The Struggle for Tolkien

100 years ago, according to Wikipedia, in January 1917 J. R. R. Tolkien, on medical leave from the British Army during #WW1, begins writing The Book of Lost Tales (the first version of The Silmarillion), starting with the "Fall of Gondolin"; thus Tolkien's mythopoeic Middle-earth legendarium is first chronicled in prose.

He delayed enlistment until completing his degree and, upon completing his Finals, was then commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers on 15 July 1915. He trained with the 13th (Reserve) Battalion on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, for eleven months, and on 2 June 1916, Tolkien received a telegram summoning him to Folkestone for transportation to France.

On 5 June 1916, Tolkien boarded a troop transport for an overnight voyage to Calais. Like other soldiers arriving for the first time, Lieutenant Tolkien was sent to the British Expeditionary Force's (BEF) base depot at Étaples. Lieutenant Tolkien left Étaples on 27 June 1916 and joined his new unit at Rubempré, near Amiens. Tolkien found himself commanding enlisted men who were drawn mainly from the mining, milling, and weaving towns of Lancashire.

Tolkien arrived at the Somme in early July 1916. In between terms behind the lines at Bouzincourt, he participated in the assaults on the Schwaben Redoubt and the Leipzig Salient. On 27 October 1916, as his battalion attacked Regina Trench, Tolkien came down with trench fever, a disease carried by lice, common in the dugouts and was invalided to England on 8 November 1916.

Tolkien's battalion was almost completely wiped out following his return to England. Being deemed medically unfit for general service, he spent the remainder of the war alternating between hospitals and garrison duties. It was at this time that his wife Edith bore their first child, John Francis Reuel Tolkien. In a 1941 letter, Tolkien described his son John as "(conceived and carried during the starvation-year of 1917 and the great U-Boat campaign) round about the Battle of Cambrai, when then end of the war seemed as far off as it does now".

In his preface to the second edition of The Lord Of The Rings, denying his book's relevance to WW2, Tolkien wrote: "One has indeed personally to come under the shadow of war to feel fully its oppression; but as the years go by it seems now often forgotten that to be caught in youth by 1914 was no less hideous an experience than to be involved in 1939 and the following years. By 1918 all but one of my close friends were dead."

The sacrifices made by the many who served in The Great War, and lost so much, shall not be forgotten.

#LestWeForget 

The Struggle for Seven Miles on the Somme

The Battle of the Somme, conceived by Allied generals in 1915 to enable their amassed forces to break through the German lines from the outset, in fact lasted 141 days and was certainly one of the wars' bloodiest. It was a horrific battle fought along a 15-mile front that cost both sides over one million dead and wounded. Their efforts were officially halted in mid November a hundred years ago, sadly, without gaining much ground, having carried out the final battle on the River Ancre.

In early 1916, while also eagerly tunnelling underground and reporting on enemy positions and troop movements (as well as fighting) well overhead, the entrenched armies facing each other from across No Man's Land were being bombarded nightly and daily. Although the generals' original intention was to end this vicious stalemate, when the Germans attacked Verdun, the French found themselves desperate for a relief engagement and relied on the British and their Commonwealth armies to strike a hard blow and weaken the German Army.

When the massive combined offensive was launched, the British troops were enthusiastic patriotic volunteers yet poorly trained by commanders experienced in (for lack of better terminology) colonial warfare. Upon the battlefield today visitors will find the huge Memorial to the Missing of the Somme - and the names of 72,085 soldiers killed, blown to mist or buried in the mud of Northern France with no known grave.

Nearby, there is another memorial, an obelisk which commemorates the actions (and losses) of the 18th Eastern Division, whose men finally captured Thiepval in September - demonstrating successfully new tactics in doing so, which would prove invaluable to their renewed efforts in 1917. Initially, on 01 July, the 32nd Division's 96th Brigade were tasked to capture the "Spur" at Thiepval. In short, they were massacred within minutes of launching their assault.

By August, in response, the Germans were able to divert 42 divisions to the Somme.

