1917

During the interview recorded in the 1970s, as was the case for 1916, Walter Hitchcock (“WH”) spoke very little of events in 1917.  Therefore, gaps in the narrative have been pieced together below from different published sources on the history of the Royal West Surrey Regiment, with particular focus on the 8th Battalion “B” Company; events which, employing some assumptions, WH may have been involved in.

Note: Maps are contemporary (2017).

1917

February 12th and after a number of skirmishes and raids on enemy lines through severed defensive wire, the 24th Division (WH’s) is relieved by the 37th Division, with the 24th moving to Allouagne via Noeaux-les-Mines.  From February, there is some to-ing and fro-ing until, on the 13th May, the Division moves to Bradhoek and, from there, to the right sub-sector of the Hooge-Observatory Ridge line (see map above).  As the regimental history records,

The whole salient was found to have greatly changed since the 8th The Queen’s had left it more than a year previously; Camps and dumps on both sides were very active.  Great preparations for an offensive were on foot, and there was a great deal of work on the roads in bringing forward rations and material.B1  

At the end of June, the Division moves again, eventually reaching the Canal Reserve Camp near Ouderdom (below Brandhoek in the above map) where it is assigned in reserve to the X Corps.  

The war is at a pivotal point.  In order to deny the German army use of the Belgian coast - from which it could launch attacks on merchant ships and troop movements in the North Sea and English Channel - the British put into action plans to clear the coastal regions.  To this end, before an operation to capture the Gheluvelt plateau further north, in January 1916, Field Marshal Herbert Plumer (Commander of the 2nd Army in the Ypres Salient between 1915 and 1917) recommended to Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig the capture of Messines Ridge, part of the southern arc of the Ypres Salient.W4  The Battle of Messines is part of this plan, where 8th Battalion now finds itself; incoming fire is heavy and massive mines are detonating.  There is little sleep.  To put the size of the mines into context, Vera Brittain, an English Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse, noted at the time feeling, “a strange early morning shock like an earthquake”B5; Vera was in the south of England.

As the week progresses, the Battalion moves closer up to the front; By June 13th, B Company, under the command of Captain Fellows, has taken over the Railway Dugouts to the south-east of Zillebeke (just south-west of Ypres).

Note: Although many of the records for the RWSR were destroyed in a fire during World War Two - hence it is not possible to trace WH’s exact movements to the day - it is possible to say with absolute certainty that on 20th June, 1917, WH was on leave in England.  The evidence for this exists in the form of a marriage certificate …

20th June and WH is back in England on leave to marry long term sweetheart, Rachel Eliza Jobson at the parish church in Letherhead.  His father, John, a labourer, and railway man John Jacob as witnesses.  Congratulations are sent by colleagues (see images at end).

Post wedding, it is not known when WH returned to France to rejoin his battalion - and one can only imagine the thoughts of his new bride - but more significant movement occur on 27th June.  After a train journey to a small village south of the St. Omer - Boulogne road, Coulmby, three weeks are spent training and the much improved weather is appreciated.  However, July 18th sees the Battalion on a march to Reninghelst, just to the south-west of Ouderdom, ending on July 21st.

With the weather improving significantly, the first couple of weeks in July are spent training in Coulomby.  Special training is undertaken over “prepared ground”B1, a sign something larger is coming.  Between the 18th and 21st July, the Queen’s march from Coulomby back to Reninghelst.  99 extra men are added to the regiment but are soon removed again as not considered ‘suitably trained’.

29th July and under control of Major Peirs, the Battalion is in the trenches.  “B” company is assigned ‘reserve’ status.  The Queen’s has three objective, namely the capture of enemy trenches ‘Job’s Post’, ‘Jehovah Trench’ and ‘Jordan Trench’.  The regimental history by Colonel H. C. Wylly, describes the battlefield,

“[...] the country had been wooded, but shell fire had thinned the trees, and on July 31st it was on open and desolate bog from which all landmarks had been obliterated”B1

The battle - subsequently known as, “Passchendaele, the Third Battle of Ypres” - builds swiftly and before long, “B” Company’s Lewis machine gunners are brought in to support “A”, “C” and “D” Company.  Heavy rain has now arrived.

While supplying the front, “B” Company also engages in skirmishes, at one point recapturing a point lost by the Durham Light Infantry.B1

The rain continues, the trenches begin to flood.  Many wounded are drowned.

The night of the 1st August, the day after the battle commenced, and 8th The Queen’s are sent back to camp, having been relieved.  105 men are missing, nine officers and 156 non-commissioned officers and men wounded, three officers and 32 other ranks are dead.  Yet the Battalion has achieved its aims, Job’s Post, Jehovah Trench and Jordan Trench have been captured.

From the 15th August, the Battalion finds itself acting in the capacity of a carrying party - moving supplies to the front, often under heavy shell fire.

September 20th and the Battalion marches away from, “the Bloody Salient” for good.  Although the war is a long way from over.

From September 1917, time is split between six days, “in the line” and six days in support (delivering supplies to the line and the such).

Christmas is spent in divisional reserve.

1918 is to see WH’s war take a very dramatic turn - a turn that is rich in primary source documentation ...

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Wedding congratulations for 20th June, 1917

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References

B1  History of the Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment In The Great War, Colonel H. C. Wylly, C.B., N&M Press, ISBN 9781843425397

W4  Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Messines_(1917)]