The attack was timed for 6.15am. There was a heavy mist...

7^th November 1914

Diary extract from the 2^nd Battalion, The Queens– Royal West Surrey Regiment

The attack was timed for 6.15am. There was a heavy mist and it was only just becoming day light… the Queens forming the first two lines. They advanced over the rise in the ground and a heavy machine gun fire was opened by the Germans. The second line came up with the first and together the charge was made. It was completely successful and the enemy got out of their trenches and ran away. The advance continued and the trench D was taken but could not be hold owing to enfilade fire. During the charge Capt. Roberts was hit when he had led his men almost up to the German position. Lt. Lang Browne & Lt Collis were also wounded & taken prisoner. Lt. Haigh was killed and Lt. Pascoe wounded, Sgt. Major Lucas was also killed.

Three machine guns were taken in the German trench… There was considerable rifle fire all day and the enemy also fired many high explosives, percussion & shrapnel, but did no damage…

The losses of the Regiment had been heavy but the enemy were driven from the footing they had secured and time was given for the French reinforcements to come up.

Casualties on 7^th Nov

Killed -14 - Officers 2, Other ranks 12

Wounded – 64 - Officers 5, Other ranks 59

Missing 19

Total Casualties - 97

Although the Battalion remained in the field for the following day, the 7^th November saw their last action in the Firstbattle of Ypres.

Serving with the 2^nd Battalion was Private John Joseph Graffham (my Great Grand Uncle in law). John was born in 1891 in Dorking, Surrey, the son of Peter and Sarah Graffham; he had 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He married Daisy Denman in 1911 in Reigate, Surrey and their first son Albert had been born earlier in 1914.

The 2^nd Battalion had been stationed in South Africa at the outbreak of war, recalled to England in September and finally arriving in Zeebrugge on the 4^th October. They had been in contact with the enemy almost immediately upon arrival, retiring, holding lines, supporting the Belgium and French armies and other units of the BEF. 

John Graffham’s Battalion had been involved in fierce fighting continually from 15^th October onwards, Casualties were high - 18 Killed, 123 wounded and 37 missing on the 21^st. 16 killed on the 24^th. 9 Casualties on the 26^th , 12 on the 27^th, 13 on the 28^th, 92 on the 29^th, 90 on the 30^th, 99 on the 31^st, 24 between the 1^st & 3^rd Nov and a further 30 casualties on the 5^th.

The Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment as a whole recorded 457 fatalities (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) from 4^th Oct to the 8^th November 1914 highlighting the heavy fighting and huge losses of Britain's professional army in 1914.  The 2nd Battalion itself had suffered 676 casualties since landing in Zeebrugge in October.

As the open war of movement stagnated into fixed trench warfare all along the Western front, new replacements appeared in the ranks and John Graffham had undergone a baptism of fire.

Tony