Christmas 1914 H C Lovell Cartoon

 

 

Christmas 1914 contrasted with those of former years by H C Lovell,

 and subsequently kept by John Baber

 

 

 

Rear of Christmas Card

 



 One of the fascinating aspects arising from writing a blog like this one, is how often a post will spark off correspondence with other people who have a common interest in the QWR.

 

Steve Hammond is one of the most committed researchers into the QWR and without his help the following post would only be a shadow of what it has become.

 

 

Whitmore & Sergeant Nutting.

[Captain J.B. Whitmore original commander of D Company.  Sergeant Nutting wears a Sheepskin waistcoat like that shown in Lovell's cartoon. The photo was taken at Houplines, and Buck House can be seen in the background. The barricade that formed the front is over Nutting's shoulder, and the German's are only 300 to 400 yards to his right]

 

 

In John Baber's papers I had found the Christmas Card shown above, that John had kept. I had drafted a post to go out on this blog before Christmas this year, and had spent some time wondering who H C Lovell was, however, I had been unable to locate his details. He doesn't appear in Henriques book, or in John's diaries.

 

Steve mean while had spotted the following medal group for sale between the 10th and 11th of  December 2014 by Dix Noonan, Webb Auctioneers. [1]

 

 

 

Captain H. C. Lovell, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, late London Regiment

1914 Star, with copy clasp (1177 Sjt., 1/16 Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Defence and War Medals (43901 Capt. H. C. Lovell, K.R.R.C.) privately impressed; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1177 C.Q.M. Sjt., 16/Lond. R.) Cadet Forces Medal, G.VI.R. (A/Capt.)

 

It transpires  that Henry (Harry) Chandler Lovell had been born in Hammersmith, London in 1883.

He had joined the Queen’s Westminster Rifles well before the war in about 1908. He had become a Sergeant by the time that the Regiment went to France on 1 November 1914 (clasp confirmed on m.i.c.).

Like a lot of pre-war NCO's and volunteers, he was subsequently selected to become an Officer.  On 25 January 1916 he received a commission in the 20th (Blackheath & Woolwich) Battalion London Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1917, and attained the rank of Acting Captain in September 1918.

He appears to have remained in the Territorial Army after the war. He was awarded the T.F.E.M. by A.O. 67 of February 1919.

Lovell relinquished his rank on ceasing to be employed in April 1919 however he was granted the rank of Captain in the Territorial Force Reserve of the 20th Battalion London Regiment in March 1920.

In later civilian life he appears to have moved away from London, as he was appointed Postmaster in the Royston Sub-Office, Oldham, Lancashire. His obituary states that after the war he served with a Church Lads Brigade Battalion, which was at the time associated with the K.R.R.C.

He was appointed a Lieutenant in the National Defence Corps in June 1939 and as Lieutenant and Quartermaster in June 1940, before being granted the rank of Captain upon his retirement in September 1942.

Soon after he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the City of London Army Cadet Force and was advanced to Lieutenant in October 1943. Lovell retired having reached the age limit in April 1951 and was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal. He died at Hillingdon Hospital, Middlesex on 15th June 1953.

Lovell was obviously a skilled cartoonist. Steve Hammond has made me aware of another of Lovell's cartoons that has survived.  This one was done at the end of October 1914, for Olive Seabrook the daughter of Arthur Seabrook the Landlord of the Leather Bottle Pub at Leverstock Green.  The Regiment had been sent to Leverstock Green following mobilisation in August 1914, until they were sent out to France.

 

The full story of this visitors book can be read at the listed below [2]  which contains a number of other images of pages signed by other members of the regiment.

 



 

Lovell's Cartoon showing the Kaiser Fleeing before the battalions bayonets.

If you have found this blog due to your interest in HC Lovell or are aware of any other cartoon's by Lovell, Steve and I would be fascinated to hear from you. I can be contacted on balmer.nicholas@gmail.com 

[1] http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?auction_id=323&lot_id=105842

 

[2] http://www.lgchronicle.net/QWR.html 

The Journey to France November 1st 1914

Figure 1. Machine Gun Section, Queen's Westminster Rifles, October 1914.

