteries prepared detailed reserve positions in expectation of a German attack.

From 1 April, the guns were actively engaged in counter-battery work. One of the main objectives of the German assault that came on 9 April was the right pillar of the British front at Givenchy, held by the 55th Division. All the brigade’s battery positions, except that of the 125th, had been located by the enemy, who from the early morning drenched them with high explosives and gas. For a time, all communications with Brigade Headquarters were cut. The falling back of the division on their left allowed the enemy to advance almost up to their gun positions.

The 73rd was in the most hazardous position, and owing to the shelling it was impossible to bring up motor transport to evacuate its guns. Major Brydon, who had returned the month before from hospital to command the battery, was ordered to blow up his guns, but instead he served out rifles and a couple of machine guns to his men and bade them stand to. At one stage he had to send the breech blocks to the rear for safety, but the attack was stayed before it reached the guns and the breech blocks were brought back. Though wounded and gassed, Brydon refused to leave his battery. When he was finally compelled to retire, his men dragged the guns for nearly a mile under cover of darkness. By 02:00 on the morning of the 10th, a new position had been found and the battery was once again in action. The casualties of the brigade that day included 13 men killed, and six officers and 29 men wounded.

The stand on 9 April checked the enemy for a time, and all batteries were able to take up less exposed positions. They suffered, however, from continuous bombardment, and on 12 April the heroic commander of the 73rd was killed by a shell. Brydon had left the doctor’s hands when a severe burst of German fire began, hurrying forward to see to his guns. No officer in the British Army had a finer record for gallantry and devotion to duty. His battery was known everywhere on the front as ‘Brydon’s Battery’, and he was beloved by his men, as his only thought was for them.

The 18th of April saw another severe bombardment, when five officers of the 73rd were gassed – Captain Hands, the second in command, and Second-Lieutenants Maasdorp and Brown died of the effects. Since the battle began, the brigade had lost five officers. In addition, the expenditure of ammunition during that period had been enormous: the 71st, for example, fired 11 000 rounds.

The brigade remained on the front until 27 June, when it was brought out to rest. On 27 July, Lieutenant-Colonel Blew relinquished his command. He was temporarily succeeded by Major E.H. Tamplin, who handed over to Lieutenant-Colonel G.M. Bennett, former commander of the 74th, on 17 August.

On returning to the line on 2 August, the brigade took up positions farther south in the neighbourhood of Hulluch. On 22 August, its headquarters was heavily shelled and one member of staff was killed. During August and September, the brigade batteries supported the steady pressure maintained along this sector in anticipation of a German retirement. On 2 October, the enemy fell back three miles to the line of the Haute Deûle Canal, and the advance of the Fifth Army began.

As soon as roads were repaired, the guns moved up to Douvrin, Hulluch, and Wingles, and on 12 October the brigade assisted the 15th Division in capturing Vendin. Because it was so difficult to bridge the numerous canals, siege batteries could only follow slowly, and the Germans were already on the line of the Scheldt River before they again saw action. The enemy kept up a heavy bombardment during the first week of November, and on the night of 6 November 1918 the brigade suffered its last casualties in the war. The bridging of the Scheldt was in rapid progress, and the batteries were preparing to advance across, when hostilities ceased.

74th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

The 74th landed at Le Havre on 30 April 1916, under the command of Major Pickburn. It proceeded to Authuille and on 4 May took up position at Bienvillers-au-Bois. On the first day of the First Battle of the Somme, the 74th’s four guns fired 1 733 rounds, supporting the infantry’s unsuccessful attack at Gommecourt. It then took over the 73rd’s position and later, on 27 August, moved to the Martinsart–Aveluy road for the operations against the enemy at Thiepval.

