Counter Attack at the Battle of Cambrai

James Wilson (my second cousin twice removed) was born in 1894 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was the third son of Shem Edward and Elizabeth Wilson (nee Harding). James had two older brothers Shem Edward (born 1888) and Albert (born 1889). He also had two younger brothers Horace (born 1897) and Frank (born 1899) and three younger sisters Lizzie (born 1901), Lavinia (born 1903) and Irene (born 1907).

James’ father Shem was the adopted son of William and Harriet Hollins (nee Deakin). In 1911 the Wilson family was living at 60 Queen Street, Rugeley, with James aged 16 employed as a grocery sugar wrapper. His father was employed in the local Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery as was his father’s step brother William Hollins who was living at 64 Queen Street, Rugeley. William’s sons George was living at 24 Queen Street and Charles at 45 Queen Street.

William Hollins had two other sons, William who was working on muntions and Horace who had been killed in April 1916, his wife moved back to 73 Queen Street after his death. His son in law James Fisher in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos in Oct 1915.

James Wilson had enlisted in Birmingham and was serving as a Lance Corporal in the 3^rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

The Battle of Cambrai had launched on November 20^th and for the first time had used a coordinated approach of tactics, infantry and more importantly massed tanks. Compared with the recent slog at the Battle of Passchendaele, the initial phase was regarded as a huge success, with considerable territorial gains made for, in First World War terms, relatively small losses. However, the attack stalled attempting to capture Bourlon Wood and on November 30^th the Germans launched their counter attack.

Units hurriedly ordered to shore up the clearly splintering defence were shocked at what they saw. Not least of them was the Guards Division, still recuperating from a mauling in Fontaine Notre Dame and now heading into what would become a bitter fight to hold the enemy at Gouzeaucourt: 

“First we had to struggle through the flood of terrified men … nothing seemed to stem the torrent of frightened men with eyes of hunted deer, without rifles or equipment, among them half-dressed officers presumably surprised in their sleep, and gunners who had had the sense and calmness to remove the breech blocks from their guns and were carrying them in their hands. Many were shouting alarming rumours, others yelling “Which is the nearest way to the coast?” 

Ref - Norman D. Cliff, To hell and back with the Guards (Braunton, Devon: Merlin Books Limited, 1988) p.85

The War Diary for the 3^rd Battalion reads as follows

Nov 30^th The Battn, in conjunction with the 2^nd Bn Coldstream guards and the 1^st bat Irish guards counter attacked the enemy and retook GOUZEAUCOURT. A line was consolidated on the far side of the village.

Dec 1^st. Orders were received at 3am for the bttn. To attack the QUENTIN RIDGE in conjunction with the 2^nd Bat Grenadier guards on the right and the 3^rd Grenadier batt. On the left. The attack was successful, largely through the gallant behaviour of the tanks – 4 of which were attached to the battn. They put into position a few minutes before zero and little could be given them in the way of information as to the objective, Officers who took part in the attack say that it is doubtful if the battn. Would have reached its objective with enough men to consolidate had it not been for the tanks.

The Battn. Was relieved during the night of Dec 1^st and 2^nd by the 1^st Bat Grenadier guards.

Casualties 30^th Nov

Officers 9 wounded

Other ranks 6 killed 83 wounded 3 missing

Casualties Dec 1^st

Officers 3 killed 2 wounded

Other ranks 9 killed 100 wounded 8 missing

James Wilson aged 23 was killed on the 1^st December 1917. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais.

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery

Originally buried as an unknown British solider, he was identified by Khaki, boots, badges, numerals

Among his effects which were forwarded to base was a Gold ring with initials J.W. inscribed on the outside and on the inside of ring the initials V.S.

James’ parents Shem & Elizabeth have the grave inscribed “Gone but not forgotten”

One can only imagine the sense of loss felt by his parents Shem and Elizabeth, it was not their first experience.

