Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

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Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Bedford » Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:03 pm

Hi, I am trying to find the war diaries for the dates upto and including 27th August 1917 when Sam was killed, we are visiting the area and it would be nice to know where he was etc.
I would be grateful for any help. Thanks
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby scully » Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:57 am

Hi,

The Regimental Archives have copies of all the war diaries. You can contact them at; The Worcestershire Regiment Museum, Dancox House, T.A. Centre, Pheasant Street, Worcester, WR1 2EE. They have a search fee of £15.

Regards,

Louis (webmaster)
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby scully » Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:49 pm

Hi,

Below is some information from the Regimental history which may also be of help.

THE BATTLES OF YPRES (1st July to 28thAugust 1917)

On the first day of the offensive (July 31st) the 1/7th and 1/8th Worcestershire had moved from Poperinghe to a camp, two miles to the eastward. Then followed several shifts from camp to camp ending on August 15th with both Battalions in Reigersburg Camp on the Ypres-Brielen Road.

The attack of the South Midland Territorials had been delivered about two miles south of Langemarck, from the line of the Steenbeek near the little ruined village of St. Julien. The first attack was made by the 145th Brigade. The 144th Brigade was in reserve, and the 1/7th and 1/8th Worcestershire passed the night before the battle at Reigersburg Camp.

In the darkness before the dawn, the 1/7th Worcestershire assembled and moved forward across the Yser Canal. The Battalion tramped onwards to Kultur Farm, whence "D" Company was sent on to support positions at "Regina Cross" and "Alberta." That movement was still in progress when dawn broke and the battle began; thenceforward the enemy's shell-fire and the general confusion made everything very uncertain.

The destined role of the Battalion was to support the attack of the 145th Brigade in front, but definite news as to the progress of that attack was difficult to obtain.

At 11 a.m. came orders for the 1/7th Worcestershire to assist the 145th Brigade on the further side of the Steenbeek. The Battalion advanced in "artillery formation" up the slope. As the platoons crested the ridge they came under a very heavy fire of shells, both high-explosive and shrapnel. But the mud smothered many of the heavy shells, the open formation reduced the target and casualties were astonishingly light (not more than about 15 all told during that advance). "D" Company moved across the river, while the other companies occupied the Western bank. Bursts of machine-gun fire as the platoons filed across the stream showed that the enemy's front-line posts had not yet been captured.

In plain fact the attack of the 145th Brigade had failed. The enemy's foremost defences opposing the 48th Division consisted of a chain of posts in strong concrete block-houses. Of those little forts the most important were the Maison du Hibou, Hillock Farm, Jew Hill and Border House. Further back were other supporting posts, Triangle Farm, Vancouver, Springfield and Winnepeg. Those posts, supporting each other by machine-gun fire, had effectively stopped the attack. In the 145th Brigade most of the leaders had fallen; the remainder, scattered and disorganised by the intermixture of four successive waves, were crowded in the narrow stretch of low ground between the stream and the German posts.

All day the fight swayed across the open, and by nightfall Border House and Jew Hill had been captured. Then came orders that a fresh attack on the strongest fort, the Maison du Hibou, was to be made by a company of the 1/7th Worcestershire. "C" Company was selected, and advanced across the Steenbeek from Regina Cross. The attack was to be made without artillery support. Relying on the cover of the darkness "C" Company would rush the buildings, covered by fire from the Lewis-guns of "D" Company.

The bold plan failed. Gallantly led by Captain A. B. Montgomery, "C" Company charged the fort, but they were met with a hail of fire from front and flank. Captain Montgomery and Lieut. G. H. Haslewood fell at the head of their men, nearly all the leading wave were shot down (losses of "C" Company in this attack, besides the two officers, were 7 killed, 37 wounded, 12 missing. Captain Montgomery was a New Zealander and an excellent officer. He died of his wounds next day), and the attack was stopped dead, while the fire of "D" Company was smothered by the German machine-guns at Hillock Farm. The survivors of "C" Company dug in about 100 yards from the fort and there held on.