This photograph appears to be one of a number taken at various locations in

Leverstock Green immediately before embarkation.

This photo was probably taken at Wells Farm outside the barn

where the men were billetted.

The Queen's Westminster Rifles had not expected to be sent to France until the Spring of 1915. Indeed as recently as the 17th of October John Baber and his fellow officers had been regretting that they would miss out on the events in France.

However during October 1914 the British Expeditionary Force fought the Battle of La Bassée, [1] which had started on the 10th of October and would continue until the 2nd of November 1914  suffering yet more serious casualties to those already sustained by the rapidly diminishing regular army since the outbreak of the war. 

Having blocked the German armies assault on Paris on the Marne, the French and British armies were having to deploy towards the Channel Coast to cover a rapidly widening front, as the German's had moved their forces towards the north in an attempt to outflank the French & British Army.

Fighting rapidly spread to the north with the 1st Battle of Ypres starting on the 19th of October. Armentières had fallen initially into German hands, however counter attacks forced them back through Houplines.

Figure 2. Map Showing the approximate position of the front line in October 1914

during the Battles of La Bassée and 1st Ypres. [2]

Faced with very heavy casualties, and rapidly diminishing reserves of regular troops, the British Expeditionary Force needed to find additional forces to fill the rapidly extending front line trenches.

British casualties in the fighting between 14 October and 30 November were 58,155 (7,960 dead, 29,562 wounded and 17,873 missing). The army had arrived in France with 84,000 infantry. By the end of the First Battle of Ypres, the BEF had suffered 86,237 casualties, most of whom were infantry.  The French suffered around 50,000 casualties during the battle.[3]

The Queen's Westminster Rifles were to be amongst the very first Territorials to enter the line.

John Baber's pocket diary records the start of the journey to France.

"Sunday Nov 1st


Left Well Farm
Entrained Watford
in 2 parts.
Long stop Addison Rd
Embarked 5.30 pm
Sailed 9.30
Smooth Crossing
Warm night
Liverpool Scottish on own
Boat. Very good cot
No escort, lights out. Where
is the submarine which
Sank that old union."

At Southampton Docks the battalion found itself in company with the Liverpool Scottish, who travelled on the Maidan, an 8,000 ton steamship of the Anchor-Brocklebank Line. The Maidan was one of nine vessels in convoy who left Southampton at 6.30pm on the night of the 1st of November. The men felt very exposed as they passed the Isle of Wight as the ships were lit up by searchlights from the shore intended to stop German naval raids on the Solent anchorage.

Figure 3.  Men of the Queens Westminster Rifles arriving at Le Havre

on S S Maidan on the morning of 2nd November 1914.

John Baber recorded the arrival at Havre.

"Mon Nov 2nd

arrived off Havre

8 o clock

entered harbour

no we didn't

we missed the

tide. Splendid

mistake!

Entered harbour 11 PM.

More transports

arrived.

Belgian refugees

left."

In a letter written to his mother he wrote..

Nov 3 Tuesday

Dear Mother,

    Marching to Watford we entrained to Southampton: from here I must omit names, as expected.  However, we sailed in the Maidan, on Sunday evening & arrived at our destination in France early next morning.

We are now under canvas on a high hill overlooking the sea, for all the World like Dover.  It is called a rest camp & we hope to revisit it again.  Rays [4] cousins were on board our transport.  Riding from the harbour to our camp, I could not help over hearing many embarrassing critisms.  However they were all very good natured.

1st Female. C'est un jolie officier.

2nd Female.  Oui, mais un bébé.

It is really quite hot here & beautifully sunny.

Tell Dad to examine my pass-book fairly regularly, as in the possible event of us being engaged & of myself being captured, I might convey the information by giving a cheque to the German Red Cross.

Please send my spare of boots at once & add Plasmon & one Times a week to my weekly list.

I have changed my pony & am now riding quite a nice little nag, by the name of Belinda.  Although the Censor of course is under the seal of the confessional, it is rather embarrassing to know that ones letters will all be read & therefore mine will probably leave much to be desired, both in quality & in quality.  I have received Dad's letter & the receipted bill.  I can still manage the latter business.  We had a calm crossing with all the lights out & no escort.  I don't think anybody felt quite confident that there was not a submarine awaiting us.

