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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

1/1st Northumbrian Field Company, Royal Engineers



   1st Northumbrian (Newcastle) Field Company, Royal Engineers was a unit of the Territorial Force with its HQ at Barras Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It was later renamed 446th (1st Northumbrian) Field Company.

19th of April 1915 Establishing HQs

22nd of April 1915 Germans Attack

22nd of April 1915 Standing by

23rd of April 1915 Under attack

23rd of April 1915 Northunberlands Transferred

23rd of April 1915 Occupying the Line  location map

23rd April 1915 Orders

23 April 1915 Ordered to Move  Operation Order No24 by Brigadier General J.F. Riddell Commanding Northumberland Brigade Winnezeele 23rd of April 1915

1. The Brigade will move off at once by march route to Brandhoek via Watou and Poperinghe.

2. Troops will move as per margin, the head of the 5th Bn will pass the cross roads at Droglandt at 1.15 pm

  • H.Q. Northumberland Brigade
  • 5th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
  • 6th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
  • 7th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
  • 4th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
  • 1st Northumberland Field Coy R.E
  • 1st Northumberland Field Ambulance
  • No 2 Coy A.S.C. Train

3. First line transport will be brigaded under the Senior transport Officer and will follow the Field Coy RE in the order of march of their respective units.

4. Baggage and Supply wagons will join the train.

5. Reports to head of 5th Northumberland Fusiliers.

Issued at 12.45 pm to representatives of units

24th of April 1915 Positions of Northumberland Division  location map

24th April 1915 On the Move

24th April 1915 On the Move  149 Brigade HQ at Brandhoek report "At 3.45 pm Orders received from 5th Corps for Brigade to move via Ypres to Potjze where it will form a corps reserve. 4.35 pm Orders issued for move to Potjze movement to commence at 6 pm 10.30 pm Brigade arrived at Potjze being heavily shelled whist passing through Ypres. Several casualties. Night rainy and cold."

26th Apr 1915 In Action

26th Apr 1915 In Action  Report on the action at St Julien on Monday 26th April 1915

Reference Belgium sheet 28 1/40,000

1. On the morning of the 26th April 1915 the Northumberland Brigade (4th, 5th, 6th & 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers) were concentrated at Wieltje and placed under the orders of the 1st Canadian Division as Reserve. At 10.15 am General Riddell commanding the Northumberland Brigade received orders from the G.O.C 10th Sub Brigade to verify a report received from the 28th Division that the enemy were breaking through the first line trucks in D 13 c & d and to counter attack with whatever force he considered necessary. The 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers was directed at 10.45 AM to send forward an officers patrol to verify the report & to proceed with his Battalion to Fortuin with a view to counter attacking if the enemy were discovered breaking through. By 12 noon the officer commanding this Battalion was satisfied that no attempt was being made by the enemy to break through at the place indicated and so his battalion has being heavily shelled to proceed to dig in and remained in the position he had reached and consequently took no part in the subsequent operations.

2 At 1.30 pm operation orders from the 1st Canadian division were received. It will be seen from these orders that the Brigade was to attack St Julien in cooperation with the Lahore Division and one battalion of the 10th Infantry Brigade and that the assault was to take place at 2.5 pm.

The distance from Wieltje to St Julien is approximately 1 3/4 miles and the ground had not previously been reconnoitered by the staff or any of the officers of the Brigade. No information was received or could be obtained as to the actual position of either our own or the enemys trenches nor was it known that the G.H.Q line was strongly wired and that there were only certain places through which the troops would be able to pass.

No communication was ever made with the artillery and no artillery officer got in any way into touch with the Brigade. The time was short, the order to attack being received at 1.30 pm. Nevertheless considering that any failure to attack on the part of the Brigade might seriously hamper the operations General Riddell decided to carry out the orders he had received impossible as they seemed.

By 1.50 pm the Battalions were on the move the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers attacking with the right Wieltje - St Julien road and the 4th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers with their left on the road. The 7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers was ordered to follow the 4th bn in the second line.

At 2.5 pm the leading battalions reached the G.H.Q in C22b and C23c and came under very heavy shell and rifle fire. The Battalions deployed on both sides of the Wieltje - St Julien and lost very heavily by not having reconnoitered the openings to the wire entanglements in front of the line of trenches.