Clearly the Maison du Hibou could not be taken without artillery support. Presently came orders that a fresh attack would be made after midnight, this time behind a barrage. For the new attack "B" Company, commanded by Captain W. N. S. Brown, was ordered up to replace "C" Company. In the darkness and under heavy fire the two companies exchanged positions. Final arrangements were completed and "B" Company made ready to attack.

At 2.30 a.m. August 17th the British guns opened fire, and "B" Company attacked. Aided by "the shell-fire, they actually reached the buildings and fought their way in (The attack -was most gallantly led by 2/Lieut. H. B. Bate, who was severely wounded. He was awarded the M.C.); but at once the enemy brought up fresh men. A fierce fight with bombs in the darkness went on round the fort,; a but eventually after Captain Brown and many of his men had been hit (Losses of "B" Company were 3 killed and 12 missing, besides 2 officers ?. W. N. S. Brown and 2/Lt. H. B. ? and 28 men wounded) the survivors were compelled to fall back (Captain A. O. Lloyd showed great bravery during this operation in reconnoitring the enemy's positions under heavy fire. He was awarded a bar to his M.C. Other awards included a bar to the M.M. of L/Cpl. A. Breeze, and the M.M. to Pte. G. T. Bell, Pte. E. G. Kelly and Pte. T. Smith.).

By that time it was clear that the Maison du Hibou was a formidable defensive work and that the enemy were determined to hold i t; but it was equally clear that the fort must be taken. Until it was captured the position of our foremost troops, cramped into some three hundred yards of low ground with the stream at their back, would be very dangerous. Preparations were made for a renewed attack.

No action was taken during daylight of August 17th: both sides remained motionless throughout the day amid continuous gun-fire. After dark the 1/8th Worcestershire were brought up from reserve to relieve the sister Battalion. The relief was practically complete by midnight, "an extraordinarily good relief," recorded the 1/7th Worcestershire, "taking into consideration the amount of hostile shelling." No words could have borne better testimony to the good feeling between the two Battalions (Total casualties 1/7th Worcestershire 16th/17th August—Killed 2 officers and 21 men. Wounded 6 officers and 118 men. Missing 12).

On both flanks the battle had subsided into trench warfare, but in the centre, about St. Julien, the position was too unsatisfactory to be endured. More ground had to be won, in order to improve the dangerous position east of the Steenbeek; and during the following week there was much sharp fighting, in which the Worcestershire Territorial Battalions were involved.

The first problem to be tackled was that of the Maison du Hibou. That little fortress had defied all assaults for three days. We have already told how two successive assaults by the 1/7th Worcestershire had failed and how the 1/8th Worcestershire had been brought up in relief. Through-out August 18th all remained quiet except for continuous artillery-fire, but plans were being made 1 it and orders were issued for an attack that night. By nightfall all was arranged. Fortunately the weather during the day had been fine, and a keen wind had dried the mud sufficiently to enable an additional reinforcement to operate with hope of success. The renewed attack was to be made with the aid of tanks.

At that time tanks were passing through a stage of disfavour. Their first exploits in the Somme battles had given rise to great hopes. But at Arras they had not been very successful, and in the first phases of the Ypres offensive they had met with absolute disaster. They had been bogged in the mud and smashed by gun-fire. Many generals openly expressed disbelief in their powers. But in this operation against the Steenbeek defences the tanks were at last to find conditions which suited their capabilities.

The front line facing the Maison du Hibou was held by "C" Company of the 1/8th Worcestershire, with"D" Company in support. "B" Company under Lieut. S. H. Wilkes was brought up after midnight (18th/19th) to deliver the attack. The advance was difficult owing to the darkness and also to a very heavy barrage fire which the enemy, sensing danger, put down along the line of the stream. Many casualties had already occurred and it was nearly daylight when "B" Company reached their allotted position of deployment. As the dawn broke (4.45 a.m.) the British guns broke out in intense fire, putting down a smoke barrage along the line of the Langemarck Road.

