Introduction
At 8.30 am on Saturday, 16 July 1938 a party of 50 delegates of the old 17th (Northern) Division assembled at Victoria Station en route for France. They were to take part in the unveiling of the memorial recently installed in Fricourt Church. The party arrived in Amiens in the afternoon and spent the night recalling the many actions. The following morning they left for a tour of the battlefields, travelling first along the Route Nationale through Querrieu and Albert, before stopping to pay their respects to those men whose names are inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. Tribute was also paid to the soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) Division. A commemorative booklet was published to mark the anniversary of the visit. It is perhaps right that the anonymous author takes up the narrative at this point.
Battlefields Pilgrimage
Driving on by Pozieres, Bazentin-le-Grand, and Bazentin-le-Petit to Longueval (Highwood being away on our left), another halt was made to inspect the South African memorial at Delville Wood. It happened to be South African Sunday and it was moving to witness a procession of villagers headed by their banners and "Pompiers" in brass helmets returning from their annual official visit to the memorial.
The communal cemetery at Contalmaison was the next halt and here we inspected the memorial to the 12th Battalion Manchester Regiment, one of the few battalion memorials in France. Thence to Albert, which was reached about noon, where lunch was served at the Hotel de la Paix. We were honoured by the presence of three guests: Monsieur Miette, the Maire of Fricourt, Mons. L'Abbé Corriete, the Curé of Fricourt, and Lt-Col Higginson, CMG, the head of the Imperial War Graves Commission in France and Belgium.
General Yatman was in the chair and called upon General Clarke to propose the first toast, that of the two French guests, and this he did in eloquent French. Captain Allen was deputed to him and the Commission for the great assistance which they had given in connection with the memorial. The able manner in which Captain Allen had negotiated with the Authorities, his supervision of the work upon the memorial and the efficient arrangements made by him for the pilgrimage, were voiced by General Yatman. Finally, the Rev W Rushby MC (Senior Chaplain), in a moving address, responded to the toast of "Absent Friends."
"Absent Friends"
Today we unveil a memorial to those who died for a high ideal. Standing upon soil for ever consecrated by the shed blood of our bravest sons, the passion that filled the heart of Abraham Lincoln when he dedicated the memorial upon the battlefield at Gettysburg will also possess our own hearts, though we may imperfectly recall his noble words:
It is for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these Dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these Dead shall not have died in vain; that freedom shall not perish from the earth.
This morning, as we moved from one "God's Acre" to another, we everywhere saw garlands of rich red roses swathing the tiny headstones which mark the sacred dust of those who sleep. Yet we had no sense of the presence of death, still less of its triumph. The lifeless headstones, shyly peeping from beneath masses of crimson blooms, silently proclaimed themselves faulty symbols of the state of the mighty Dead. The living rambler roses, victoriously mounting dumb stones, blazing red with triumph over death - these, we felt, were the true symbols of our Immortal Dead.
In our frailty we regard the dark angel of death as "the last enemy." Our "Absent Friends" may now know, as later we shall know, that Death is man's last earthly servant, the bond-slave of God, who, at the bidding of our heavenly Father, opens to His children the door into everlasting life.
I ask you, therefore, to stand in honour of "Absent Friends - The Immortal Dead!"
They shall grow not old, as we that are left to grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Unveiling Ceremony
The party moved off to Fricourt for the dedication ceremony at half-past two. On reaching the outskirts of the village a brief halt was made to enable Colonel Gibson, Captain Coleridge and Captain Allen, all officers of the 8th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, to place a wreath of poppies on the lone grave of Major Raper, the second-in-command of that battalion, who was killed at Fricourt on 2 July 1916. Colonel Fife and others took the opportunity of visiting the war cemetery on the other side of the road, where many of the 7th Battalion lie at rest.
We were then met by a concourse of villagers, under the leadership of the Maire, headed by four banners (three Tricolours and one Union Jack) and four trumpeters. Marching on in procession to the village war memorial, General Yatman laid a wreath at its foot after making a short address in French and English to which the Maire and the leaders of the "Ancien Camerades" and Young Soldiers made appropriate replies. Forming up into procession again, we marched to the church about 100 yards away, where the Abbé now arrayed in his robes, and accompanied by four acolytes in cardinal red cassocks, received the party on the steps of the church. The General commanding the troops of the 2me Région at Amiens was represented by Le Commandant Jenesteix of his General Staff, who attended in uniform of dark blue frock coat with kepi and sword.
The little church was packed to capacity with villagers and visitors from the surrounding country and the service began with two chants "Salut" and "de Profundis," sung by a female choir in the gallery; then followed prayers and an inspiring address by the Abbé in which, besides referring to the honour done by his church by placing our tablet there, he mentioned in eloquent terms the forthcoming visit of the King and Queen of Paris.
A small procession was then formed consisting of the Committee and the Maire, headed by the Abbé and his acolytes. The procession proceeded slowly down the nave and up to the north aisle to a point opposite the tablet on the wall now concealed by draped Union Jack and Tricolour. General Yatman, in well-chosen words in French and English, entrusted the memorial to the parish, and then by pulling the cord unveiled the tablet. The Abbé then received and blessed the tablet, after which buglers sounded the "Last Post" and "Reveille" outside the church. General Yatman and others then laid wreaths at the foot of the memorial, the organ played the National Anthem and the Marseillaise. Thus concluded a most solemn and reverent service. We filed out into brilliant sunshine to be welcomed by the Maire at the Mairie and to partake of the "Vin d'honneur."
