The First Blood is Shed

On the 2nd of November 107 years ago the men and Officers of the North Somerset Yeomanry boarded the SS Rosetti at the quay in Southampton and left the safety of the port en-route for Le Havre. They landed at 3pm on the 3rd and set off to a camp 2 and a half miles to the North West of the port. And so began the wartime experience of the Somerset Boys.

The SS Rosetti which carried the NSY to France

The destination was to be the Belgian city of Ypres approximately 350 km to the North East where the regiment were to spend most of the next four years. Over the next two weeks at their billets in Esquerdes they established routines and trained in trench works. They made work parties who travelled through Ypres seeing the still intact Cloth Hall and passed out to the east and the front line. These parties often came under shell fire but were lucky enough not to receive any casualties.

By the 13th of November they were serving in the trenches in support of the front line as part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade alongside the 3rd Dragoon Guards, Royal Dragoons and for a short time the 10th Hussars. At this point the regimental strength was

26 Officers

467 Other Ranks

498 Horses

“On the 15th November, 300 men of the regiment [‘A’ Squadron and troops from ‘B’ Squadron}went into trenches near Ypres. Two hundred of these took over trenches on the Zillebeke-Klienzillebeke Road, whilst the remainder occupied dug-outs near Lord Cavan’s Headquarters. The next day [16th November] passed off comparatively quietly; but the North Somersets were not destined to have a peaceful introduction to war.

At 9am on the 17th November, the Germans began a heavy and continuous bombardment of the sector which they held. At 1pm the Prussian Guards began to advance. Reaching within 20 yards of the British trenches they were met by a terrific burst of rifle and machine gun fire, and crumbled. At 3.45 they advanced once more , this time against the trenches occupied by ‘B’ Squadron NSY and ‘C’ Squadron 3rd Dragoon Guards. The attack was pressed with the utmost determination but like the first it failed. The proudest troops in the German Army retired to their trenches , leaving nearly 400 dead in “ No Mans Land” “

The previous short paragraphs taken from The History of Somerset Yeomanry, Volunteer and Territorial Units by WG Fisher describe in a very matter of fact way what happened on the 17th November 1914 the following extract from the War Diary is just as matter of fact however it does give a list of the casualties suffered by the Regiment in their first taste of battle.

“Zillebeke

9am heavy shelling started and the trenches were searched by shrapnel and HE [high explosive] shells which gave off repulsive fumes. 2 German aeroplanes passed up the lines followed by a 3rd. The trenches had already been damaged by shell fire and as no RE [Royal Engineers] were available they were repaired by the men as best they could but owing to the softness of the soil and no materials for revetting being available the trenches were soon rendered vulnerable again.

A determined attack was made at noon which was repulsed with heavy loss causing the regiment many casualties including Capt Liebert who was killed. The attack was renewed and Brig Gen Lord Cavan was now informed and asked for reinforcements. He sent up 2 coys [companies] Coldstream Gds [Guards] who occupied the reserve trenches at 3.30pm. Meanwhile the attack had been continued and Lt J S Davey killed. 30 men of A Squadron were sent up under Capt R E English to replace casualties. Later on the remainder of A Squadron under Maj G Lubbock was sent up.

The enemy made another determined attack at dusk but was repulsed with heavy loss making it unnecessary to call up the Coldstream Guards. The enemy sent up a balloon at midday with flags attached and in the evening used magnesium light to direct the attack. The relief of the trenches was carried out at 6.30pm by the 2nd Life Guards in the firing line and R[oyal] Horse Guards in reserve. C Squadron came under heavy shell fire in the reserve trenches but did not occupy the front trenches.

The regiment marched dismounted to Ypres where it picked up its horses and returned to its billets near Vlamertinghe.

Casualties - Capt F G C Liebert and Lt J S Davey killed. Capt S G Bates 7th Hussars (adjutant) and 2/Lt A N Bailward wounded. NCOs and men killed 22. Wounded 39.  Missing 3.  Total casualties 64. Out of these 59 were sustained by the 200 rifles in trenches at Zillebeke.

The weather has been bitterly cold the last few days and the horses suffered from exposure.”

Below is a list of all those killed on the 17th November 1914, there were others who succumbed to wounds in the days following and yet more who were wounded and returned home. I have listed them alphabetically with no mention of rank as they all suffered the same fate together.

“ At the going down of the sun, and in the morning We Will Remember Them”

ADAMS Thomas Francis

BATES S G (7th Hussars)

BRISTOW James Douglas

CARTER  Ernest Samuel

CHIVERS Arthur James

CLEAL  Alfred Ernest

COMRIE Alexander Peter

CONGDON Ernest Frederick

DAVEY John Stanley

DAVIS Alexander Charles

DICKINSON Leonard Taylor

GEORGE Harold John

GLASS Joseph Egburt

GOODING Harry Charles

HANCOCK Frederick Charles

HARRIS Frank

JACKSON George

LIEBERT Frederick Alexander Charles

McILVEEN Alfred William

POOLE Edward Henry

POPE Wilfred James

RICHARDSON George Wakefield

THOMAS Thomas

TUCKER Francis William

WILSON Wilfred Dick