Under cover of that barrage seven tanks rolled forward across the stream at St. Julien and then pushed northwards, past Hillock Farm and the near-by gun-pits against Triangle Farm. Then they circled round on the line of the Langemarck road and opened fire on the Maison du Hibou from the rear. "C" Company of the 1/8th Worcestershire were already firing fiercely from the front and with that double support a platoon of " B " Company dashed forward and into the buildings, killed a number of the enemy and. compelled the rest to surrender. Then by a swift advance "B" Company carried Triangle Farm. Together with the tanks, the Worcestershire lads pushed on to the line of the Langemarck Road and finished up by consolidating a position at the cross-roads north of the Triangle.
It was a brilliant little success, which made the tactical situation of the 48th Division comparatively secure. Some 30 of the enemy had been killed. 12 prisoners and a light machine-gun were trophies of victory (Lieut. S. H. Wilkes received a bar to his M.C.).

From the broader point of view the affair is noteworthy as being the first definite success gained by the use of tanks in the offensives of 1917. That success silenced the disbelievers, tanks were restored to general favour, and plans were, formed which led eventually to the great tank attack of Cambrai.
On the evening of August 20th the 1/8th 'Worcestershire were relieved and marched back to the canal bank. The losses of the Battalion during the three days had totalled some 70 killed and wounded, including two officers (Killed—2 officers ?/Lt. J. Guilding and 2/Lt. W. M. ? and 19 men. Wounded 47 N.C.O's. and men. During that day 2/Lt. W. J. Flower of the 1/7th Battalion was mortally wounded). On the following day the Battalion marched back to Reigersburg Camp, whither the 1/7th Battalion had already moved. The two Battalions rested and cleaned up for the next few days.

On August 25th and 26th both the 1/7th and 1/8th Worcestershire had come back into the line side by side, holding from Hillock Farm to beyond the Triangle. The 1/8th Battalion was on the right. Headquarters & of both Battalions were in Alberta.

The attack in preparation was intended to break the enemy's main line of defence beyond the Langemarck road, a strong position defended by the outpost fortresses of Springfield and Vancouver. The former lay just to the right of the 8th Battalion front. The latter, of which the defences had not been exactly located, was near the line of junction of the two Battalions.

The night of August 26th/27th was one of heavy rain and an intense darkness, broken only by the blaze of bursting shells; for the enemy kept up a heavy and continuous bombardment of the British forward lines. In that darkness, dispositions were made for the attack. The platoons felt their way forward into the assembly trenches, and the headquarters of both the Worcestershire battalions were established in the captured "Maison du Hibou." Once explored, it was felt no longer to be wonderful that it had defied so many attacks. The little fortress was built of concrete of a thickness sufficient to defy almost any shell, and in spite of all the hammering it had received the interior was hardly damaged (It was a two storied fort with emplacements for about a dozen machine-guns and an all-round field of fire).

Next morning the downpour of rain continued. The state of the ground, bad enough before, became worse. The great bog of shell-holes had become almost impassable, a vast wilderness strewn with corpses and dotted at intervals by wrecks of smashed tanks.

Midday of August 27th passed, and then at 1.55 p.m. the British artillery broke forth in an intense barrage fire, and all along the line the attacking platoons pushed forward through the mud (The1/8th Worcestershire had "A" and "C" Companies in front line, "B" and "D" Companies in support. The 1/7th Worcestershire had "A," "B" and "D" Companies in front line, and "C" Company in support).

The exact location of the enemy was hardly known. In the wilderness of shell-holes many German machine-gun posts had been established; and as soon as the barrage had passed those machine-guns came into action and opened fire. Struggling through the mud, the platoons of the 1/7th and 1/8th Worcestershire pushed forward. The ordered line broke up as the platoons proceeded to deal with one machine-gun post after another, and the attack disintegrated into a series of fierce little struggles among the shell-holes. At one point an attacking platoon was stopped dead by fire from a strong concrete fort. The platoon commander, 2nd Lieut. J. R. Willis, reorganised his men and led them forward. The blockhouse was skilfully encircled, rushed and stormed (2/Lt. Willis was awarded the M.C. , Sgt. W. H. Wheeler received the D.C.M. for gallant conduct in this attack. He took command of his platoon when his officer had been killed and bravely led them forward).

