Investigations of a Dog

More details of my great-grandfather’s experiences in the First World War, up to the night he got captured in December 1916. Since my last post on the subject we’ve uncovered a few more details of his life, including copies of his birth and marriage certificates. I’ve also had some invaluable help from Steve Bramley and Chris Bailey who are writing a new history of 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, based on years of research. It turns out that Chris has been trying to trace William’s descendants to find out what happened to him after he went missing but had drawn a blank! Even with this new information it’s difficult to trace the movements of one individual, so this post is as much about the battalion as about the man. Most of this is paraphrasing the official history of the battalion written by its commanding officer (Lt. Col. T. E. Sandall, A History of the 5th Battalion the Lincolnshire Regiment, Oxford, Blackwell, 1922), along with some quotes from the battalion war diary (Public Records Office, WO95/2691). It should at least give an impression of what things were like.

William Albert Wenham was born in Hamilton Street, Grimsby, on 15th September 1890. His father Thomas was Captain of a fishing smack. Billy joined his local Territorial unit, 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, in early September 1914 (Steve Bramley narrowed his enlistment date down to 5th, 6th or 7th September by comparing his service number with other recruits). He was put into B Company, and given the number 2683 and the rank of Private. On 15th September 1914 (his 24th birthday) he played in goal for B Company in a football match against A Company which was reported in the Grimsby News (thanks to Steve Bramley for the reference). He might also have played in the match between 5th Battalion and 10th Battalion (Grimsby Chums) at Blundell Park (home of Grimsby Town FC) in October 1914 (thanks to Chris Bailey for the reference). This photo from our family collection looks like it was taken at Blundell Park, and the goalkeeper is probably Billy Wenham:

He was with 1/5th Battalion when it first went to France in February 1915, as part of 46th (North Midland) Division, the first division composed entirely of Territorial battalions to be sent into action on the Western Front. His battalion sailed from Southampton on the SS Empress Queen, landing at Le Havre at 4.00am on 28th February. On 1st March, the battalion’s first full day in a theatre of war, Private Wenham officially qualified for the 1914-15 Star (which we still have, along with his other campaign medals).

From this point it’s difficult to know exactly where he was and what he was doing. Without his service record or the battalion’s muster and casualty lists we have no way of knowing whether he was sick, wounded, on leave, or absent on other duties on any particular day. By the time he was captured on 6th December 1916 he had been appointed Lance Corporal, but was still with 1/5th Lincolnshire and had the same service number, so was unlikely to have been transferred or posted to another unit for any time in between. After the battalion changed from 8 company to 4 company structure in early 1915, he would probably have been in A Company (Chris Bailey’s best guess), but there isn’t any definite proof so far.

After landing at Le Havre, North Midland Division moved towards the front line to form the reserve at the battle of Neuve-Chappelle. Sandall and his men were hoping to take part in the planned breakthrough, but as it turned out the breakthrough never happened, and they weren’t brought into action. The battalion had its first man killed in action later that month, during trench warfare training on the front line near Ploegsteert Wood. When this training was complete, the battalion took over its own sector of trenches near Messines Ridge on 8th April. As was usual, they spent four days at a time in the trenches, and four days behind the lines when they were relieved by another battalion. Most of the time in the front line was spent digging to improve the defences. Sandall reports that the sector was very quiet, with little shelling and few casualties suffered, until 20th May, when the Germans exploded a mine which destroyed one of the forward trenches and buried many men alive. Although 40 men were killed or wounded, the trench was rebuilt by the next day.

Towards the end of June, the battalion moved into the Ypres salient, which was not nearly as quiet as the Messines area. The trenches were frequently shelled by German artillery, and the battalion’s casualties increased. The Germans also dug several mines. Some were discovered and counter-mined, but others destroyed parts of the trenches. The mining and shelling led to yet more digging, as damage caused to the trenches had to be repaired as soon as possible. The battalion finally left the Ypres salient on 2nd October. During their six months in the trenches they had never been directly assaulted by the Germans, and had never had to take part in an assault themselves.