As the battle progressed, recognising changes were needed in the field, certain commanders, such as British Major-General Maxse employed a creeping barrage, as well as launching the attacks of his 18th Division later in the day, rather than at dawn. Thus, when they achieved their objectives of capturing enemy trenches, machine-gun emplacements and numerous strongholds, remaining daylight would be minimised and soldiers would be able to take cover in the darkness. It was Maxse and his men, after three days of intense fighting, who took Thiepval.

A few months later, the now-popularised 'creeping barrage' was used at Ancre, for example, with great success while troops stormed the various heavily-fortified German positions and crossed the river. The 51st Highland Division eventually took Beaumont Hamel and the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division took Beaucourt and captured 7,000 German prisoners as winter set in.

The lessons that were learned at great cost during the Somme were duly analysed in the coming months by the British, who then issued two manuals in February 1917 and by April the Allies were a much more effective fighting force. However, over those 141 days, the Allies had advanced only seven miles and failed to break the defensive lines of the Germans (though indeed inflicting incredible casualties), who by March had retreated to the infamous  Hindenburg Line, as opposed to resuming fighting once again along the Somme.

The war was still, a century ago, two years away from being won.

The Struggle for a Grave at The Somme

Of all the 72,245 names that are inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, there are seven who were Victoria Cross winners, a few who had already demonstrated their gallantry in a prior battle and who were duly recognized for their outstanding efforts under fire, but who were then killed at The Somme and today remain missing and have no known grave.

Captain Eric Bell, when 20 years old, won his VC on the first day of the offensive, while serving with the The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Thiepval where he was killed in action on 1 July 1916. As later printed in The London Gazette, his citation read: "For most conspicuous bravery. He was in command of a Trench Mortar Battery, and advanced with the Infantry in the attack. When our front line was hung up by enfilading machine gun fire Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions, when our bombing parties, which were clearing the enemy's trenches, were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw Trench Mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bombs available he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter-attack. Finally he was killed rallying and reorganising infantry parties which had lost their officers. All this was outside the scope of his normal duties with his battery. He gave his life in his supreme devotion to duty."

Private William Buckingham grew up at the Countesthorpe Cottage Homes for Children and joined the British Army in 1901, at the age of 15, serving first in Egypt and India. His battalion was posted to France at the outset of WW1 where he won the Victoria Cross for his actions on two separate occasions, on 10 and 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle during which he was also wounded in the chest. His citation reads: "For conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing and rendering aid to the wounded whilst exposed to heavy fire, especially at Neuve-Chapelle on 10th and 12th March 1915." According to a newspaper report, after King George V had presented his VC to him at Buckingham Palace on 4 June 1915, he was then employed by the army to encourage more men to enlist. However, a career soldier, he actually wanted to go back to war and rejoined the 1st Battalion of his regiment in France in May 1916. Sadly, he was killed by German machine gun fire during an attack south of Ginchy on 15 September 15 1916. His body was never found after the battle in which 111 men of his regiment were also killed and 232 wounded in one day.

Lieutenant Geoffrey St George Shillington Cather was killed while serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 2 July 1916, and was awarded his VC for his actions near Beaumont Hamel. (Of the 600 men of the 9th Battalion to go into the attack, only 80 made it back to their own lines - the injured were left lying in the open.) His citation reads: "For most conspicuous bravery. From 7 p.m. till midnight he searched 'No Man's Land', and brought in three wounded men. Next morning at 8 a.m. he continued his search, brought in another wounded man, and gave water to others, arranging for their rescue later. Finally, at 10.30 a.m., he took out water to another man, and was proceeding further on when he was himself killed. All this was carried out in full view of the enemy, and under direct machine gun fire and intermittent artillery fire. He set a splendid example of courage and self sacrifice." On 31 March 1917 King George V, at Buckingham Palace, presented his medal to his mother, Margaret Matilda.