James’ younger brother Horace had been killed on the first day of the Somme on the 1^st July 1916. Horace had originally enlisted with the Grenadier Guards on the 7^th December 1914 in Hednesford stating he was 19 years 3 months. Horace was born in 1897 making him 17 in 1914. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a miner. Horace was 5ft 10 with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was discharged 6 days later on 12^th December due to likely to become an efficient solider on the grounds of amblyopia vision in both eyes.

Amblyopia is more commonly known as lazy eye. A “lazy eye” is not lazy at all.  Recent research has shown that amblyopia is a disorder of the brain’s ability to use both eyes together as a team. Amblyopia is an active process due to suppression, or the brain actively ignoring the information coming from one eye.  In addition to poor visual acuity, people with amblyopia are more prone to have difficulties with depth perception, eye movements related to reading, and visual decision making.

Despite his poor eyesight, at some point Horace re-enlisted with the North Staffordshire Regiment and was a member of D coy 1/6^th Battalion. And on the 1^st July Horace was in the trenches preparing for the attack on Gommecourt Wood.

1/6^th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment War Diary – 1^st July 1916

Battalion in trenches at Fonquevillers preparatory to an attack on Gommecourt Wood and Village. Battalion on right, 6^th South Staffs Regt, Battalion on left, 7^th Notts & Derby Regt. The attack was preceded by an intense bombardment lasting 65 minutes and the infantry assault took place at 7.30am under cover of a smoke barrage. The attack was carried out by means of four waves, each wave consisting of one platoon per company. The 1^st wave occupied the assault trench, the 2^nd & 3^rd waves the fire trench and the fourth wave the Retrenchment. These were followed by consolidating and carrying parties, found by the 5^th North Staffs. Immediately the smoke appeared the enemy opened heavy machine gun fire and barraged our front line. Whilst the assault was in progress this fire caused heavy casualties which occurred chiefly in the first four waves. The casualties so depleted the strength of the waves that very few men succeeded in reaching the enemy wire, which was found to be very strong in parts. Owing to the smoke many men lost direction and were unable to see the gaps in the wire. Previous heavy rain had made the trenches in a very bad condition, especially the assault trench, which was from 2 to 3 feet deep in mud. This caused delay in the waves leaving the trenches. The enemy front line trench was found to be very strongly held and with so few men left it was impossible to advance. After this, those who had not become casualties retired to the assault trench. Nothing of note occurred between this and 5pm when the battalion was relieved by the 5^th North Staffs and proceeded to Siamand and billeted.

Casualty Return

Officers – Killed 8, Missing 4, Wounded 6

Other ranks – Killed 34, Missing 122, Wounded 170

Horace Wilson was reported as missing in action in September 1916 but it wasn’t until the following year that the Lichfield Mercury reported his death.

Lichfield Mercury Friday 15^th June 1917 – Local Casualties

Mr & Mrs S Wilson of Queen Street, Rugeley, have now received official notification that their son Pte. Horace Wilson, who was reported missing July 1^st 1916, must now be presumed to have been killed in action on that date. Pte. Wilson was a member of the local territorials and joined the North Staffs Regiment at the outbreak of the war, went out to France in the early part of 1915 and took part in several engagements, his last being the battle of the Somme, since when he has not been heard of. Another brother Pte. Wilson, died in hospital in the early part of last year, a few months after joining the army.

Horace’s body was never recovered and he is commemorated on Thiepval memorial on pier and face 14B and 14C

The other brother was most likely to have been Pte. Harry Wilson who died on the 8^th February 1915 and was serving with the Army Service Corps. Harry is buried at Rugeley Cemetery.

All three Wilson brothers are commemorated on Rugeley War memorial.

Rugeley War Memorial Panel 

Horace Wilson is also commemorated on the Ancient Order of Foresters memorial in Rugeley

Ancient Order of Foresters Memorial - Rugeley

My Great Uncle Edward Hollins sounded the Last Post when this Memorial was first dedicated. Horace Hollins is also commemorated on both memorials

Sources

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

Staffordshire Roll of Honour website

British Newspaper Archive website