The Battle of Loos gave 1/5th Battalion its first opportunity to take part in a major attack. 46th Division was ordered to attack the German positions at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, with 1/5th Lincolnshire in the first wave. Sandall gives the impression that his officers and men were excited by the prospect and confident of success. Preparations were very thorough. The officers studied a model of the redoubt and the men spent several days practising for the attack, which was scheduled for 2pm on 13th October. The assault was preceded by a two hour artillery bombardment and a gas attack. Simpson’s history of the Lincolnshire Regiment claims that “all these arrangements went like clockwork” (C. R. Simpson, The History of the Lincolnshire Regiment 1914-1918, London, 1931, p. 126), but Sandall notes that when the gas cylinders were opened, gusts of wind blew some of the gas back into the British trenches (p. 47). Along with German artillery fire on the crowded trenches, the gas caused many casualties before the battalion had even gone over the top.

When they did go over the top, things appeared to be going well. The attacking battalions found plenty of gaps in the barbed wire and easily overran the Hohenzollern Redoubt, which had been all but abandoned by the Germans. However, their next objective, the Fosse trench running behind the redoubt, was very heavily defended. As the battalion moved into the open ground beyond the redoubt they were massacred by German machine guns. The survivors fell back to the redoubt where they were reinforced by the reserve battalions. The British positions on the redoubt were shelled by German artillery, and there was heavy fighting between the surviving attackers and German counter-attacks in the communication trenches all night. When 1/5th Lincolnshire was relieved the following morning, it was a battalion in name only. Lt. Col. Sandall gives the casualty figures as 460 other ranks killed, wounded, and missing. Sandall himself and 10 other officers were wounded, and another 11 officers killed. Captain Madge, the only unwounded officer, temporarily took command of what was left of the battalion. The battalion war diary notes that “only about 160 men returned safely”. (You can see some maps of the action at the Great War forum)

When 138th Brigade was inspected by the King on 28th October, 1/5th Lincolnshire could only muster one company, and even that was filled out with the quartermasters and transport section. Shortly after passing the battalion, the King fell off his horse. I’m not sure whether this would have provided some much needed light relief, or just added to the grimness of the situation! The losses were replaced fairly quickly. By mid-November the battalion had nearly 700 men and a full complement of officers. Some of the replacements were Lincolnshire men from 2/5th Battalion, although Sandall says of another group of 11 new officers “none of them Lincolnshire officers unfortunately” (p. 54). On 17th November the battalion went back into the front-line trenches in Flanders.

In December 1915, Billy Wenham was allowed to go home on leave. He married Lillian Pearson at St. Aidan’s church, New Clee, on 13th December, but would have been back at the front before too long, as home leave was usually for a period of 10 days.

St. Aidan’s Church, New Clee, photographed by Paul Fenwick (from English Church Photographs):

In January 1916, 46th Division was ordered to Egypt. The battalion took a train to Marseilles and a ship to Alexandria. They spent a few uneventful weeks camping next to the Suez canal, which seems to have been a pleasant break from the mud and cold of Flanders. In February 1916, Billy was playing for a football team called the Egyptian Stars, by which time he had been given the nickname Stiffy (thanks to Steve Bramley for the reference). However, the holiday was soon over, as the whole division was ordered back to France in early February, 1/5th Lincolnshire arriving back at Marseilles on 9th February. Lt. Col. Sandall was fit enough to resume command of the battalion in April, by which time they were holding the line near Vimy Ridge. In May, they moved to Beinvillers to prepare for the Battle of the Somme.

46th Division was at the northern extreme of the Somme offensive. Along with 56th Division, they were assigned to carry out a diversionary attack on the Gommecourt salient, the most westerly point of the German lines in France. 1/5th Lincolnshire were kept in reserve, and so were lucky enough to avoid having to go over the top on the morning of 1st July, but they didn’t quite get off lightly. The original plan was for them to advance later in the day to consolidate the gains that were expected to be made during the initial attacks. The battalion spent most of the day waiting behind Foncquevillers, listening to the sound of the artillery barrage and infantry attacks. They were not ordered to advance until 9pm, by which time the situation at the front was very confused. The battalion war diary describes what happened that night:

At 9.30PM battalion began to leave MIDLAND Trench & proceeded thro’ FONQUEVILLERS & then by ROBERTS AVENUE to its position, which was on frontage between WHIZBANG AVENUE & STAFFORD AVENUE.

