Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 3. Introduction [1]

Edited by Elaine 8 June 2014

INTRODUCTION
The period covered by this volume is roughly from June, 1916, to June, 1917. At the time of publication of the parts it was difficult to identify the battalions to which the men belonged whose portraits are included, as the War Office prohibited the same being mentioned as likely to give information to the enemy. However, this was supplied privately in many cases by their friends, and where that was done the classification into units has been carrried out. It would take volumes to give a detailed account of the actions in which the Berkshire units fought, but it may be mentioned that the Regular Battalions, the Territorials and the Service Battalions took a prominent part in the Battles of the Somme, which commenced on July 1st, 1916. A brief outline of the war service of the various Berks units is subjoined :

1st Battalion
In May, 1916, the 1st Batt underwent a fearful bombardment at Vimy Ridge, the Germans using a hundred batteries on a front of 1,500 yards. At the end of July the Battalion went into action at Delville Wood 450 strong and met with 256 casualties. On Feb . 4-5, 1917, the 1st Berks took part in a successful raid between Miraumont and Pys. In the severe fighting near Miraumont on Feb. 17th, A Company did fine work, and on March 10th and following days at Grevillers, west of Baupaume. April 28th and subsequent days was a memorable period, when some of the heaviest fighting of the war
raged at Oppy. The casualties were numerous, and for the second time the V.C. was won, this time by Lce.-Corpl. James Welch, of Swallowfield, who fortunately lived to receive the decoration from the King . The 1st Berks came out about 60 strong.

2nd Battalion.
In the great Somme offensive the 2nd Battalion were set a very difficult task, that of attacking the strongly fortified village of Ovillers, and its losses were considerable. It lost Col. Holdsworth , who
was mortally wounded in an advance. After being reorganised the Battalion was called upon to attack Trones Wood . The winter of 1916 on the Somme will be long remembered by the survivors of the Battalion, where the conditions were dread­ful. On March 4th, 1917, they achieved a great success in the capture of Bouchavesnes, which led to the retirement of the Germans in this sector, the Berks following up and capturing several villages. In the middle of May a move was made to Messines, and at the end of June to the Ypres front, facing Westhoek Ridge. They captured the Ridge, but the losses
were heavy. On Aug. 16th the Allied troops attacked on a front of over nine miles north of the Ypres-Menin Road, the objective of the 2nd Berks being the Hollebeke Ridge, where deeds of great gallantry were done.

l/4th Battalion.
The l/4th Battalion (T), attached to the 48th Division, were in sanguinary fighting round Pozieres, the casualties being heavy. The Division was in the neighbourhood of Le Sars during the concluding months of the year. In January, 1917, operations were conducted in the La Maisonette area, and when the great German retreat began the enemy was followed up in the direction of Peronne-Ronssey, and later to Hermies Demicourt.

2/4th Battalion.
The 2/4th Battalion (T), which had landed in France in May, 1916, forming part of the 184th Brigade, 6lst Division, in June took up trenches near Neuve Chapelle, and with an Australian Division assisted in the attack on the Somme, Col. J. H. Beer being killed near Laventie. At the end of October the Division left the celebrated XI. Corps and marched south, and in November took over the new sector near Ovillers. In December the Battalion was south of Thiepval, be­ing stationed at Christmas at "Mow-Cow Farm." Then the new, French line near Chaulnes was taken over, the Berks being in trenches in the Ablaincourt sector. On March 16th the German retreat began, and the 2/4th Batt. took part in following them up. On April 11th, 1917, the 61st Division was relieved and moved back to the Nesle sector. The Battalion then assisted, on April 28th, in a raid carried out by the 2/4th Oxon and Bucks at Fayet, which proved very successful. The next battlefield was Arras, where the Division went into the line at the beginning of June, but at the time of its arrival the later stages of the battle had been reached, and the stay at Arras was short. The Battalion was then moved to reserve to the V. Army. The Third Battle of Ypres opened on July 31st, and two weeks later a move was made to near Poperinghe, and on Aug. 20-21 the Battalion took part with the Oxfords in an attack on a road across the Havebeek. What was then called "pill box" warfare was then in full swing.

