This is the diary of the 15th, which Pop served in. At some point during the Ypres conflict Pop was wounded badly in the leg and lost one finger. It is not known exactly when so this history is of the complete battalion to the end of the war.
The 15th (Service) Battalion (2nd Portsmouth) was raised at Portsmouth on 5 Apr 1915 by the Mayor and local committee. On 30 May 1915 it was taken over by the War Office and in Oct of that year was moved to Aldershot in 122nd Brigade of 41st Division in Marlborough Lines.
In early May 1916 the battalion embarked for France and Flanders. On the Somme campaign in 1916, the 15th Battalion, in its formations, arrived at Longpré from Balleiul on 24 Aug and from there marched to Villers-sous-Ailly. Entrained at Longpré for Méricourt on 5 Sep and from there marched to Dernancourt.
From November 1st 1916 to 31st March 1917 the battalion spent 40 days on the front line. In November 1916 the 15th were in reserve at Dickesbusch where it rescued another battalion which was being heavily shelled. Casualties were low for November – only 4 and 9 in December.
January 1917. 2 platoons under heavy fire and had to wait until the following evening before being rescued.
27th February to 5th March 1917. On front line – 7 casualties.
17th to 22nd February 1917. On front line in dull and misty weather. No casualties.
14th March 1917. Act as a diversion for an attack by another battalion. They placed two Bangalore torpedoes in the wire to make it look like the 15th were making a raid. Everyone got back unhurt.
24th March 1917. Front line again for a week. 12 casualties and 3 killed.
20th April 1917. Front line St. Eloi fought an attack which tried to capture a mine shaft held by the 11th Royal West Kent. Captain Barber sent an SOS when a barrage of fire came from the Germans that were then returned to them!! The rifle and Lewis guns then took over. A few Germans got through but they were driven back. A second attempt was repelled. The battalion was commended for their gallantry and steadiness. It cost 30 casualties and 5 men killed.
22nd April 1917. They had a sharp bombing encounter with a larger German party.
23rd April to 20th May 1917. Out from the front line, 2 marches of 13 miles back to Tourneham, where they carried out training and resting. They then returned to the St Eloi sector and where in reserve either at Voormex or at Chippewn Camp until 31st May.
In total for the last 12 months in France, 15 officers and 190 rank and file killed. 19 officers and 536 rank and file wounded.
31st May 1917. Heavy gunfire and gas shelling fell on the 15th. They also had to make extensive repairs to the wire where it had been cut. 30 casualties.
5th June 1917. Back to middle camp for a rest before mounting up next evening to their assembly position.
3.10am 7th June 1917. The 15th were lying out in the open to avoid shell firing. The mines underneath them were exploded. The 41st brigade dashed forward meeting slight resistance until they got to Dammstrasse. After a struggle they had mastered it.
5 Am. The 15th were in the centre between 11th Royal West Kent and the 12th East Surrey and had Englebrier farm as an objective. They had 500 yards of flat ground to cross until the valley of the little Roosebeek.
7 Am. They had sharp fighting and eventually secured Englebrier farm along with Obley Reserve behind it. They captured many prisoners.
9 Am. They collected the last prisoners from dugouts and trenches.
10.15Am. Germans gathered to attack and advanced over ridge. Rifles and guns halted them. Other attempts also repulsed. Though sometimes the battalion was heavily bombarded.
In the afternoon another advance then the 24th Division came through and secured the final objective beyond Oostaverne. The 15th had 2 officers and 41 rank and file killed and 7 officers and 135 rank and file wounded.
8th to 11th June. In reserve.
12th to 15th June. Consolidate over new support line at White Chateau nearer the canal.
16th June. Took over the Optic Trench.
17th June. Repelled an attack.
20th June. 5 killed and 31 wounded.
21st to 23rd June. Out of trenches but took supplies to the shelled areas and other battalions.
23rd June. Took over as part of the St Eloi- Helleke sector from the 47th division. Enemy attacked with mustard gas.
31st July. Ready for an attack to take Hollebeke. 15th remained in support then they moved the Optic Trench and the Oblique Row forward. Heavy shelling caused 40 casualties. Constant rain filled trenches with mud and water.
3rd August. 15th in front line and were heavily shelled again.
5th August. In the morning Germans tried to recapture Hollebeke. They captured an outpost at Forret Farm. Then counter measures were made. Luckily the whole area was then covered in mist. Reinforcements were sent from the East Surrey Regiment to recapture the outpost (which it was). Major Avery and 10 men wounded and 20 killed. 3 Military cross’s awarded a dozen Military Medals.
