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26th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
The Purple Shamrock of the Tyneside Irish,
26th Northumberland Fusiliers
26th (3rd Tyneside Irish) Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers (see: link)
As I followed the path of my grandfather from his
beginnings in the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) through to his war
time service with the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers, I came across a number of
web sites that helped me learn the story of the "Fighting Fifth".
What I found has been summarized as follows, with links to the web sites where
the details are located:
| http://www.1914-1918.net/northfus.htm |
This web site of Chris
Baker, tells not only of the NF but of the British Army from
1914-1918. The specific page on the Fusiliers provides a history
from the 1st battalion beginnings in 1914, up to and including the
formation of the 34th Reserve Battalion (Tyneside Irish), formed
at Hornsea in June 1916. |
| http://www.warpath.orbat.com/divs/34_div.htm |
This shows the formation of
the 34th Division, formed in Great Britain in June 1915 from the Locally
Raised or Pals Battalions mainly from the North East of England and
Scotland. The web site reports that they arrived in France in January
1916 and then served in France and Flanders until May 1918 when the
Division was reduced to Cadre. The Division was reconstituted in June
1918 and then served in France and Flanders until the Armistice. The
26th NF is shown to have been formed in June 1915 and disbanded on
February 27, 1918. |
| http://warpath.orbat.com/regts/nor_fus.htm |
The regimental site of the
"warpath" site shows the Northumberland Fusilier's (5th
Regiment on Foot - "The Fighting Fifth") regimental
history, starting in 1914. This shows the 26th NF as a locally
raised battalion formed at Newcastle by the Lord Mayor and City in
November 1914 (103rd Brigade, 34th Division). The site shows the
26th NF was formed in June 1915 and disbanded on February 27, 1918. |
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http://www.tyneside-scottish.co.uk/page3.html
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This site is dedicated to the
Tyneside Scottish and the Tyneside Irish and most recently shows the
photo of George Van Wyck Laughton, M.C. since the start of my
research. The site notes the Tyneside Irish were the first to
complete a brigade of 4 battalions (5,400 men per brigade required and
as many as 13,000 raised). They first entered action at La
Boiselle on July 1, 1916 (Battle of the Somme), the worst day in the
history of the British Army (60,000 casualties - 2,100 of them from the
Tyneside Irish). |
| http://www.stmaryscathedral.org.uk/history_architecture/tyneside_irish/index.html
 |
This site commemorates the
return of the Colours of the 25th and 7th Battalion of the Tyneside
Irish and provides a brief and telling history of their battle in
France:
The hour of destiny and tragedy for the Tyneside
Irish came on the 1st of July 1916. It was the first day of the Battle
of the Somme, the "big push" which was to break the brutal
stalemate of trench warfare. The B.E.F. was to attack on a broad front
over about 25 miles. The Tyneside Irish were in the middle of the line
and the most dangerous part; where the Germans were most deeply and most
strongly entrenched. The ground sloped gently downwards. It offered no
cover whatsoever.
As it turned out, few of the first wave reached the
German trenches. Those who did held on with difficulty. The Tyneside
Irish quickly came within range of the machine guns. They took heavy
casualties even before they reached the British front line. Once beyond
it, they were reaped, an eyewitness said, like rows of wheat. |
Please see the main page of REFERENCE
LINKS for additional information on the Tyneside Irish Brigade, 34th
Division and the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers.
Key Dates for the 26th Northumberland
Fusiliers:
 | The 26th Northumberland Fusiliers formed in Newcastle
on November 23, 1914 and moved to Gateshead in January 1915, then to
Woolsington Park in May 1915 (all in the vicinity of Newcastle (note: an
area in northern Scotland, not in Ireland).
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| The Tyneside Irish Brigade first came under the
direction of the War Office on August 27, 1915 on the Salisbury Plain.
