Passchendaele and the 277th RFA

A Royal Field Artillery unit setting up a position prior to the Third Battle of Ypres. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum Collections. (Q5723) Note the flat land - difficult to hide from German reconnaissance spy planes.

The Battle of Passchendaele began exactly one hundred years ago today. It was probably the most significant battle in which the 277th RFA took part. The sheer horror and level of casualties is incomprehensible to those of us living today. That would have been bad enough in itself, but when the final goal of the Battle had been achieved i.e the taking of Passchendaele Ridge, General Haig finally realised that he had not achieved his goal at all - that of flattening out the Ypres salient (an inconvenient bulge in the front line, which exposed the British troops to German fire on three sides), but had actually extended the salient so that it now extended further into enemy held territory. 
The Bloody Goal of Passhendaele Ridge, once achieved, was promptly abandoned and a quiet ignominious retreat followed.
As far as the 277th RFA was concerned, it is my belief that this where my Grandfather Henry Hunt was gassed, He was probably one of the lucky ones. The graveyards of Brandhoek contain too many bodies of his fellow Gunners.

Below I give a copy of the War diaries for June, July and August 1917. As far as I am aware there is no other digital copy of them elsewhere (I hope I am wrong!). The original diary entries are missing from the National Archive Records for the 277th. I obtained photocopies from the RFA museum when it was at Woolwich. I'm not sure where the records are now.

The records by themselves are interesting to those who have been on the ground, or are experts on the subject, but can be a bit dry for those who are new to the subject. They cover the periods of the Battle of Messines and the first monthe of the Battle of Passchendaele. In the next few posts I will try to explain where the 277th were, what they were trying to do, and what happened to some of the men involved. 

This is my way of paying tribute to these poor brave men. I hope it is also a warning to those who have power over men's lives. General Haig will always be remembered as the 'Butcher of Passchendaele', despite all the apologists' words. I  am reminded of the line from Julius Caesar  'The evil that men do lives after them;'

One of the many graveyards around the town of Ypres. This one is near the Lille Gate

That evil may be witnessed in the thousands of graves which surround the little town of Ypres in Flanders, Belgium. Many of the graves of the men of the 277th can be found at Brandhoek cemeteries (qv) The good we can do is remembering the sacrifice these men made, and the suffering of the wounded. The hidden suffering of the families is often forgotten - though I never knew my Grandfather, his injuries meant an early death, his children growing up without a father, relative poverty, and few opportunities for the clever boy who became my father. Yes the First World War is still relevant today.

277th Army Brigade RFA War Diary

(Messines and early Passchendaele)    

Gas have been left where the writing is illegible, or a ? question mark inserted

June 1917     Sheet 1

RENINGHELST area

1st  2nd Lieut R R McCartney returned from course at Second …......... in Artillery School.

       2nd Lieut  JJ Dawson …................... on course at Second Army Signal School.

2nd Capt F F Bragley B/277 Battery , returned from 10 days leave in the UK

8th 2nd Lieut A J Garry (?) C/277 Battery wounded in action admitted to hospital and struck off strength.

11th 2nd Lieut A Sketch C/277th Battery Granted 10 days leave in the UK

        Major J O M Williams DSO D/277 Battery assumed command of the Brigade.

        vice Lieut Col J E C J Cochrane DSO  To officers Red Station … HAZEBROUK

        Lieut L Talbot A/277 Battery admitted by hospital

12th 2nd Lieut W Allen A/277 struck off the strength with effect from 19/2/1917 having been 

         indirectly (?) boarded in England. Authority A G Advd (?) GHQ D/4075/2

         Lieut W G McCanley A/277 and 2nd Lieut W N O'Neill D/277 wounded in action, and   

         admitted to hospital (struck of the strength)

14th On the night of 14th/15th B/277 and C/277 relieved B/72 and C/72 in the line.

15th On the night of 15th/16th A/277 and D/277 relieved A/72 and D/72 in the line.