Owing to congested state of trenches (they were full of dead bodies, badly battered by shell fire, & stragglers & wounded were coming in rapidly from NO MAN’S LAND) battalion did not finally get into position until 12.45AM, 2nd inst.

Officers Commanding Companys were met by battalion on way up to trenches & had recieved their orders by 11PM.

At 11.30PM orders were changed from 1. to 2. below.

1. Battalion would attack & consolidate front line reconoitre beyond it getting into touch with any parties of Sherwood Foresters who might have entered hostile trenches on left of battalion frontage & there been surrounded.

2. Battalion would not consolidate but would retire as soon as in touch with Sherwoods bringing the latter back too & in any case battalion would retire to our lines before dawn.

Owing to enemy’s fire & confusion caused by relief & the presence in all fire & communication trenches of parties of other battalions wounded or stragglers it was found impossible to communicate the alteration in orders before 12 midnight to the left company.

2/7/16:

At 12 midnight only 1 company was completely ready but nevertheless the first line went forward but at once lost touch in the darkness & also lost direction. Two platoons only reached enemy wire which they found uncut. Enemy sent up numerous flares & opened heavy rifle fire. Their first line was found to be strongly held by them & our party retired finally having lost 3 officers and 45 other ranks.

Lieut. L. G. E. WALCOTT killed, 2/Lieut O H H LORENZON dangerously wounded, 2/Lieut. G. J. PEARSON slightly wounded.

138th Brigade now ordered that a second attack should be made but after some time being spent in attempting to collect lost parties & find direction in the intense darkness the order was countermanded & battalion ordered to clear trenches & bring in wounded, of whom very many were lying between the opposing trenches, Staffords, Sherwoods, Lincolns, & Monmouths.

39 wounded men were got in before dawn & at 4AM Lieut. I. Welby & 2 men went out 150 yards & brought in another in broad daylight & under heavy fire.

Enemy very quiet during day. 3 wounded men crawled in. Battalion Headquarters moved from dug out in support line near ROTTEN ROW back into FONQUEVILLERS. Day very fine & warm. QUIET night. 5 wounded men & 21 bodies recovered from trenches.

The battalion spent the rest of the summer and much of the autumn holding trenches in the Foncquevillers and Monchy areas. In October 1916, A Company carried out a successful night raid on the German trenches, having received special training beforehand. November was an extended period of rest and training behind the lines. The battalion returned to Foncquevillers on 5th December, taking up positions in the front line between the La Brayelle road and the Hannescamps to Essarts road. B Company was on the right, A Company in the centre, D Company on the left, and C Company in reserve with battalion HQ at Foncquevillers.

In a letter written the following year, Billy mentioned that he was in line for some more home leave in December 1916. This would probably have been the first time he could get home since his wedding in December 1915, as soldiers usually got roughly one lot of home leave per year (although there were many variations according to circumstances, and some men got much less). However, it wasn’t to be. On the night of 6th December he went out on patrol with Lt. Robert Sandall (Col. Sandall’s son), and didn’t come back. This how the war diary describes the incident (a map reference isn’t given, but it would almost certainly have been in 57D NE2 E.17):

A very quiet night. The day spent in clearing of trenches, pumping, & attempt at drainage.

At 9pm a patrol of 15 men under Lieut SANDALL was surprised by a German party lying in wait on the HANNESCAMPS-ESSARTS road. Lieut SANDALL was wounded & L/Cpl WENHAM missing. A strong patrol sent out immediately found traces of the fight but no trace of the missing man.

Instead of going home, Lance Corporal Wenham would be spending Christmas in Berlin, but as a prisoner rather than a victorious conqueror. Meanwhile, 1/5th Lincolnshire had nearly two years of hard fighting ahead of them. This would culminate in what has been called one of the greatest victories in British military history, when 46th Division broke through the Hindenburg Line in September 1918. They would do it without Billy Wenham and most of the other Lincolnshire men who had set out in February 1915.

Bibliography

1. Thomas Edward Sandall, A History of the 5th Batt. the Lincolnshire Regiment. by Colonel T. E. Sandall, Etc (pp. vi. 221. Basil Blackwell: Oxford, 1922).
2. Charles Rudyard. creator Simpson, The history of the Lincolnshire Regiment, 1914-1918 Compiled from war diaries, despatches, officers’ notes and other sources (Medici Society,: London :, 1931).