Your loving son

John Baber.

Bob Brookes, a Private in the QWR also wrote an excellent account of the crossing, he however had experienced a considerably less comfortable journey. An extract from a much longer account is set out below.

"1.11.1914

On board the S.S. ‘MAIDAN’ the Liverpool Scottish were also proceeding to France, and we rapidly intermixed, related various incidents to one another, and discussed War, at the same time wondering to where we were going.

I stayed on deck as we went out of the Solent, and had an opportunity to exercise my knowledge of Morse Code by reading the messages to our vessel as to her name and other particulars.  Under the protection of a couple of destroyers we left the Isle of White behind after coming under the glare of the search lights several times.  It was a beautiful night, and the sea calm, looking very fine with the reflection of the search lights on the water.  After a time it became chilly and I went below to be served with some ‘Bully Beef’ (for the first time) and biscuits.  Tea was also provided, but like many others, I could not touch it.  It was not tea as we know it, but oil and tea leaves - by no means a pleasant combination.  The ‘Dixie’ ( a big pot - not of a kind one sees in the City) was filled with cold water and a pipe from the engine room blew steam into the water in the pot, and in this way the water was boiled.  Unfortunately the oil from the engines had made it’s acquaintance with the steam and every time tea was issued only a few men had any.  Fortunately I had filled my water bottle at Southampton, but this did not last very long as one gets very thirsty through eating ‘Bully’ and others, who had not filled their bottles had a ‘nip’ of mine." [5]

The battalion had had sing-song on the deck to pass the time before they could disembark.

John Baber remembered the first days in France in an account he wrote during the 1960's.

"We landed at Havre, and after we had off loaded gear and horses I found myself leading my little section to the Camp.  Sitting on my pony, all tied up with swords, holsters, revolvers, hay net, picketing peg and whatnot, I cocked a rather conceited eye at the interested passers by. Seeing remarkably good looking young women approaching, I prepared to receive a smile, but all that happened was that one said to the other "Ah, quel bebe!"

[1] See http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_la_bassee.html for a good introduction to this battle.
[2] From"A Soldier's Sketches Under Fire" by Harold Harvey. Available from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16056/16056-h/16056-h.htm Harvey served in Houplines during October 1914, stablising the front line the Queen's Westminster Rifles would enter a month later.
[3] From http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_ypres1.html
[4] Ray, R.S. Dickinson.
[5] From http://www.bobbrookes.co.uk/DiaryCH2.htm This diary gives a very vivid picture of what life was like for the other ranks in the QWR, and is fascinating to compare with John Baber's account of life as an officer.

The Battle of Bricket Wood

Figure 1. The Queen's Westminster Rifles marching through Leverstock Green, autumn 1914.

The following account of the final weeks of the mobilisation of the Queen's Westminster Rifles comes from a pair of small black diaries glued together, which were carried by John Baber of the Queen’s Westminster Rifles during 1914 and into 1915.

These diary entries are very brief and often hard to decipher, but they capture the rush, excitement and muddle of setting off to war.

Diary Part II Wed Oct to..

Wed Oct 7^th

Got home 6 AM

Slept on from 7-8.

Parade 10 AM

Every one d-d sleepy.

Thursday Oct 8

Hold your hand out Brigadier

Hold your hand out Brigadier

On Tuesday night

In the bright moonlight

We saw you, we saw you,

You led us a bloody dance

We thought we were off to France.

We’ve ne’er been sold

Such a pup before

Hold your hand out, Brigadier.

Friday Oct 9

Tests of elementary training, to d.d bad.

Barter’s 1^st lecture on the attack.

(Followed by night Ops,

a beastly scramble).

Sat Oct 10

Leave. Gpg.

Capt Hall’s visit.

Shewed him gun & tripods.  He took photographs.

Sunday Oct 11

A lazy day by my own fireside,
by jove it was good.
Pat got his orders hurrah! [1]

Figure 2.  Page from John Baber's diary describing the "Battle of Bricket Wood."