         All the batteries came under command of Lieut Col Cardew ''A Group''

         Headquarters MOATED GRANGE O 1a. 60.35 (sheet 26 NW)

         Gun positions A/277 O2 b 65. 15 (?)  B/277 I32 c 50. 40 (?)   C/277 I 32 d 05.00

         D/277 I 32 c 70.05

        

         The Wagon Lines of the Brigade all at about M 4 b

16th  Major MT Bibby (?) A/277 battery Granted 10 days leave to UK

18th  Lieut Col N P R Preeston (?) A/277 Battery RFA (from 24D AC) assumed command of the    

          Brigade vice Major Williams DSO vice Lieut Col JECJ Cochrane DSO

          Major JC Williams DSO re-assumes command of D/277 Battery

Sheet 2  (277th Army Brigade RFA)

June 1917

21st  The Brigade exchange Wagon Lines with the 52nd Army Brigade RFA at about N 3 c (?)      

         (Sheet 28)

         2nd Lieut RR McCartney B/277 Battery Granted 10 days leave to the UK

          Lieut (Temp Capt) JJJ Bell (?) MC Bde Amm Col posted to 315th Army BDE RFA

23rd  On the nights 23/24 and 25/26th batteries moved out of action to respective wagon lines at

         N 3 C  A/277 relieved by A/190 D277 relieved by D/190  B/277 and C/277 left positions    

         vacant.

25th  Lieut Col JECJ Cochrane returned from Officers Red Station and re-assumed command of the    

         Brigade

         Lieut Col NPR Preeston RFA   relinquished command of the Brigade and proceeded to take  

         over command of OOSTHOEK GROUP

26th  2nd Lieut GS Hodgkinson posted to A/277 battery vice Lieut L Talbot to hospital

         2nd Lieut RPE Roberts posted to D/277 vice 2nd Lieut WND Hull to hospital

27th  2nd Lieut N Morgan Bde Amm Col Granted 10 days leave to UK

27th  2nd Lieut SH Graham joins the Brigade and posted to A/277 battery

         2nd Lieut GW Pye joins the Brigade and attached to A/277 battery

         2nd Lieut EB Quibell  joins the Brigade and attached to C/277 battery

         Lieut L Talbot re-joined from hospital and attached Bde Amm Col

28th  The Brigade moves from N 3 c to about M4 n 8 . 5 (Sheet 29)

RENINGHELST

July 1917

2nd 2nd Lieut JE Alexander RFA, joined the Brigade, and attached to D/277 battery

5th  6 other ranks (re-inforcements) joined the Brigade from the Base.

6th  2nd Lieut DA Gardner RFA B/277 Battery, promoted Lieutenant with precedence from 1/1/16  vide London Gazette at 6/7/1917

7th  685028 BQMS Matthews C/277 battery. Awarded DCM for gallantry in the ''Field''

       2nd Lieut  RPE Roberts D/277 battery, 2nd Lieut JA Milne RFA D/277 battery + 2nd Lt W M Hill

       Awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the Field on June 7th, June 4th and June 12th 1917    

       respectively.

8th  The 'Brigade' moved into the II Corps, Fifth Army, and attached the the 8th Divisional Artillery for    

       tactical purposes. Administered by II Corps RA.

       Location as follows:- (Sheet 28) Hd Qrs  G 22 b 3.9  'A' Battery G 17 d 8.4  'B” Battery G 17 d 1.6

       'C' Battery G 17 c 1.1   'D' Battery G 22 b 9.9  Bde Amm Col G 22 b 6.3

9th  Lieut W C McCauley RFA Rejoined the Brigade and posted to 'A' Battery

       

10th  BSM Hall posted to the Brigade from the 26th BAC and posted to C/277

11th  5 Reinforcements (other ranks)joined the Brigade from the Base

13th  2nd Lieut DA Harvey RFA (Adjutant),  promoted Lieutenant with precedence from 1/6/16 (vide

         London Gazette)

14th  2nd Lieut AJ Whelan joined the Brigade, on appointment to Commissioned Rank and attached to

         'C' Battery

16th  63427 Sgt Saunders JA  'A' Battery, awarded the 'Military Medal' for gallantry in the Field

14th  'A' and 'B' batteries ordered into action with “C”  Group 8th Divisional Artillery

         Gun positions: Sheet 28, I 16 a 11.40  'A' Battery,  I 15 b 44.40  'B' Battery

 

19th  2nd Lieut HJ Sketch RFA C/277 retained in England whilst on leave and struck off (Authority 

         AG D/4223)

20th  Capt (a Major) AH Bibby RFA 'A' Battery promoted Major with precedence from 1/6/16 (vide London Gazette)

20th 2nd Lieut J Lock RFA joined the Brigade on appointment to first commission and posted to 'A'  

        Battery

277th Army Brigade RFA  War Diary

RENINGHELST

July 1917

21st  Lieut WC McCauley RFA 'A' Battery. Awarded the 'Military Cross' for conspicuous gallantry in

         the field.