Time was now pressing and the party of pilgrims had regretfully to turn their backs on the little church and village of Fricourt, comforted by the conviction that at last, after an interval of 20 years, fitting tribute had been paid to the memory of the old comrades who did not return. The inscription reads:
To The Glory Of God And To The Memory Of The 494 Officers And 8421 Other Ranks of the 17th (Northern) Division of the British Army Who Gave Their Lives On Active Service In Belgium And France During The War 1914-1918
Their name liveth for evermore
End Note
The precise number of dead will probably be never known. Nonetheless, there are alternative figures which are worth considering. The17th (Northern) Division lost an estimated 10,365 officers and other ranks between 1914-1918 according to Soldiers-Officers Died Great War (excluding artillery and divisional troops). Even allowing for a slight margin of error these figures amount to an average of 255 to 260 fatalities per month since the Division first entered the war in July 1915. Approximately one in every thirty-three men killed or died of wounds was an officer of the 310 who lost their lives in the same period (ODGW).
By far the single most highest loss was that suffered by the 10th West Yorkshire Regiment (50 Brigade) on 1 July 1916. 299 men and 11 officers were killed in the attack on Fricourt during the opening phase of the Somme Offensive. The enemy's losses were no less significant. Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 111 (28 Reserve Infantry Division) lost 268 officers and men defending Fricourt on the same day. Others were to die in the fighting which followed before Fricourt finally fell to the British on 3 July. In the spirit of remembrance - and, by definition, the promotion of peace and goodwill - it seems only fitting that these men be remembered too.
Fricourt: 2-3 Juli 1916*
Offiziere: Eberanz, Johan [Leutnant]; Jakob, Emil [Leutnant]; Kaufmann, Alfred [Leutnant]; Meyer, Wilhelm [Hauptmann]; Ottendorf, Eberhard [Leutnant] 2 Kompagnie: Brütsch, Josef L. Landsturmmann [Randegg] 4 Kompagnie: Meister, Fritz [Landsturmmann: Lahr] 6 Kompagnie: Backmann, Max Robert [Ersatz Reservist: Binningen]; Bührer, Karl Friedrich [Ottoschwanden]; Jager, Josef [Wehrmann: Messkirch]; Stadelhofer, Ludwig [Reservist: Freiburg] 7 Kompagnie: Decker, Andreas [Ersatz Reservist: Nordrach]; Schuler, Leo [Unteroffizier: Mühlingen]; Stefan, Ernst [Musketier: Engen] 8 Kompagnie: Niederberger, Karl Wilhelm [Gefreiter: Billingen]; Schmidt, Ernst [Landsturmman: d. Bertincourt]; Ulrich, Paul Max Hugo [Vizefeldwebel: Bern] 9 Kompagnie: Birkenmaier, Max [Reservist: Dietenbach]; Eichkorn, Josef [Vizefeldwebel: Konstanz]; Glauns, Anton [Landwehrmann: Weildorf]; Ludwig, Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm [Landsturmmann: Jägerbrück. d. Villers-au-Flos]; Schafheitle, Eugen [Gefreiter: Oberschwandorf] 10 Kompagnie: Gühring, Martin [Oberbunhaupt] 11 Kompagnie: Butscher, Conrad [Gefreiter: Konstanz]; Metze, Bernhard George [Gefreiter: Erlen]; Pfeifer, Josef [Ersatz Reservist]; Rager, Josef [Wehrmann: Bisingen]; Rothmund, Josef [Landsturmmann: Mauenheim]; Schimid, August [Landsturmmann]; Walter, Johannes [Landsturmmann: Eppingen] 12 Kompagnie: Gobs, Adolar [Unteroffizier: Inzighofen]; Maug, Stefan [Tambour: Limbach]; Pfieffer, Julius [Musketier: Mannheim] Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie 1, 2, 3: Deissler, Johann Rudolf [Musketier-Inzlingen]; Junkert, Hermann [Gefreiter: Appenweier]; Matzenmüller, Johann Bapt. [Ersatz Reservist: Immensee]; Wetzel, August [Musketier]
"We Will Remember Them"
10th West Yorkshire Regiment Roll of Honour: 1 July 1916
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:21 am Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 111 Ehrentafel: 1 Juli 1916
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:29 am
Sources
Atteridge, A. Hilliard History of the 17th (Northern) Division (Glasgow: Robert Maclehose and Co. Ltd., 1929) (Reprint: Naval and Military Press)
Bachelin, von Eduard and Geiger, Wilhelm Das Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 111 im Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918 (Karlsruhe: 1919)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
Officers Died Great War (ODGW)
Soldiers Died Great War (SDGW)
Somme Souvenir: Fricourt France. 17th (Northern) Division Somme Battlefields Pilgrimage. Memorial Unveiling, 16 July 1938 (Addendum to History of 17th (Northern) Division)
Images and Captions
1) Memorial to 17th (Northern) Division: Fricourt Church
2) Programme: Somme Souvenir (16 July 1938)
3) Illustration: Captain Fred May, 7th Yorkshire Regiment
* Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the spelling of names and place names. Corrections are most welcome where found.
I would like to thank Chris Noble and Charlie Turpin for the advice offered in collating the casualty figures for the 10th West Yorks on 1 July. Thanks are also due to M. André Belle of Fricourt.
Contributor: David Stowe
Discuss this article on the WFA Front Forum.
© David Stowe September 2009