On 7 October, the battery arrived in the orchard at Colincamp, a place without cover and a favourite enemy target. On 7 November, Pickburn was killed. On 20 November, the enemy kept up a severe bombardment all day and four gunners lost their lives. It was the same on the 29th, when an armour-piercing shell penetrated a cellar protected by seven feet of earth and bricks, and killed the three occupants. Despite the position being untenable for a heavy battery, it was held until early December, when a move was made to Auchonvillers.

The battery moved to Gouy-en-Artois, and then to Arras and the Faubourg d’Amiens. In the early weeks of 1917, it went to Rivière, opposite Ficheux, and then back to Arras.

In the Battle of Arras, the 74th supported the South African Infantry Brigade’s advance and the fighting in the Oppy, Gavrelle, and Rœux areas. At the time, they were the farthest forward siege guns on the British front. The battery continued its operations until the battle died down. During that time, Major Tamplin, who had taken over from Pickburn, was gassed and sent back to England, and Major Murray-MacGregor took over command. By 5 July, the whole battery had moved to Ypres, where it took up position on the canal bank near ‘Shrapnel Corner’. There, during the first stages of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 74th suffered the usual fate of combatants in the salient.

Murray-MacGregor was succeeded by Major G.M. Bennett, and the battery moved to a position on the Verbrandenmolen road, and a little later to Hooge in Belgium. This was its station for the remainder of the battle. The 74th suffered many casualties from shell fire and gas, and the reliefs coming by Menin Road faced an incessant enemy barrage. There were only 17 per shift for all four guns; had three of the guns not been knocked out, the task would have been impossible. When at last the battery was withdrawn, it was reduced to one gun and 70 men. On 21 December, a reinforced 74th returned to the line as part of the 50th (SA) Brigade.

72nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

The 72nd landed in France on 21 April 1916, under the command of Major C.W. Alston. Its first position was at Mailly-Maillet, from where it was sent to Ypres on 3 June along with the 71st to assist the Canadians. When Alston was severely wounded, Captain A.G. Mullins took command. Returning to Mailly-Maillet, the battery took part in the opening days of the First Battle of the Somme, before moving first to Englebelmer and then to Authuille. The latter was an excellent position, with a steep bank in front of the guns and the Ancre River behind. The battery remained here for eight months, until the enemy’s retirement enabled it to advance to Thiepval and Grandcourt.

On 22 March 1917, the 72nd moved to the Arras area, taking up position near Berthonval Wood, a few miles east of Mont-Saint-Éloi. From here the battery took part in the battle for Vimy Ridge, after which it moved forward to Souchez, below the northern end of the ridge. On 30 April it retired to Houdain for its first rest since arriving in France.

On 12 May, the 72nd was at Thélus. Four days later it was transferred to the 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, and took up position in the Zouave Valley, near Givenchy. There it remained for three months, supporting the Canadian attack at Lens. On 17 October, Captain C.P. Ward took over command, and on 25 October, the battery went north with the Canadian Corps to Ypres, where it relieved the 73rd battery in a peculiarly unhealthy spot between Zillebeke and Observatory Ridge. During the first 24 hours here, the 72nd suffered 12 casualties.

On 11 January 1918, after a period of rest, the battery took up position behind the Damm Strasse, near Wytschaete. The 72nd was now brigaded with the 50th (SA) Brigade.

75th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

The 75th reached France on 24 April 1916, under the command of Major W.H.L. Tripp. It took up a position on the outskirts of Albert, near the hospital, and was attached to the III Corps. The battery participated in the preparation for the First Battle of the Somme, and on 1 July fired 1 312 rounds before noon. On 14 July it moved to Becourt Wood, and on the 29th to a position north of Fricourt Wood. Here it supported the attack of 15 September.

On 21 September, the 75th moved to the wood near Bazentin-le-Grand, where it was in touch with the South African Infantry Brigade during its action at the Butte de Warlencourt. On 29 January 1917, it moved back to Albert, and in early February went south of the Somme into the old French area. There it advanced as the Germans fell back, crossing the Somme at Péronne on 25 March and occupying ground successively at Templeux-la-Fosse and Longavesnes. On 6 April, at Sainte-Emilie, the battery fired its first shot at the Hindenburg Line, and remained in that area until the end of June, when it moved north to Flanders.