24th  2nd Lieut (/ Lieut) JH Hudson RFA 'D' Battery, promoted Lieut with precedence from 1/6/16

         (vide London Gazette)

24th  20 (other ranks) reinforcements joined from the Base (signallers)

27th  2nd Lieut AS Edge RFA 'B' Battery promoted Lieut with precedence from London Gazette (vide

         London Gazette)

2nd Sheet (dates as indicated – reason for the discontinuity not known)

7th  Lieut EV Pratt RFA 'C' Battery proceeded on leave to UK

        2nd Lieut RPE Roberts D/277 proceeded on leave to UK

11th 2nd Lieut HR Pratt BAC proceeded on leave to UK

         Capt CP Rimmer D/277 proceeded on leave to UK

13th Lieut DA Gardner RFA B/277 proceeded on leave to UK

17th  Lieut WC McCauley RFA A/277 proceeded on leave to UK

29th  Capt M Ravenscroft MC proceeded on leave to UK

31st Lieut Col JSCJ Cochrane DSO RFA carried out the duties of Senior Liaison Officer for the

        Artillery Group

        8th Divisional Artillery attacked the enemy in Railway Wood, 'A' and 'B' Batteries participated,

        be attached to 'C' Group 8th DA, 'C' and 'D' Batteries supplied 3 guns and 2 Hwrs respectively as

        'guns of opportunity' to forward and operate.  

        Capt CG Ashton RFA joined from the Base and attached to 'C' Battery

Casualties Personnel

24th 2nd Lieut GS Hodgkinson RFA 'A' Battery killed in action

        2nd Lieut  WG Pye RFA 'A' Battery killed in action

        Capt WS Durward MC 'A' Battery wounded in action

        12 other ranks killed in action during month

         35 other ranks wounded in action during month

Casualties Horses     15 horses killed by shell fire during month

August 1917          Reninghelst

1st  339321 Pte A Roberts (RAMC) A/277 awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry

2nd  'C' and 'D' Batteries relieved B/232 and D/232 in the line. Became 'B' Group under 25th   

         Divisional Artillery. Gun positions: 'C' Battery I 16 c 45.05,  'C' Battery I 16 c 9. 9

3rd  154766 Sgt DJ West, 'B' Battery. Awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field.

4th  Lieut JA Milne D/277 battery. To be Lieut with precedence  from 1/6/16 (vide London Gazette)

8th  Lieut JH Hudson D/277 Battery. Awarded the 'Military Cross' for gallantry in the field

        100393 Sgt TB Murray late D/277 Battery awarded DCM for gallantry in the field

        687129 Bdr HW Dixon D/277 Battery Awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field.

13th Lieut DA Harvey to be acting Captain whilst holding the appointment (with pay and allowance of   

        Lieutenant) with effect from 3/5/17

        Lieut WC McCauley A/277 Battery. To be Acting Captain, whilst second in command of 6 gun

        battery (A/277)

14th  Capt (a/Major) AW Gossage C/277. Awarded Military Cross for Gallantry in the Field

         Brigade transferred to 18th Div Artillery Group

17th  Guns of 281st Brigade RFA taken over by 277th Brigade

         Brigade came under orders of 8th Div Artillery for tactical purposes

18th  Major AH Bibby A/277 Battery assumed temporary command of the Brigade vice Lt Col JECJ

         Cochrane DSO granted 10 leave UK

21st  685110 Sgt H Smith and 685698 Sgt Harrison S of C/277 battery Awarded Military Medal for

         Gallantry in the Field

25th  The Brigade moved to NOORDPEENE en route to St MOMELIN AREA

26th  The Brigade moved from NOORDPEENE to St Momelin area and occupied billets in St

          Momelin

28th  Rations were supplied by 5th Corps Troops Supply Column

31st  Ammunition Park Section and Supply Column came under orders of 'O' Corps Ammunition Park  

         V Corps lorries moved to WATTEN

Casualties during month: Personnel

Officers: 2nd Lt AJ Whelan C/277 Gassed and admitted to hospital

O/R killed (GSW) 14;  killed (Gassed) 5

O/R wounded (GSW) 53;  wounded (Gassed) 18

Horses and Mules    Killied 22 LD and Mules by hostile fire