9pm 5th August. Germans were observed massing for another attack, but our rifles and machines guns opened up as they crawled over. The next 4 days saw heavy shelling for the 15th.
10th August. Some parts advanced beyond Hollebeke. 30 prisoners captured. That evening the 15th was relieved. 28 men wounded and 6 killed since 5th August.
14th August. Resting at Fletre and inspected by the Corps Commander – Lieutenant General Morld.
3rd Ypres – Flanders.
21st August. Marched to Nieppe and then to Acquin for 3 weeks. 120 reinforcements joined them.
14th September. Returned to front line in 3 marches and then back to Ridgewood. Their division was between 23rd and 39th divisions.
20th September. Big attack planned on Tower Trench on the Tower Hamlets Ridge. The ridge had natural strength (a flat tipped spur running south along Menin Road). They had to cross an open slope and the climb the spur. It rained whilst the men gathered.
- 40 Am. 20th September. Attack starts in a mist, which soon clears. 15th held up at Java Avenue by blockhouses, which the barrage had missed. These were soon captured. The whole force when to capture Tower Hamlets – a mass of concrete dugouts and pillboxes, which were heavily fortified.
In the afternoon the 15th attempt to capture the main area. The captured 40 prisoners including a battalion commander, a field gun and 2 machine guns. They also repulsed several counter attacks.
21st September 1917. 10Am. Barrage sent to help capture the green line. Counter attack by enemy dispersed by machine guns.
22nd September 1917. The men rearmed themselves with German rifles and bombs but they could not hold out any longer and retreated leaving anti-tank guns and machines guns. VC won by 2nd Lt Moore. 15th Battalion relived by the 14th and then back to Ridgewood Camp. 6 officers and 83 men killed along with 251 wounded. They remain at Ridgewood until the 15th October then they are moved to Bray Dunes then Coyyde Bains for a fortnight. They had reinforcements of 230 men. Major Murdoch took command after Lieutenant Colonel Bernard had been promoted.
11th November 1917. Remained at St Pol. They were then dispatched to Italy to sop Caporetto collapsing. Travelling by Paris, Lyons and Marseilles to Cannes then to Rivera and Genoa and then over the Apennines to Modena.
17th November 1917. 100 miles to final destination. Battalion started marching everyone carried 80 lbs each of equipment. Arrived at Mantua.
22nd November 1917. Crossing the Adije and Brente 3 days later.
24th November 1917. 2 days rest before going to Piare. 40 Miles between Brenta and Piare, covered by 3 marches.
8th to 15th December 1917. First turn on front line. Ridge covered with wood and vines which is very different to Flanders. In December only 1 man killed and 11 wounded.
17th February to 25th February 1918. Last turn on front line hardly any enemies. Snipers too far away. 25 days in total on front line. Conditions were good, nice and relaxing, with good wine and friendly people – pleasant interlude. They helped the local people stabilize the area.
1st March 1918. Start to leave Italy.
5th March 1918. 15th reached Walercourt.
On 15th March 1918 the battalion returned to France.
21st March 1918. At Doulleus 25 Miles from the front.
25th March 1918. 11Am. 15th helped to support troops that had retreated to the Bihucourt-Gomiecourt line.
In the afternoon a tanks corps helped relive the situation.
5pm Orders to rest are issued. After dark 15th withdrawn as the enemy attacked by machine gun.
26th March 1918. 6Am. 15th withdrawn whilst inflicting heavy casualties on enemy. They then reached Bucquay, warmly welcomed by the Brigade Major who had never expected to see them go.
27th March 1918. Back to Gonmecourt.
1st April 1918. 15th relieved to Bucquay.
3rd April 1918. Entrained to Flanders
4th April 1918. Arrived at Popringhe. 3 days of camp, rest and refitting. Took over the trench from the 29th division at the apex of the salient at 11.30am on the 7th.
Conditions were dry but barren encountered no enemy and an advance by the Germans on the 10th was easily beaten. Then withdrawn and back on the 11th.
16th April 1918. Withdrawal from the Salient front enemy did not interfere. 15th went back to camp between Ypres and Vlameringhe and spent the next 10 days there in reserve. Bombing by German aeroplane at night was unpleasant. Withdrawal again of the line back to Ypres.