However they found places and the advance towards St Julien continued steadily both battalions in the front line suffering heavily from machine gun fire apparently coming from the wood in C17 A on their left flank.

By 2.45 pm both of the leading Battalions had reached the front line of our trenches in C17b and the 7th Battalion had been absorbed in the attack.

At 3.10pm isolated parties of the 6th Northumberlands on the left of the road pushed forward about 250 yards in front of our first line trench and occupied some small trenches from which the enemy had apparently retreated. The 4th and 7th Northumberlands were unable to make any advance. During the whole of this period no signs of the Lahore Division or the battalion of the 10th Brigade had been observed and it was subsequently ascertained that the movement of this battalion had been cancelled although no verification has been sent to the Northumberland Brigade. The culminating point in the advance of the 6th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers was reached at about 3.45pm when unsupported on their left flank and heavily shelled with high explosive shells they were compelled to dig themselves in and remained in possession of the ground they had gained until dusk when they returned to the first line trenches.

At 3.30pm Bigadier general Riddell accompanied by his Brigade Officer left his HQ in C23a and proceeded towards Farm Vanchule in C17d for the purpose of getting into closer touch with his battalion Commanders and was shot through the head 150yards to the south of the farm at 3.45pm. The command devolved to Colonel Foster 4th Northumberland Fusiliers, the senior officer present with the battalions and a message was sent to Col Coles CMS DSO commanding t he 5th Northumberlands informing him of General Riddell's death and that the command of the Brigade had devolved to him.

The position of Colonel Cole's HQ was not actually known and it was not until about 7pm that he arrived at Brigade HQ. Orders had however been issued by Colonel Foster for the battalion to remain where they were until dusk and at 7.30pm Col Coles having ascertained that the services of the Brigade in the first line trench were not required, ordered the troops to return to bivouac at Wieltje.

3rd of May 1915 Divisional Area Allotted

3rd of May 1915 Orders

3rd May 1915 Wagon Lost

3rd May 1915 Wagon Lost  149 Brigade HQ reports:

5am. Brigade less 4th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers arrived Poperinghe. An uneventful march. A few shells fired at column just at starting, one of which wounded 5 men of the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Night fine & cool. Transport proceeding through Ypres came under heavy fire & suffered some loss the limbered wagon belonging to GHQ with Brigade Majors Confidential dispatch box having had to be abandoned. The box contained B.M's war diary & other confidential papers & censor stamp.

6am. A search party was immediately sent back to Ypres to look for the box and its loss was reported personally to a staff officer 2nd Army. A telegram was also sent to GHQ regarding loss of censor stamp No. 1540.

7am. 4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers arrived and reported 2 casualties coming through Ypres.

11.30am. Search party sent to Ypres to look for confidential box reported that the wagon had been discovered but that it had evidently been looted of everything it contained.

2pm. Orders received from Northumberland Division for the Brigade to march via Watou to this new area west of and exclusive of that village.

4pm. Orders issued for the Brigade to move at 8pm.

11.30pm. Watou. Brigade arrived and went into billets. HQ in farm house in K---

4th of May 1915 Orders

4th May 1915 Parade

4th May 1915 Parade  149th Bridage HQ report from Watou:

7am. Message form Northumberland Division. The C in C will speak to the Brigade at 11.30am.

11.30am. Battalions assembled just west of Brigade HQ and was addressed by C in C in complimentary terms on work they have done during the period they were attached to the Canadian Division.

7th May 1915 Ready to Move

7th May 1915 Ready to Move  At 8.30am Orders received from the Northumbrian Division that 149th Brigade is to hold itself in readiness to move at two hours notice. At 9am Units informed and instructions issued to the points that the several Battalions are to assemble on receipt of order to move.

8th May 1915 In Bivouac

8th May 1915 In Bivouac  149th Brigade remained in bivouac in Near Watou.

9th May 1915 Orders

9th May 1915 Ordered to Move  At 10.30pm Orders recieved for 149th Brigade to move by omnibus to the neighbourhood of Brandhoek. At 11pm Orders issued to units in accordance with above.

10th May 1915 On the Move

10th May 1915 On the Move  At 7:30am. 149 Brigade H.Q. 5th and 6th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers left billets near Watou in 73 omnibuses.

