Diary of service on the Western Front, 1916-1917, World War One

Smith, William Douglas

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Title:: Diary of service on the Western Front, 1916-1917, World War One

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

Archive reference:: SMITH, WD 2/4

Catalogue record URL (AtoM):: https://archives.kingscollections.org/index.php/smith-wd-2-4

Level of description:: Item

Date of material:: 16 Jun 1916 - 11 Dec 1917

Creator:: Smith, William Douglas

Source collection title:: SMITH, Maj Gen Sir William Douglas (1865-1939)

Extent:: 1 volume

Description (scope):: Manuscript copy diary, 16 Jun 1916 – 11 Dec 1917, relating to Smith’s command of 20 Division, Jun 1916 – Mar 1917, 56 Division, Jul-Aug 1917, and 20 Division, Aug-Dec 1917, including: diversionary raids, Jun 1916; the use of vests impregnated with antiseptic to reduce the risk of wound infection, 16-18 Jun 1916; the start of the Battle of the Somme, 1 Jul 1916; inaccurate British press coverage of Western Front operations, 24 Jul 1916; a demonstration of flamethrowers, 18-19 Aug 1916; the aftermath of a successful attack on Guillemont village, 19 Sep 1916, including the shortage of troops available to bury the dead and to salvage equipment; German aerial night time bombing behind Allied lines, 28 Sep 1916; the Battle of Le Transloy, Oct 1916; the lack of aerial intelligence on German positions due to bad weather, 6 Oct 1916; inter-brigade sports competitions, 9-14 Nov 1916; cases of trench foot, 15-24 Dec 1916; four months’ leave, chiefly on medical grounds, Mar-Jun 1917; Smith’s taking command of 56 Division, 23 Jul 1917; Smith’s return to the command of 20 Division, 8 Aug 1917; the Battle of Langemarck, 16-18 Aug 1917; the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, 22 Sep 1917; start of planning, Oct 1917, for the Battle of Cambrai, Nov-Dec 1917, including training and extreme secrecy about the planned use of tanks; the start of the Battle of Cambrai, 20 Nov 1917, and the successful use of tanks to clear a way through for infantry; a German counter-attack, 30 Nov 1917. Also inserted items, including: press cuttings about Western Front operations; letters of congratulation on 20 Division operations; typescript statistics on the issue of rations, 4 Aug1916, and on medals recommended and awarded, 1916; notes on the effectiveness of experimental mortars and flamethrowers, Aug 1916; a detailed account, 7 Sep 1916, of the capture of Guillemont village; snapshot photographs of ruins, abandoned army buildings and battle sites, taken in Feb 1919; report on the capture of the German ‘Au Bon Gite’ blockhouse, Langemarck, by Captain H A Slade, commander of ‘B’ Company, 11 Rifle Brigade, 14 Oct 1917; casualty statistics, Aug and Nov 1917; personal letter to Smith from General Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough, 21 Jun 1918, including Gough’s anger at the British government; printed War Office notes on the British Armies of Occupation, 1919; press cutting from the Morning Post , 12 Jan 1937, on Gough and 5 Army, ‘Vindicated by History’.

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

to make sure that the junction of my right with left of 36th Brigade (12th Division) was adequately protected. This conference consisted of Officer Commanding 60th Machine Gun Company, Officer Commanding 217th Divisional Company, Major Law, and Officer Commanding 36th Machine Gun Company. I think we had 8 or perhaps 10 machine guns covering the right; apart of course from guns in the main line. There were also 2 guns just in rear of the Cemetery. You may remember I was rather keen on that. There were also 4 or 6 guns in the "Ravine". I was having breakfast at about 6.30am on the morning of the 30th when I heard artillery fire in the distance at first but I was not sure of the direction. I called up the artillery and asked what it was. They replied "All quiet on our front". The Battalions were also called up and reported shelling on the right "All quiet on our front". 36th Brigade on being called up replied heavy shelling on their front but no knowledge of the situation. 61st Brigade replied "All right". I think the time then was between 7am and 7.15am. I cannot remember what time it was that we received a message SOS GRAND. I think it must have been somewhere about 7.15am this was sent to all units and the Battalion in reserve was told to "Stand to". Immediately after this I gave an order for this Battalion to take up its battle position. [new page] This it did, from the account of its Commander. After this we received a message from 61st Brigade on our left saying they could see men coming back. Shortly after this was confirmed by our Brigade Observer and the Intelligence Officer at once went up to Brigade observation post to further confirm. We tried to telephone to Division and to Battalion but all communication was interrupted. An artillery observing officer then came in to the dug out and reported that he had just had time to leave his observation post as the enemy were advancing. The enemy by that time were within easy range of Brigade headquarters and I decided to get to some point where I could better direct and rally and also get in to communication. (The Reserve Battalion had rallied most men near them). I sent an officer, Captain Williams, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, to report the situation to Division. Brigade headquarters was being very heavy shelled and machine gunned and also the Sunken Road down which we proceeded. I eventually reached a point between La Vacquerie and the Hindenburg Line sending an officer to look for some telephone system. The Brigade Major and an acting Staff Captain went back to where the Reserve Battalion was in position and saw Colonels Priaulx and Morgan-Owen and Sheepshank.

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