1st May 1918. Still out of the line, working and training. Rest of May uneventful.
7th to 17th May 1918. Held the front. Last week of May were east of Goldfish Chateau – “All water and dugouts”. Number of small raids on the 9th, 10th and 13th and then on the second turn had heavy gas shelling. Only 15 casualties that month.
5th June to 24th June 1918. Near Waton for training. Then 2 long marches of 15 miles back to Waton.
30th June 1918. Relieved a French regiment at La Clytte which was in stalemate with the Germans. 15th in front line from the 1st July to the 5th July and then 15th to the 20th July, then back on 30th July to 2nd August. At other times were astride the road to Reninghelst or back to Westautre line.
17th July been sharp bombing all wounded brought back.
23rd July – 2 platoon raided the enemy only 14 men killed and 1 officer, 54 men wounded.
9th August 1918. 15th chosen to straighten out trench near La Clytte, took on enemy and won. 8 men captured, 50 enemy killed. 39 men from the 15th killed and 101 men wounded.
25th August to 28th August 1918. Had been in the front line after 4 days near Lumbres.
4th September 1918. 4am. Ready for an attack NE of Kemmel. The barrage missed some of the German machine guns so they had to be overcome first. Colonel Murdoch was gassed in the attack. The battalion managed to reach the railway but the road beyond they could not reach.
7 Am. Germans counterattack and forced remaining men back. 220 men wounded or gassed. 90 men killed.
27th September to 11th November 1918. The 2nd and 15th Battalions take part in the Second Armys offensive in Flanders. 29th Division part of the 2nd corps attacking from Ypres itself astride the Menin Road Ridge.
28th September 1918. Attacked early and successful clearing the Hooge then on by Polderhoek towards Gheluvelt. They reached Tower Hamlets by 9.40am. Casualties light under 40. Shot down 2 planes and over 1000 prisoners. 5 miles captured in one day.
1st October 1918. Under attack from Wervicq. Captain Goad took command. Dug ½ mile from German line.
2nd October 1918. 5.30am.Under a good barrage got across the Gheluwe-Wervicq road, capturing a concrete dug out whilst under attack from machine gun fire. Casualties heavy – 33 men and 8 officers killed and 120 wounded but captured lots of prisoners.
14th October 1918. Flanders advance resumed. Attacking full 1 hour before sunrise a thick mist caused some loss of direction and mixture of units. 80 wounded and 12 killed – capturing pill boxes, but they had 4 times as many prisoners.
16th October 1918. Moved to Heute on outskirts of Courtrai – 30 casualties from one shell on Gulleghan- Henke road.
20th October 1918. 6 Am. Last battle across the Courtrai- Harlebeke railway over difficult country. Enemy retreat in disorder not fighting apart from one point north of Stacegham. 30 men killed or taken.
9am. Escher on Courtrai- Bossaingt Canal and consolidated with other battalions.
1pm. Reached St Louis. Germans rallied at Wolfsberg and a counter attack stopped by the Brits. They also helped the inhabitants when the advance was liberating them.
21st October 1918. Advanced towards the Scheldt. Cross the Courtrai – Bosugt Canal but all bridges had been blown up. Crossed a ruined bridge at Knokke in single file. Advanced 600 yards before machine guns stopped them. Germans counter attacked during the night, which was repulsed, buy the 15th.
22nd October 1918. 7am. Another attack beaten off regained some ground.
9am. Reached assembly point and extended the line. Held up by machine gun. Reinforced by the 10th Queens’ supported by a good barrage and made good ground before taking over the tunnel.
After dark Hampshires to withdraw to billets near Knokke. 100 casualties. Next 3 dayss join more ground clearing the Hoodmolen Ridge ad reaching a line from Hershrat to the outskirts of Ootegham.
25th October 1918. Midday. Advance started under cover of machine guns. Got just short of scheldt then back to billets for 4 days rest.
11th November 1918. Advance towards Dender below Grummoul. Halted at Nukerke needed overnight and did road repairs but the men wanted a break from everything. Transferred to the Rhine then moved to Wermelskirchen. Spent time on recreation and education but standards did not drop.
Seen more fighting than any other service battalion. Starting with the capture of Fles in September 1916 and a VC at Tower Hamlets in 1917.
It ended the war on Armistice Day still serving in 122nd Brigade of 41st Division in Belgium at Neukerke, south of Audenarde. After the war George Voysey became a milkman.
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