Further to the right, fierce bursts of machine-gun fire from Springfield Farm enfiladed the attack and held it up. In the centre the unlocated defences of Vancouver gave similar trouble. Between those two points the leading platoons of the 1/8th Worcestershire nearly reached the enemy's main line of trenches; but the lack of success on the flanks brought them to a standstill.

To the right the 143rd Brigade had similarly been held up. Springfield Farm was the principal cause of trouble. Colonel Carr watched his opportunity as darkness fell and sent forward "D" Company from his reserve to take the farm in flank. Led by Lieut. Ryan Bell, "D" Company pushed forward, attacked the farm from the north and captured i t after a fierce struggle, in which the brave young leader was mortally wounded (To the great regret of all ranks Lieut. Ryan Bell died of his wounds three days afterwards. Had he lived he would have received the D.S.O.).

On the left the 1/7th Worcestershire had gained no greater success. Knee-deep, and sometimes waist-deep, in the mud the troops advanced through the shell-holes, but it was impossible to keep up with the moving barrage. As the shells passed, the enemy snipers and machine-gunners opened fire from every side.
On the right flank of the Battalion, Captain G. E. Wallace led "A" Company forward most gallantly. The attack had passed beyond the defences of Vancouver Farm and was nearing a concrete fort beyond it when two German snipers rose from a shell-hole close at hand. They shot Captain Wallace (Captain Wallace was mortally wounded and died within two hours) and a corporal who rushed to his assistance. Sergeant Marchant, endeavouring to assist his officer, was wounded, but at the same moment Sergeant Cooper succeeded in shooting both the Germans.

Murderous little fights of that kind were taking place all along the line, while the ground was swept by machine-guns from the front and also from the left flank where the defences of Vieilles Maisons had repulsed the 11th Division.

Among many brave men Capt. A. O. Lloyd and C.S.M. W. P. Shakespeare were especially distinguished. Both led their men far ahead, held on unsupported and only retired after dark when rt was clear that the ground gained could not be held. Capt. Lloyd received a second bar to his M.C. , C.S.M. Shakespeare received the M.C. , Sgt. G. Cooper received the D.C.M. and the M.M. was awarded to Pte. B. Norris, Pte. A. Protheroe and Cpl. G. Sneyd (bar).

Dusk fell in driving rain, and the floundering troops dug in as best they could. Except in the centre around Vancouver the two Battalions had everywhere gained ground, but at heavy cost. A greater success was not physically possible, for movement either forward or backward was a matter of the greatest difficulty to the exhausted and overloaded men.

Next day by tacit consent was observed as an informal truce along the battle-front. The guns kept up a desultory fire, but on both sides the forward troops suspended hostilities and stretcher-bearers went out. They searched through the countless shell-holes, bringing in impartially the wounded of both sides (The enemy, whose losses had naturally been much lighter than ours, were seen to rescue many of our wounded near their lines). Those not engaged in that work of mercy slept like logs.

Gradually the troops who had fought were relieved. The two "First-Line" Battalions were taken out, one platoon at a time, and the companies slowly reassembled at Dambre Camp during the next three days; after which they were taken back by train and lorry to Schools Camp near St. Jan ter Biezen.
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby allanp » Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:06 pm

Hi

Was Sam's number 201140?
If so, I have found 2 references to him in the Worcester Herald

6 October 1917 edition
201140 Pte S. Rollason – Birmingham - Wounded

27 October 1917 edition
201140 Pte S. Rollason – Birmingham - Wounded & Missing

Regards Allan
12631 Lance Sergt George William Hill. KIA Vimy Ridge, 28 April 1916 3rd Battalion
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Bedford » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:15 am

Scully you are trully amazing, this is extactly what we were hoping for and yes, thats him in the Herald.
We are going to Ypres on Thursday so this is great, I can't thank you enough and I will make sure a donation goes to the Museum.
If you're ever on the Somme call into Mailly Maillet, lunch is on me!
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby scully » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:20 pm

Glad to be of help and good luck on your trip.