Private William Frederick McFadzean, a 20-year-old rifleman in the 14th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles, on 1 July 1916, serving near Thiepval Wood selflessly threw himself atop several un-pinned grenades, which exploded, killing him and injuring another companion. His citation, subsequently published on 8 Sept 8 1916 in the London Gazette, read: "For most conspicuous bravery. While in a concentration trench and opening a box of bombs for distribution prior to an attack, the box slipped down into the trench, which was crowded with men, and two of the safety pins fell out. Private McFadzean, instantly realising the danger to his comrades, with heroic courage threw himself on the top of the Bombs. The bombs exploded blowing him to pieces, but only one other man was injured. He well knew his danger, being himself a bomber, but without a moment's hesitation he gave his life for his comrades. McFadzean's father was presented with his son's VC by King George V in Buckingham Palace, London on 28 February 1917, which today can be seen proudly on display at The Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Belfast.

Private William Mariner, from Lancashire, won his VC at Cambrai on 22 May 1915, yet was killed a year later at Loos serving with the King's Royal Rifle Corps. At 18, Mariner signed up and served in the British Army in India until 1909, becoming the regimental lightweight wrestling champion. Although, quite a character, he was twice court-martialled, once for striking an officer and once for using threatening behaviour, serving long prison sentences with hard labour. He left the army in 1912 as a private but was soon convicted of breaking and entering, serving at least a year in prison in Manchester. So, in October 1914, he signed up with his old regiment, and was sent to France. While stationed at Loos, prior to the launch of the offensive on 1 July 1916, his comrades reported that Mariner seemed to lose control during a heavy bombardment, ran down an enemy trench and was last seen bayoneting a German as a shell exploded on him, blowing him to pieces. 

However, for his actions the year prior, his citation reads: "During a violent thunderstorm on the night of 22nd May, 1915, he left his trench near Cambrin, and crept out through the German wire entanglements till he reached the emplacement of a German machine gun which had been damaging our parapets and hindering our working parties. After climbing on the top of the German parapet he threw a bomb in under the roof of the gun emplacement and- heard some groaning and the enemy running away. After about a quarter of an hour he heard some of them coming back again, and climbed up on the other side of the emplacement and threw another bomb among them left-handed. He then lay still while the Germans opened a heavy fire on the wire entanglement behind him, and it was only after about an hour that he was able to crawl back to his own trench. Before starting out he had requested a serjeant to open fire on the enemy's trenches as soon as he had thrown his bombs. Rifleman Mariner was out alone for one and a half hours carrying out this gallant work."

Lieutenant Thomas Orde Lawder Wilkinson, an English-born Canadian and British Army officer, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross serving the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He died 5 July 1916 at La Boiselle, and his citation reads: "For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack, when a party of another unit was retiring without their machine-gun, Lieut. Wilkinson rushed forward, and, with two of his men, got the gun into action, and held up the enemy till they were relieved. Later, when the advance was checked during a bombing attack, he forced his way forward and found four or five men of different units stopped by a solid block of earth, over which the enemy was throwing bombs. With great pluck and promptness he mounted a machine-gun on the top of the parapet and dispersed the enemy bombers. Subsequently he made two most gallant attempts to bring in a wounded man, but at the second attempt he was shot through the heart just before reaching the man. Throughout the day he set a magnificent example of courage and self-sacrifice." In 2004 a plaque to his memory was unveiled in Quatt churchyard, commissioned by the Shropshire War Memorials Association - after unsuccessful attempts to locate relatives -and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Lieutenant Alexander Young died in France on 19 October 1916, yet won his Victoria Cross while fighting in the Boer War in South Africa. Originally from County Galway, Ireland, Young joined the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) and eventually became a riding instructor in the army, and served during the Mahdist War in India. While in the Cape Police, South African Forces, this is the report of his actions that won him his VC: "Towards the close of the action at Ruiter's Kraal on the 13th August, 1901, Sergeant-Major Young, with a handful of men, rushed some kopjes which were being; held by Commandant Erasmus and about 20 Boers. On reaching these kopjes the enemy were seen galloping back to another kopje held by the Boers. Sergeant-Major Young then galloped on some 50 yards ahead of his party and closing with the enemy shot one of them and captured Commandant Erasmus, the latter firing at him three times at point blank range before being taken prisoner." During WW1, after first joining the Natal Light Horse, Young transferred to the South African Scottish. He was serving with the regiment on the Somme when he was killed in action at the Butte de Warlencourt and is now commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

Lest we forget.