5th Battalion.
The winter and spring of 1915-16 were spent in the area of Givenchy and at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The Battalion was engaged at Ovillers on the third day of the Somme offensive in July. The Battalion took the German lines, but were unable to retain the trenches. In August there was some stiff fighting at Ration Trench. The Battalion left the Somme in January, 1917, and early in February reached the Arras front. The Battalion will long remember Easter Monday, 1917, for they took part in the great success of the British Army. Their Division - the12th - took 25 guns and many prisoners. The Berks advanced three miles, their objective being Halifax Trench. Their casualties were about 90. Later in April the Battalion took and held Rifle Trench, near Monchy, sustaining 200 casualties. About this time Col. Willan left the Battalion for the King's Royal Rifles.

6th Battalion.
The 6th Battalion formed part of the 18th. Division, which gained a great reputation as a fighting force. The Battalion received its training at Shorncliffe, Colchester and Salisbury Plain, going to the front under the command of Lieut.-Col. A. J. W. Dowell, who was subsequently succeeded by Colonel B. G. Clay. Like other battalions of the Regiment they were heavily engaged in the Somme offensive in July, 1916. The 18th Division captured 1,200 prisoners. The Battalion suffered heavy losses in officers and men. The fighting was continuous, that at Delville Wood and in the neighbourhood of Thiepval being especially desperate. At the battle of Miraumont in February, 1917, further honours were gained and many prisoners captured. After a period at Arras they were called upon in the Third Battle of Ypres, and again suffered heavy losses. For his gallantry in this action Captain H. Ackroyd, M.C., R.A.M.C., was awarded the Victoria Cross.

7th Battalion.
The doings of the 7th Battalion, although they received their first training in the County town, received less public notice than any other, owing to their forming part of the Mediterranean Force at Salonika. The Bulgurs occupied an immensely strong position on the Grand Coronne, but that did not deter the Berkshire men in attacking strongly. They captured Kidney Hill. Before the end of 916 they had taken part in many raids. The Battalion will long remember the trying winter of 1916-17, many men being laid low by the unhealthy climatic conditions. The Berkshires received great praise for the part they took in desperate fighting in April and May, after which a period of comparative quiet set in until the final great attack on the Bulgar positions.

8th Battalion.
Fine work was accomplished in the Somme operations, the Battalion being in desperate fighting in the neighbourhood of Cortalmaison, Mametz Wood, High Wood, etc. Col. Bartlett was in command the greater part of the time. When it was contemplated to make a big attack in the Zebrugge area, the Battalion spent some time in training near Dunkirk, but the plan did not materialise.

Berks Royal Horse Artillery.
Early in 1916 this gallant battery was engaged in the "Western Front" operations against the Senussi in Egypt, and were in the region known as the Fayoum until November, 1917. The greater part of the time was spent at El Azzib, and despite the heat the men look back upon this period of service as a pleasing interlude in their service in the East. It was whilst here that a very popular officer, Captain Bertram W. D. Brooks, left the battery. The old 15-pounders were replaced by 18-pounders, and experiments were tried to adopt camels for draught animals, but it was found that the camels failed to move the guns in heavy going. In November, 1916, the battery moved to Ayun Musa, near Suez, and Christmas was spent there. Early in 1917 the Battery trekked to El Kubri, on the way to Gaza. At Kantara they were attached to the Imperial Mounted Division. A journey of ninety miles across the desert followed and after eight days' strenuous labour El Arish was reached. Then the Battalion moved on to Rafa, and on March 26th participated in Sir Archibald Murray's attack on Gaza. This attack failed, the Turks being strongly entrenched. A 2nd assault was made on April 19th, and the Berks R. H. A. again did well, but the British forces had again to recognise defeat. The next few months were spent in reorganization, during which time Major G. C. Mayall who had commanded
since 1908, was promoted and went to command a D. A. C.

2/1st Berks R. H. A.
The 2/lst Berks R. H. A. left Bear Wood about Easter, 1915, to take part in the East coast defence of England, continuing these duties till April, 1917. After a course of firing at Salisbury Plain they proceeded to France on May 24th, forming part of the 158th Flying Column. The Battery went out 203 strong. Bomb. Ilsley of Reading, won the M. M. the first