Regards,

Louis (webmaster)
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Yankee Hotel Foxtrot » Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:55 pm

Hi,

Pte Samuel Rollason was my Great-Grandfather. Thanks to 'Bedford' for requesting this information on my behalf, and thank-you to Scully for providing the information, which ultimately made our trip to the battlefield a very personal experience.
Noone in my family knows very much about Samuel at all. Indeed he seems a mysterious fellow. We have found discrepencies in various official documents concerning his age, which seem to contradict his age listed on his service records.
We know his widow was ultimately denied a war-widow pension, apparently because he had stated on his service papers that he was not married. His wife never spoke of him and subsequently all trace of him has been virtually lost over the years within the family.
Following our trip to visit the battlefield on which he was lost, and paying our respect at the Tyne Cot Cemetary where his name is beside so many thousands of young men whose remains were never identified, it has stirred my interest in trying to find more information about him, in particular his likely whereabouts during the First World War.
If anyone can either provide anymore information pertaining to his service history in the 1/7 Worstershire prior to his death during the 3rd Ypres, it would be appreciated.
We live in Australia, so if there are any recommendations for where we can find information online too, that would be helpful.
Thanks once again to 'Bedford' for providing us with such a wonderful tour of the Western Front during our recent trip and also to Scully for providing the detail that allowed us to gain a level of insight into Samuels regiments movement during the period leading up to his death.
Thanks in advance
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby scully » Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:21 pm

Hi,

Glad to hear you had a memorable trip.

Private Samuel Rollason medal index card shows that he had two army number the first one was 3255 but this was later changed to 201140. This would suggest he was a pre-war soldier in the territorial army and was possible called up again during the war. The 7th Battalion was a territorial battalion. He enlisted at Halesowen, Worcestershire.

Today has been a special day to day with the Royal Wedding in London. Lots of people out having a street party !

Regards,

Louis (webmaster)
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Simon_Fielding » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:23 pm

Name: ROLLASON, SAMUEL
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Date of Death: 27/08/1917
Service No: 201140
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 75 to 77.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Researching the 75 men of the Great War Memorial of St Anne's Church, Bewdley, Worcestershire .
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby corona » Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:08 am

Private Samuel Rollason's Service papers survive, although badly damaged, on the 'Ancestry' site - military section
Regards
Corona
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby corona » Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:25 am

From Corona
Please disregard my earlier post; having rechecked the badly burned documents which I ascribed to Pt. Rollason of the Worcs. Regt., actually belong to 2 totally different men!!
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Simon_Fielding » Sat Apr 30, 2011 12:34 pm

Name: Samuel Rollason
Birth Place: Blackheath, Staffs
Residence: Blackheath
Death Date: 27 Aug 1917
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Halesowen, Worcs
Rank: Private
Regiment: Worcestershire Regiment
Battalion: 1/7th Battalion
Number: 201140
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre
Researching the 75 men of the Great War Memorial of St Anne's Church, Bewdley, Worcestershire .
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Yankee Hotel Foxtrot » Sun May 01, 2011 4:16 am

corona wrote:
> From Corona
> Please disregard my earlier post; having rechecked the badly burned
> documents which I ascribed to Pt. Rollason of the Worcs. Regt., actually
> belong to 2 totally different men!!

Thanks Corona, yes I saw the other Pt Rollason on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, and noticed he too was in the Worcs. Regt. I need to consult someone in our family to see if he is a relation or not. I think I saw somewhere else I came across his name, that he hailed from Birmingham, which is where the Rollasons' in my family hailed from.
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Re: Pte Rollason 1/7th bn

Postby Yankee Hotel Foxtrot » Sun May 01, 2011 4:18 am

Simon_Fielding wrote:
> Name: Samuel Rollason
> Birth Place: Blackheath, Staffs
> Residence: Blackheath
> Death Date: 27 Aug 1917
> Death Location: France & Flanders
> Enlistment Location: Halesowen, Worcs
> Rank: Private
> Regiment: Worcestershire Regiment
> Battalion: 1/7th Battalion
> Number: 201140
> Type of Casualty: Killed in action
> Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Thanks for this.
Does anyone have any idea whether there exists documents that would tell where else a soldier served during the First World War? I would like to find out where else Pt. Samuel Rollason served during the war. Is there anywhere I can approach to find out this information if it exists?
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