The Struggle for Thiepval Ridge

Today, Thiepval is known and revered by many as the location of a memorial dedicated to the soldiers of the British Armies who fought and were never to be seen again while fighting in the Battle of The Somme, and who have no known grave. The memorial, officially called the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of The Somme, is surrounded by an Allied cemetery and is located near the village of Thiepval in France.

It is the largest Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing in the world and recognizes the names of over 72,000 servicemen, fully 90% were lost during the initial offensive from 1 July to 18 November 1916, and the inscription reads: "Here are recorded names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields July 1915 February 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death."

In the wake of the successes of the Canadian and New Zealand troops a few weeks prior at Flers, one hundred years ago, on September 26 the British attacked the formidable German defenses at Thiepval Ridge - it was a battle that lasted four days, and ended with Allied forces controlling most of Thiepval. Supporting the efforts of the Fourth Army, the attack was launched by the Reserve Army under the command of Lt-General Gough, and the Canadian Corps (under the command of Lt-General Julian Byng) provided a critical flank on their right, tasked to capture the German trenches north-west of Courcelette, and their array of machine gun nests.

Augmenting their use of the recently introduced "creeping barrage" British artillery units were directed to concentrate the shells overhead into enemy positions, a suppressing fire, while infantry crossed No Man's Land in the afternoon, intending to reach and take the German trenches under the cover of darkness, another innovative tactic implemented as the war progressed. The British fired over 60,000 field artillery and 45,000 heavy artillery rounds two days prior to beginning the attack on the 26th, in addition to a gas-filled shells to effectively remove the German mortar teams from Thiepval - an objective achieved.

The day before, in a preliminary attack, a Canadian company that had finally successfully captured hotly-contested Mouquet Farm were then driven back by accurately-fired German shells, not to mention the fact the Germans also still held the cellars, dug-outs and tunnels beneath them. During the subsequent Battle of Thiepval Ridge, however, the Lancashire Fusiliers bombed the exits of the underground positions, enabling them to actually reach their second objective: Zollern Trench.

The Germans had held Thiepval Ridge since 1914 and their trench system was vast and complicated. The Canadians, for example, moved from Sudbury Trench to Kenora Trench and Regina/Stuff Trench, but were defending counter-attacks in Hessian Trench by 10:30 at night. To their left, the British - constantly being hit by counter-barrages during their advance - reached Joseph Trench at 12:45 and then Schwaben Trench between Mouquet Farm and Thiepval where they dug in. After numerous counter-attacks by both sides, the Germans withdrew and by mid-morning Thiepval and its ridge were under the command of Commonwealth forces and a victory was declared.

The brutal and bloody fighting continued in the maze of trenches, with grenades being lobbed and hand-to-hand combat facing many of the soldiers over the next few days. German accounts of the battle conclude that the initial successes at Courcelette and Thiepval led to the loss, as well as their lack of reserves which ultimately forced their retreat. With the loss of most of their garrison at Thiepval, the Allies advanced between 1,000–2,000 yards along the 6,000-yard front and continued onward toward the Stuff and Schwaben redoubts, where the Germans were eventually defeated in the Battle of the Ancre Heights, which began on 1 October.

The Canadian 11th Division losses from 26–30 September were 3,615, with nearly 70% of the men wounded, and total casualties in the 18th Division were over 4,000 men, but for the Germans September was considered to be their most costly month of the Battle of the Somme, losing approximately 135,000 soldiers, including 10,000 who were captured from 14–30 September, along with 27 guns, 200 machine-guns and 40 trench mortars.