Monday Oct 12

Battn attack on Bricket Wood & R Colne.  Mg’s had rather a good time, & were praised by the Brigadier.

Tuesday Oct 12

Barter’s 2^nd Lecture

Met Chas Bell, who has just taken a Commission.

Is Webb for the Scots Guards?

Wed Oct 13

The rain has started,

Immediate action tests.

13^th (Kensington’s)

367 points

QWR. 356 points

Quite good.

Thursday Oct 14

Brigade march

Deployment & fight

MG’s in reserve,

No instructions.

Pony hated wet but showed spirit.

 

Figure 3. Leverstock Green from 1919 Edition of the Ordnance Survey showing

the location of Well Farm and the other billets used by the Queens Westminster Rifles.

 

Friday Oct 15^th

MG’s + E Coy & Scouts defended transport wagon agst F Coy.  Latter were mostly scuppered but probably got the wagons.

Night op!!!

Lazy days.

Sat Oct 16^th

A,B Coys & MG Section captured wagon guarded by scout limbers to left flank & guns to right.  Everyone saw limbers, nobody saw guns.

Sunday Oct 17^th.

Slack day here.

4pm [We played?] game of hockey with Swainson & “Tripe”.

Am quite convinced that they will not send us out this year, & am afraid we shall get no scrapping in England.

Monday Oct 19.

Brigade staff ride. Very difficult country, so did not learn much.

Kick from Cherub.  We back on Wednesday for 3 weeks course at Welwyn.

6 PM p’Volcano from Cherub, can you leave at 8 AM tomorrow?

Tuesday Oct 20^th

Not going today after all.

Belgium fort in

New Hotel

Algeria

Refugees.

List

Col Shoolbred

Major Cohen

  “     Tyrwhitt

Capt. Lambert

  “  Low

  “  Henriques

  “  Whitmore

  “  Cox

  “  HR Townsend Green

  “  Hoskins

  “  Shattock

Lt James

  “  Waby

  “  Glasier

  “  Saville

  “  Harding

  “  Townsend Green

  “  Collett

2 Lt Baber M Guns

  “  JA Green

  “  Henderson Scott

  “  Williamson

  “  Swainson

  “  Trollope

  “  Bramble

Transport 2 Lt Bradley

QMaster St Kelly.

The War

Tuesday Oct 27

Battn will sail

to Continent on Friday.

D.A.Do.S. inspects kit

& limbers.

Wed Oct 28^th

Viewers from Enfield

for M guns

new rifles

viewer says M guns

in excellent condition

 Figure 4. Maxim Gun, with Lance Corporal Fulton at the trigger.

This machine gun was a "Converted Mark II" Maxim, which had originally fired .45 inch ammunition, which been converted to fire .303 inch ammunition.  A muzzle booster was found necessary for the smaller .303 cartridge to operate the heavy .45 inch mechanism. This was known as the "Ball Firing Attachment." [2]

Writing in the 1960's John Baber said of these guns.

"I was battalion machine gun officer.  I knew nothing about machine guns when the job was wished on to me in August, but, by sitting over my textbooks at night, I managed to learn the lesson which I had to teach my section the next day.  We became pretty good and I was able to take the role of any number in a gun team.  The maxims themselves first saw active service in Egypt when Sir Winston Churchill was a young man, or perhaps earlier.  They were heavy but they were good guns which did not let us down."


Thursday Oct 29

Fulton Roche

Say rifles excellent

Better than short rifle

Ammunition comes

Family arrive for 15 minutes with

stores

Friday Oct 30

No start

Transport going

To be changed

Sat Oct 31

New transport

Water carts

New gs limbered

Wagons

Mk IV Tripods

Belt filling machines

Tested guns

At [secretary?]

Result V good

The last night before the battalion left for France must have been a tense one for all concerned. What was it going to be like?

[1] John Baber’s uncle, Major Patterson Barton of the Royal Artillery stationed in India, and who was mobilised in the first Indian Army contingent to come to France.

There are some other excellent photographs of the Queen's Westminster Rifles at Leverstock Green from Jon Spence's family album here 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonspence/3015324060/in/photostream/

[2] Information from Alan E, on the Great War Forum.