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| On January 4, 1916 after nearly a year of training, the
34th Division ordered the mobilization of the Tyneside Irish Brigade for
service in France. At the time Lieutenant-Colonel M. E. (or W. E.)
Richardson, DSO was the Commanding Officer.
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| The 26th Battalion sailed from Folkestone England to
Boulonge France on January 10, 1916. From here they entrained for St.
Omer and then to the village of Blendeques. From here the 26th
was marched to billets in Wizernes.
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| The 26th Battalion received its baptism of trench
warfare on February 10, 1916 in the Bois Grenier Sector.
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| On May 4, 1916 the Tyneside Brigade entrained at St.
Omer and Wizernes for Amiens, for the subsequent march to the front lines of
the Somme. The 26th marched from Franvillers in May 1916 leaving the
trenches of Armentieres behind. On May 11th to 16th, 1916 the 26th
Battalion was to the right of La Boiselle, leading to the start of their
trench raids in June 1916.
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| The Battle of the Somme started on July 1, 1916.
The 34th Division attacked in 4 colums with the 103rd Tyneside Brigade in
reserve along the Tara-Usna line, with the 26th Battalion next to Becourt
Wood. Here they faced the German 56 Reserve Infantry Brigade.
That day the 26th lost 8 officers killed, 11 wounded and 148 other ranks
killed and 322 wounded.
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| The survivors in the 26th on July 2, 1916 made their
way from Belle Vue Farm and Long Valley to Hennencourt Wood The 25th
and 26th were combined and replacements began to arrive and the Tyneside
Irish was no longer "just Irish". As we know, the
territorials even became a part! The battles continued throughout the
remainder of the year, with battalions rotating between the front line and
the reserves. In September 1916 the 26th was sent back to the billets
in Armentieres but were back in the front lines in November 1916.
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| As noted on the introductory page to the Tyneside Irish
Brigade, John Sheen reports that t
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| The Battle of Arras was the story of the 26th
Northumberland Fusiliers in 1917, and entrance of Grandfather George Van
Wyck Laughton in March 1917. The 34th Division was transferred from
the 2nd Army to the 3rd Army on January 18, 1917 - and the movement to the
Arras Front got underway. By the beginning of March 1917, Sheen
reports that the Tyneside Brigade was assembled in the area of Ecoivres in a
camp known as "X Hutments".
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| A number of crossings took place into the German lines,
such as that by 2nd Lt. Hopper at the "Pope's Nose" on March 15,
1917. The main attack took place on April 9th and 10th, 1917 in
concert with the Canadian's at Vimy on the left flank. The 34th
Division was to take High Ridge on which stood the farm "Le Point du
Jour". We are now at the point that Grandfather Laughton's
ROCLINCOURT Trench Map and his battle orders tell the story of that fateful
Easter Sunday of April 9, 1917:
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| From
the Battlefield Notebook of George Van Wyck Laughton, April 9, 1917:
At zero hours we leave our assembly trenches and push forward as
soon as possible. The whole idea being to get into "No Mans
Land" before Hun barrage starts. 24th & 25th take first two
german lines. Short yards at first line. Barrage works back until it
reaches Black Line. At 0+34 barrage lifts and 20th B takes Black line.
Meanwhile we lie at N front line trench. Each cmp then move up without
orders to German 3rd line and try and re-organize. Do not bother about
straightness of line but follow the barrage. Barrage halts about 300
yards in front of black line and remains about 1 hr. * 24th B organize
and as barrage they creep forward at 0+2.6 . 15 minutes before this A
& B leave Black Line and move forward to within 100 yards of
Barrage. As A & B leave black line we immediately push forward into
it. When we get into BLACK we immediately organize and consolidate.
...............
Frontage
Brigade - 600 yards
Battalion - 300 yards
26th Battn - 600 yards
...............
* Insert here. Each cmp sends up one platoon to take over strong point
so as to leave 24th & 25th free.
