WAR! 1914
Lancaster and The King's Own go to War.
Generously supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation.
Battle of Le Cateau – 26th August 1914 - The first
action
The 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment arrived in
France on 23rd August 1914. Moving by train and route march they arrived
at the village of Haucourt on the morning of 26th August. The orders
were to hold the German advance.
The battalion did not know how close the German army was and came under
heavy machine gun and artillery fire. The battalion was nearly destroyed
as a fighting unit, the commanding officer and many others killed, with
many more wounded or taken prisoner of war.
2nd Lieutenant Gaston Roland Rigden Beaumont was a young officer
commissioned into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the King’s Own
on 2nd August 1913. Just over one year later he was attached to the 1st
Battalion on mobilisation.
His account tells the story of the Battle of Le Cateau:
Le Cateau
“We arrived at dawn by the Ligny Road to a spot where subsequently we
suffered so heavily. The Battalion was ordered to form close Column
facing the enemy’s direction of defences. Companies were dressed by the
right, piled arms, and placed equipment at their feet. There was a big
stir because some of the arms were out of alignment and the equipment
did not in all cases show a true line. A full 7 to 10 minutes was spent
in adjusting these errors. The Brigade Commander rode up to the
Commanding Officer and shortly afterwards we were told to remain where
we were as breakfast would shortly be up. Everyone was very tired and
hungry having had nothing to eat since dinner the day before. A remark
was passed as regards our safety. My Company Commander replied that
French Cavalry were out in front and the enemy could not possibly worry
us for at least three hours.
The picture of this period was as follows:-
Three Companies of the Battalion in close Column, the fourth company
just about to move up to the left with a view to continuing a line with
the 20th who had just commenced to dig in. Just about this time some
Cavalry (about a troop) rode within 500 yards of us, looked at us and
trotted off again. I saw their uniform quite distinctly and mentioned
that they were not Frenchmen. I was told not to talk nonsense and
reminded that I was very young. It was early in the morning and nobody
felt talkative, least of all my Company Commander? The Cavalry appeared
again in the distance and brought up wheeled vehicles; this was all done
very peaceably and exposed to full view. We could now hear the road
transport on the cobbled road and a shout went up “Here’s the Cooker”.
New life came to the men and Mess Tins were hurriedly sought. Then came
the fire. The field we were in was a cornfield. The corn had been cut.
Bullets were mostly about 4 feet high just hitting the top of the corn
stalks. Temporary panic ensued. Some tried to reach the valley behind,
others chewed the cud; of those who got up most were hit. The machine
gun fire only lasted about two minutes and caused about 400 casualties.
The 4th Company moving off to the left was caught in columns of fours.
Shell fire now started and did considerable damage to the transport, the
cooker being the first vehicle to go. A little Sealyham terrier that we
had collected at Horsham St. Faith’s* before embarking, and that the
troops had jacketed with the Union Jack was killed whilst standing next
to the Driver of a General Service Wagon. I mention this as I saw the
same Driver the day after still carrying the dog, he was very upset when
he was ordered to bury it.
The Commanding Officer was killed by the first burst and the Second in
Command rallied the Battalion; several of us taking up position to the
right of the point where we had suffered so heavily.
An attack was organised at once, we re-took our arms and got in most of
the wounded. The others were left and taken prisoner later at Haucourt
Church that night.”
Never again on active service was any battalion of
the King’s Own given the order to “pile arms”.
* The 1st Battalion, following mobilisation, moved to Cromer and were
then billeted at Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, between 12th and 18th
August, before moving by rail from Norwich to Wembley where the
battalion camped at Neasden until it departed on 21st August to
Southampton docks.
2nd Lieutenant Beaumont served throughout the retreat and subsequent
advance, Battles of the Marne, Aisne, Meteren and First Battle of Ypres.
He received a regular commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 30th October 1914,
was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1915 and to Captain in 1917. He
served with the Signal Service, away from the King’s Own between January
1915 and November 1919. He rejoined the King’s Own after the war, was
Adjutant of the 1st Battalion in Palestine and Egypt 1930-33 and
promoted Major in October 1934. He died in 1967.