At 9am. 149 Brigade H.Q. 5th and 6th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers arrived at cross roads in G5d and marched to bivouac in wood A30a. Day very hot and dusty. Transport did not all get in until 16:30. Was very bad.

11th May 1915 In Bivouac  location map

12th May 1915 Orders  location map

12th May 1915 Operation Order No. 12  location map

16th of May 1915 Troops assigned to Cavalry Corps

16th of May 1915 Report

1st of June 1915 Preparation for relief

17th of June 1915 

18th of June 1915 Appreciation of R.E.

24th September 1915 Programme

25th September 1915 Orders  location map

26th September 1915 Reliefs Complete

26th September 1915 Work

27th September 1915 Shelling

2nd October 1915 Report

9th October 1915 Orders  location map

16th October 1915 Orders

23rd October 1915 Work Done  location map

30th October 1915 Work Done

1st November 1915 Warnings

4th November 1915 Training Programme

6th November 1915 Work Done

6th November 1915 Allotment

7th November 1915 Orders Issued

7th November 1915 Reliefs

12th November 1915 On the Move

13th November 1915 Training Programme

22nd Nov 1915 Pioneer Training

26th Nov 1915 Training and Route March

5th December 1915 Orders

6th December 1915 On the Move

7th December 1915 On the Move

11th December 1915 Orders

13th December 1915 On the Move  location map

13th December 1915 Reliefs  location map

13th December 1915 Orders  location map

13th December 1915 Order  location map

13st December 1915 Orders  location map

13th December 1915 Reliefs  location map

13th December 1915 Orders  location map

15th December 1915 Advance Parties

11th May 1915 In Bivouac  149th Brigade are in Bivouac in A.30A.

