Diary of service on the Western Front, 1914-1915, World War One

Smith, William Douglas

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Title:: Diary of service on the Western Front, 1914-1915, World War One

Collection:: SMITH, Maj Gen Sir William Douglas (1865-1939)

Archive reference:: SMITH, WD 2/2

Catalogue record URL (AtoM):: https://archives.kingscollections.org/index.php/smith-wd-2-2

Level of description:: Item

Date of material:: 31 Oct 1914 - 22 Apr 1915

Creator:: Smith, William Douglas

Source collection title:: SMITH, Major General Sir William Douglas (1865-1939)

Extent:: 1 volume

Description (scope):: Manuscript copy diary relating to Smith’s command of 9 Infantry Brigade in 3 Division, 2 Corps, British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front, 31 Oct 1914 – 22 Apr 1915, including: the First Battle of Ypres, Nov 1914, with the loss of many named officers serving under Smith; a visit to the troops by King George V, 3 Dec 1914; the waterlogged state of trenches near Kemmel, Belgium, Dec 1914; a demonstration of grenade throwing, 20 Dec 1914, and thoughts on the difficulty of deploying hand grenades from trenches; reference to a meeting of British and German troops on Christmas Day, 25 1914, and Smith's disapproval; initiatives to improve conditions in trenches, Jan 1915; demonstration of a mortar to be used from a trench, 16 Jan 1915; the execution of two deserters, 6 Feb 1915; the deployment of miners from Britain to undermine German trenches, 19-24 Feb 1915; a German counter-attack, 11 Mar 1915, Battle of Neuve Chapelle, with heavy Allied casualties; details of material used to improve trenches, 25 Mar 1915; frequent criticism of British press coverage of the war, Apr 1915. Also inserted items, including: press cuttings chiefly relating to Smith’s promotions; account of 1 Royal Scots Fusiliers’ operations at Jemappes, 23 Aug 1914, by Captain Thomas Balfour Traill; a detailed account by Smith of 9 Infantry Brigade operations during early Nov 1914, First Battle of Ypres; sketch maps and accounts relating to 9 Infantry Brigade operations, Nov 1914; a letter from Clara Barton, mother of Lieutenant Harold William Ferguson Barton (died 18 Oct 1914), quoting a letter from a German officer praising her son’s bravery; illustrated manuscript poem, ‘New Year’s Eve in the Trenches’, possibly by Major Athol [Athel, Atholl] Murray Hay Forbes, [1914]; letters of praise about 9 Infantry Brigade from Field Marshal Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, Commander of 5 Corps, and Lieutenant General Sir Charles Fergusson, Commander of 2 Corps, Feb 1915; programme for a concert by personnel of 9 Infantry Brigade, 9 Mar 1915.

Copyright:: Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, via the Archives.; King's College London Archives

Full text

[Pencil note in WDS's hand: After Eagle Trench had been captured one of our aeroplanes flew low over it and reported that the observer distinctly saw Germans still in the trench; the Corps was very disturbed about this & would hardly believe us when we again told them that we had captured the trench some hours ago; it transpired that the Germans whom the observers had seen were dead & were still standing in the trench where they had been killed by explosions of Stokes mortars.] The left & right of the attack progressed but the centre was held up again in spite of 200 oil drums which were projected at zero on the cemetery just north of Eagle Trench; we suffered a good many casualties & a fresh attempt was made during the night but was not successful. 22 September 1917 On the morning of the 22nd a concerted attack was again launched under a barrage of Stokes mortars, & the attacking columns got behind & on each flank of the German trench. The line was captured & about 200 prisoners taken & others killed. It transpired that the Germans had intended to attack us almost at the same hour & had assembled for this during the night, but our attack came off at the critical moment.

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