Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for the 26th October 1917 records. The Battalion took part in the operations at GHELUVELT (See “Narrative of Operations, 26th October 1917”) attached.
The following casualties occurred:- Officers, 2nd Lt. (Acting Captain) W. H. CURRY killed in action 25/10/17. 2nd Lt. R. S. PULLEN killed in action 26/10/17. 2nd Lt. D. S. GLAZE killed in action 26.10.17. 2nd Lt. G. A. C. SHEFFIELD killed in action 26/10/17. 2nd Lt. V. HIELD killed in action 26/10/17. 2nd Lt. W. H. NOKES killed in action 26/10/17. 2nd Lt. S. H. HOULE wounded 26/10/17. 2nd Lt. H. E. POULTON wounded and missing 26/10/17. Other ranks, killed 38, wounded, 136, missing, 91. See letter of appreciation from Major General T. R. SHOUBRIDGE, C.M.G., D.S.O. attached.
NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS 26th OCTOBER 1917
1. The forming up went off without incident, in spite of a very bright moon. There was a little shelling about 3.00am but only a few casualties were caused.
2. At zero the advance began. Heavy machine gun fire immediately opened up on our lines, and a medium barrage came down along the whole ridge, being somewhat severe about Battalion HQ.
3. “C” Company on the left made progress in spite of heavy casualties from machine gun fire until within about 150 yards
of BERRY – COTTS. Here very strong opposition was met with. Stick bombs were freely used by the enemy and the attack was swept by machine gun fire from BERRY – COTTS and LEWIS HOUSE. The mud had by now rendered most of the rifles and Lewis guns useless, and the Company strength was about 1 officer, and 20 other ranks. No further progress could be made and the remains of the Company lay in shell holes until an opportunity could be found by retiring to the original front line.
4. “D” Company in the centre met with very strong opposition from HAMP FARM and suffered heavy casualties from cross machine gun fire. They could make no progress after advancing about 50 yards in front of our original front line.
4. “B” Company on the right suffered less from machine gun fire than the other Companies, being protected to a certain extent by lie of the ground. In consequence, they were able to make a determined attack on their objective THE MOUND, which is a more important feature in the ground than would be imagined from the map. THE MOUND was strongly held by the enemy, and heavy fighting ensued. After a prolonged and desperate struggle, during which both officers and all the senior NCO’s were killed or wounded, “B” Company now under the command of a Corporal carried their objective. The enemy retired, leaving many dead and a heavy machine gun behind them. The position was consolidated, and messages sent back for reinforcements. Unfortunately, all the runners sent back became casualties, and no message reached Battalion HQ. During the afternoon our artillery persistently shelled this position, and owing to their isolation the remnants of “B” Company were compelled to fall back at dusk. The captured machine gun was destroyed before the position was evacuated.
5. By dusk, what was left of the Battalion was back on the original front line and was reorganised as far as possible.
6. The Battalion was relieved by 11.00pm by the 20th Battalion MANCHESTER REGT. The relief passed off quietly.
(Signed) A. B. Beauman Lt. Colonel Commanding 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regt. 31/10/17
COPY OF LETTER FROM MAJOR GENERAL T. R. SHOUBRIDGE C.M.G., D.S.O., COMMANDING 7th DIVISION
Dear Beauman,
I have just seen the Army Commander. Though he regrets we did not get our objective as much as we do ourselves, he fully realises that officers and men did all that was humanly possible in the face of great difficulties.
He also told me that the enemy had a railway reserve between MENIN and PASSCHENDAELE intending to employ it at the most threatened point. Our attack showed such determination that he retained all reserves opposite us. This helped the Canadians materially to gain and hold their objectives. Therefore we did not fight in vain.
The 7th Division has taken hard knocks before, but it never loses its splendid spirit, and yesterdays battles will only be incentive to get our own back on the next opportunity.
Will you convey the contents of this letter to all officers, NCO’s and men, and also tell them how proud I am of the way in which they went forward under the worst conditions of mud and fire and would not give in until they died or stuck in the mud. No soldiers can do more.
Yours Sincerely
(Signed) Herbert Shoubridge