By 13 July, all four guns were in position on the Vlamertinghe–Elverdinghe road, where, owing to the flat topography, the battery had great difficulty finding suitable observation posts. On the night of 30 July, it moved forward to the bank of the Ypres Canal, where it provided support at the beginning of the Third Battle of Ypres. Later it advanced to the Pilckem Ridge, where in a highly exposed position it supported the attack on Houthulst Forest and Passchendaele. The battery was exceptionally fortunate because, between 31 July and 20 December, it experienced only one officer casualty. In the middle of December, the 72nd went south to the Zillebeke Lake, and on 11 January 1918 moved to the Damm Strasse as part of the 50th (SA) Brigade.

50th (South African) Heavy Artillery Brigade

The 50th (SA) Heavy Artillery Brigade was formed in January 1918, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Tripp, formerly of the 75th battery. On 28 January, the brigade was attached to the Australian Corps, occupying positions between Zillebeke and Wytschaete. On 26 February, it went to General Headquarters Reserve, encamped near Bailleul. On 6 March, the 496th (SA) Siege Battery arrived and was split between the 72nd and 74th batteries, making them six-gun batteries. On 10 March, the brigade was ordered to prepare positions behind the Portuguese divisions, but these orders were later cancelled. On 13 March, it was attached to Sir H. Plumer’s Second Army and on 24 March, after the great German attack had been launched at Saint-Quentin, it began to move southwards. On the 28th, it was at Neuville-Saint-Vaast during the German assault on Arras and on the 30th was attached to the Canadian Corps.

During April, the batteries of the brigade moved into position at Roclincourt, to the north-east of Arras, and settled down to the familiar type of trench warfare. Since the entire military situation was uncertain at the time, preparation of reserve-battery positions was critical. Five series of trenches were selected, varying from three to 15 miles behind those in use. On 1 May, the brigade was ordered north: the 72nd and 74th batteries joining the I Corps near Mazingarbe, and the others going to the XIII Corps in the vicinity of Hinges. By 3 May, these orders had been changed and the whole brigade was sent to Arras to the XVII Corps. There it remained until the end of August, engaged in the usual trench warfare. On 7 August, Captain E.G. Ridley was promoted to major in command of the 74th battery, to replace Major Bennett, who had gone to command the 44th brigade.

On 26 August, the brigade supported the advance of the Canadian Corps and the 51st Division, which resulted in the capture of Monchy-le-Preux. The batteries now began to move forward along the Arras–Cambrai road, where they were engaged in cutting the wire of the Drocourt-Quéant Switch. On 1 September, the brigade’s medical officer, Captain G.R. Cowie, was seriously wounded. He died two days later. On 2 September, the Canadians carried the Drocourt-Quéant Switch. All the guns in the brigade assisted in the preliminary bombardment and the subsequent barrage. The following day, the brigade passed under the XXII Corps, who held the line of the Sensée River, to protect the flank of the Canadian thrust towards Cambrai.

No serious operations took place for more than three weeks, but on the 27th came the great advance of the Canadian and XVII Corps towards and beyond Cambrai, and it became clear that a general enemy retirement was a matter of days away. On 3 October, Major Ridley left for England to form a new eight-inch South African battery, and his command of the 74th was taken over by Major C.J. Forder. On 11 October, the brigade came under the Canadian Corps.

The following day, the batteries advanced first to Tortequesne, and then to Estrées and Noyelle-Vion. On 19 October, they were at Lewarde, and on the 20th a section of the 74th battery moved to Wallers to support the Canadian attack. This was the brigade’s last engagement, as it was placed in the army reserve on 24 October, where it remained until the armistice on 11 November.

(All information extracted from John Buchan, The History of the South African Forces in France, Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1920.)