View the battalion had
Accession Number: KO0012/15
Corporal Ellis Williams, a long time member of the battalion, was
wounded at Le Cateau and evacuated home. Writing from the London
Hospital on 1st December he described the action in a letter home to his
mother :
"I have landed here after a short tour round France. I am wounded in
the right forearm (shell) but nothing serious. They think I have got a
touch of dysentery but I doubt it myself. I can't write about our
engagement for it would fill a book. Tell Dad [former Colour Sergeant
Ellis Williams] it was a great blunder. Our brigade formed in mass on a
hill and entrenched to oppose the German right flank. We had no sooner
formed mass when the Germans opened fire with about 15 Maxims and 4
Brigades of artillery at a distance of about 350 to 500 yards. All we
could do was to lie down flat on our faces, but the fire got too hot and
we had to return to a small village. They then directed their fire on
the village and completely destroyed it. Our Colonel and many officers
were killed and, they say, nearly half the Battalion. I did not see Jack
[Williams, his brother]* so God only knows if he is safe. We must pray
that he is so...... I have no arms or equipment. I took them to the
Field Hospital but they shelled it so we had to leave. Some poor chaps
were buried in it. Poor Jack Sharp was one I believe. I should like some
cigarettes for I'm broke absolutely. I have asked Fred to get me a razor
and some more things and I will pay him later.
No more at present. Mother.
Best Love to all.
Your affectionate son.
Ellis."
Accession Number KO0998/01-15
* Jack Williams was taken prisoner and was not released until the war
was over.
Corporal Ellis Williams, number 6612, also arrived in France on
23rd August 1914 along with his brother. Ellis was wounded and is
pictured at Waterloo Station, London
Accession Number: KO0998/01-15
Just like Clutterbuck:
A poem published in “John Bull” on 19th September 1914 recalled the
heroic death of Captain Henry Clutterbuck.
Born on 28th December 1873, Henry Clutterbuck served in the ranks of the
Coldstream Guards including war service in South Africa. He was
commissioned into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry but
transferred to the King’s Own, joining the 1st Battalion in 1909. Henry
Clutterbuck was killed in action on 26th August 1914 when leading a
bayonet charge at Haucourt.
“Just like Clutterbuck!”
(A sergeant of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster’s says his regiment, at
the battle of Le Cateau, got home with several dashing bayonet charges,
one of the most brilliant being led by Captain Clutterbuck, who, with a
handful of men, routed four times their number. He paid the price of his
gallantry with his life. The Sergeant added; “It was just like
Clutterbuck.”)
It was at Mons; the breathless fight
Ran to a second day,
After a storm of shell by night,
A fresh and furious fray;
There, in the hot, unpitying sun,
The Germans gathered, four to one;
Said our Captain, “Duty must be done!”
That was just like Clutterbuck.
He summoned up his company,
And keenly scanned each face;
“The foe are there,” said he, “and we
Must shift them from the place.
Fix bay’nets, boys! We’ll let them feel
Just what it’s like to taste cold steel!”
His smile he tried hard to conceal,
Which was just like Clutterbuck.
Fiercer the deadly fight became,
Hot as the mouth of hell;
The air around was a sheet of flame,
And many a comrade fell.
Up stood the Captain as shrapnel burst
Over the men, who at it cursed;
In the charge he meant to be the first—
That was just like Clutterbuck.
Just a glance at the foe he threw,
On the hillside looming large,
Another glance at the lads he knew-
Out rapped the one word, “Charge!”
He didn’t look, when he’d said his say,
To see if his men sprang to obey.
But he rushed right on, and led the way!
It was just like Clutterbuck.
A ringing cheer in exultant notes
And fine North Country “burrs,”
Swells from the lusty, dusty throats
Of the King’s Own Lancaster’s;
Sheer up the hill each man-jack speeds,
Nobody falters save he who bleeds,
Racing hard—but the Captain leads,
And that’s just like Clutterbuck!
Never a moment now for talk,
Now is the time to do;
Into the Germans they fairly walk—
Lancashire lads all through!
Four to one! And a shirker might
Think it no shame to take to flight,
But, the Captain thought the odds about right—
Which was just like Clutterbuck.
There in the thick of all the din,
Bang in the front was he,
Like a lion loose, and wiring in—
Leading to victory!
But, when the fight was just on won,
King Death beckoned his bravest son,
His time had come—but duty was done—
That was just like Clutterbuck.
Happy the land with such tales to tell!
It can be conquered never!
Happy the heroes who, like him, fell—
For they shall live for ever!
When British heroes, in British ways,
Achieve great deeds in coming days,
These be the forms of your proudest praise—
“It was just like Clutterbuck.”
Ricardo
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