Barrage remains in front of Blue Line for 0 + 6 hours. 46 min. If we are
more or less a complete battalion 26th & 2th will take Brown line
1200 yards beyond BLUE LINE. When orders are received we will move up
beyond Blue Line and organize for attack. At 0 + 6 hrs + 31 will move up
under barrage and will then work forward about 1000 yards. Each cmp ? on
2nd Platoon front with each platoon in two lines. 27th move up on our
left. Moppers Up will move up with leading company and clean up trench
?. Blue and Brown lines and stick there until other two platoons come up
and then act as reserve.
Two leading companies take two lines in BROWN Line and third cmp remains
in first trench of Brown line and mop up. Barrage halts in from of Brown
line and we send out patrols and LEWIS GUN sections sent forward to dig
in and at night these positions will be connected up and eventually will
become our front line.
Flank Platoons must keep touch with people on their flanks whenever we
halt in a trench. The best way to do this is to crawl along top and best
way to get Hun is to crawl along parapet and shoot him in the bottom of
the trench. (Here remind Lewis Gunners that they must use ? bombing
fight). Also impress men of importance of rifle and bayonet.
Each little section freeze until any little bit of ground they get hold
of and try and get touch with remainder of platoon. Bombs carried
forward by men are not for his own use but he is merely a carrying
parties. At Brown line collect all bombs, very lights, etc. etc. into
dumps.
Prisoners. be careful that man is sincere. IF prisoners show slightest
objection leave them there. One man ought to be enough to take care of
10.
Trophies. none to be collected until orders are given.
Tricks. no helmets, flags, etc. to be collected
Pea Bombs. Throw one down entrance and stand at other.
Dugouts. see that everyone is clear.
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| On the 27th and/or 28th of April 1917, the 26th
Northumberland Fusiliers went forwards to Roeux and were involved in the
well documented battle to take over the Chemical Works. This is
described in detail in the Shakspear book on the 34th Division, and
others. It was at this time that the records show that Grandfather
Laughton was nearly struck by an artillery shell (the Sergeant with him
was) resulting in the burial of George for some 5 days without food or
water, and his ultimate discharge from the service due to the "Shell
Shock" that he endured. Not only did the 26th Battalion suffer
extensive casualties at the front but it also found that it was being fired
at from the rear.
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| In May 1917 (Grandfather Laughton is now on his way to Hospital in
England) the Tyneside Irish Brigade moved back to training areas in
Bonneville, returning to the front line at the end of the month to take over
the Garvelle Line in the areas of Hagricourt and Poelcapelle.
Patrolling No-Mans-Land became a way of life for the 26th, with at least 3
patrols out every night. The next major report for the 26th Battalionis the
attack on Triangle Trench on the night of September 3, 1917. After 4
days at the front in late September 1917 at Hagricourt the 26th was moved by
train to the VI Corps rest area and a hutted camp at Blairville, with the
34th Division now in Corps Reserve. Word shortly arrived that the 34th
Division was to be moved to the 5th Army and the battalions were moved to
Flanders by train, where the 26th moved into Paddington Camp, at which the
training of a host of new recruits began.
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| On October 12, 1917 to battalions once again entrained, this time for
Boesinghe. Upon arrival the battalions marched to Stray Farm, and a
sea of mud, where the 25th and 25th NF were to relieve the 4th Division at
Poelcapelle.
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| Chapter Ten of Sheen's text refers to the disbandment
of the Tyneside Irish Brigades in 1918. In order to be able to supply
the necessary reinforcements for the western front, the Imperial War Office
issues orders for reorganization. Included in this order was the call
for the breaking up of the Service Battalions (Kitchener's new army), which
included the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers. This order was received at
the 26th on January 31, 1918 and on February 1, 1918 the Commanding Officer,
lieutenant-Colonel M. E. Richardson read the letter from General Byng,
Commander 3rd Army to the men. The drafts left the 26th Battalion on
February 3, 1918. The unit was formally disbanded on February 27,
1918.
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