16th January 1916 Visit

16th January 1916 Reorganisation  location map

27th January 1916 Snipers, Sausages and Whizz-bangs  location map

29th of January 1916 Machine Gun Emplacements  location map

29th January 1916 Machine Guns  location map

30th January 1916 Snipers  location map

31st January 1916 Enemy Lines  location map

2nd February 1916 Aeroplane Photographs  location map

4th February 1916 Enemy Guns

4th February 1916 Enemy Artillery  location map

5th February 1916 Shelling

5th February 1916 Shelling  location map

5th February 1916 Snipers

5th February 1916 Uniforms

7th February 1916 Shelling  location map

7th February 1916 Artillery Active  location map

9th February 1916 Artillery Active  location map

10th February 1916 Artillery in Action  location map

11th February 1916 Warning

11th February 1916 Enemy Active  location map

12th February 1916 Gas Alert  location map

12th February 1916 Quieter  location map

21st February 1916 Snow

22nd February 1916 Gas

22nd of February 1916 Machine Guns  location map

23rd February 1916 Warning

25th February 1916 Dangerous Wind

26th February 1916 Hostile Artillery  location map

28th February 1916 Dummys

28th February 1916 Orders  location map

29th February 1916 Report

1st of March 1916 Bombardment  location map

7th of March 1916 Orders  location map

7th of March 1916 Orders

8th of March 1916 Mining  location map

10th of March 1916 Reliefs Completed  location map

10th of March 1916 Orders  location map

18th of March 1916 Orders  location map

20th of March 1916 Orders  location map

23rd of March 1916 Reliefs  location map

25th of March 1916 Trench Work

31st of March 1916 Orders  location map

1st of April 1916 Orders  location map

30th of April 1916 Stand To

30th of April 1916 At Rest  location map

14th of May 1916 Training & Sport

18th of May 1916 Orders

20th of May 1916 Orders  location map

14th of June 1916 Tinme

1st of August 1916 Gas

2nd of August 1916 Alert

1st of September 1916 Locations

1st Sep 1916 Flies  location map

2nd Sep 1916 Wet Day  location map

7th Sep 1916 Conference  location map

8th Sep 1916 Water Treatment  location map

9th Sep 1916 Arrangements Made  location map

10th Sep 1916 Moves  location map

11th Sep 1916 Return to Duty  location map

13th of September 1916 Instructions  location map

13th of September 1916 Orders  location map

21st Sep 1916 Poor Sanitation  location map

24th of September 1916 Reliefs  location map

24th of September 1916 Orders  location map

25th of September 1916 Attacks  location map

27th of September 1916 Instructions

29th of September 1916 Orders  location map

3rd of October 1916 Reliefs  location map

3rd of October 1916 Congratulations

9th of October 1916 Working Parties

19th of October 1916 Orders  location map

22nd of October 1916 Situation

22nd of October 1916 Orders  location map

22nd of October 1916 Signals

23rd of October 1916 Orders

26th of October 1916 Orders  location map

26th of October 1916 Orders

28th of October 1916 Orders

28th of October 1916 Artillery in Action  location map

30th of October 1916 Enemy Aircraft  location map

30th of October 1916 Orders  location map

31st of October 1916 Orders

31st of October 1916 Orders  location map

1st of November 1916 Thick Mud  location map

1st of November 1916 Enemy Active  location map

2nd of November 1916 Instructions

2nd of November 1916 Orders  location map

2nd of November 1916 Shelling  location map

3rd of November 1916 Orders  location map

3rd of November 1916 Orders  location map

4th of November 1916 Secret  location map

5th of November 1916 Hostile Barrage  location map

1st of February 1917 

10th of February 1917 

12th of February 1917   location map

10th of March 1917   location map

2nd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

3rd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

3rd of September 1917 Intelligence

4th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

5th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

6th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

7th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

8th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

9th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

9th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

10th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

11th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

12th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

13th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

14th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

15th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

16th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

16th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

17th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

18th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

19th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

20th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

21st of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

22nd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

22nd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

23rd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

24th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

26th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

27th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

28th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

28th of September 1917 Intelligence

29th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

30th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

1st of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

4th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

26th of October 1917 Orders

27th of October 1917 Movement  location map

27th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

28th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

29th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

30th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

31st of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

8th of November 1917 Orders  location map

13th of November 1917 Dispositions  location map

18th of November 1917 Quiet

18th of November 1917 

19th of November 1917 Training

29th of November 1917 Training

18th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

19th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

19th of December 1917 Intelligence

20th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

21st of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

22nd of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

23rd of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

24th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

25th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

25th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

26th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

10th of January 1918 

21st of January 1918 

24th of January 1918 

15th of February 1918 Orders  location map

26th of February 1918 Orders

15th of March 1918 

3rd of April 1918 Orders

3rd of April 1918 Orders

13th of April 1918 Report  location map

5th of May 1918 

1st of June 1918 

24th of June 1918 

11th of July 1918 

27th of September 1918 Orders  location map

1st of October 1918 Orders  location map

10th of October 1918 Move  location map

12th of October 1918   location map

19th of October 1918   location map

12th of November 1918 Casualties

12th of November 1918   location map

12th of November 1918   location map

14th of December 1918   location map

20th of January 1919   location map

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1/1st Northumbrian Field Company, Royal Engineers

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221602

Spr. Herbert Bottomley 461 Field Coy Royal Engineers

I have a notebook from my Grandfather Sapper Herbert Bottomley detailing his movements from 13th of January 1917 until 30th January 1919. According to his records he originally of 461 Field Coy regrouped to the 446 Field Coy in 1918. Personally I find it difficult to decypher the (neat) 'copper plate' handwriting.

Richard Bottomley




219860

Dvr. George W. Maude MM. 446th (1st/1st Northumbrian) Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.2nd Jan 1918)

My mother knew that at least one of her great uncles George Maude had died in the Great War but she was never quite sure because none of the family really talked about it. After some digging around I found that he had been killed on 2nd January 1918, but this information then led me to find two other brothers, Ernest and John Blackburn Maude, sadly none of them survived the War. George W died of bomb wounds on the arm and thigh at a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in January 1918 aged just 23 he is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He did win a Military Medal but unfortunately I have no idea how, that has been lost forever in history. Ernest was the younger brother, aged just 18, he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1915 he was wounded by a bullet to the head after just five days in France, he died a year later in the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, he was transported home to Newcastle where he is now buried. I have actually found his war grave and now it is tended to frequently. L/Cpl. John Blackburn was the eldest at 28 years, he was in the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers he was killed in action on Monday 26th February 1917 with a few ofhis comrades. He is buried in Vermelles, but remembered on Blaydon Cemetery Memorial.

That is about as much as I have been able to gather. The information has now dried up, their service records being destroyed by incendiary bombs during WW2. I have no photographs to see what they looked like, nothing to suggest what their personalities were like but at least we have found them and they are no longer forgotten which to me is very very precious.

Lynn Ternent






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