The continuing story of John Henry Bannan and his 4 years at war:
The 50th Battalion, still stationed in St Vaast, France, was experiencing a short time of calm - even organising an Aussie Rules Football Match on New Years day before heading back to the front line to relieve the 11th Battalion at Bezentin on the 9th. Just 3.5km away is the infamous Pozieres.
Front line at the Somme read something like:
16th Jan - 1 Man Wounded
17th Jan - 3 killed, 2 wounded, still snowing
18th Jan - 8 Killed, 8 wounded, 17 sick to Hospital
Sickness increased rapidly on the frontline. Close quarters provided the perfect conditions for infections to spread - and without antibiotics - little could slow any outbreak of disease.
Typical trench in the Somme
The 50th was on and off the front line for another 2 rotations, finally returning to Buire for further training at the end of February, returning to Bapaume Front Line on the 26th March.
The front line during this time was regarded as quiet as the Enemy had been in retreat. Even an attack on Noreuil was met with limited resistance. On the 11th April, 2 new names entered the vocabulary - the Hindenburg line and Bullecourt.
Fortunately, the 50th marched out and back to Buire. During May, life at war was interrupted by training, divisional rifle competitions and presentation of Anzac medals by General Bardwood - Commander in General of the 1st Anzac Corps to those who participated at Gallipoli.
Pictured above is the Gallipoli Star and the 1914/15 Star
The 50th transferred from the 1st Anzac Corp to the 2nd Anzac Corp - commanded by General Godley and moved to Outtersteene, preparing to go back to the front line at Messines.
Messines
The second battle of Messines commenced on the 7th and ended on the 14th June 1917.
The 50th Battalion was in reserve for this attack. Even though they were in "reserve" the following report was filed:
"A gap of around 450 yards existed in the right portion of the Brigade sector where touch had not been gained with the Brigade on our right". Orders were received to capture the gap consolidate and advance to the ODD trench - held by the enemy. A Brittish Battery commander reported that the ODD trench in front was unoccupied. 50th Battalion patrols reported otherwise.
Due to inaccurate reporting, the 51st and 45th Battalions were actually 200 yards further from the ODD trench than they were supposed to be - 650 yards instead of 450 yards.
There was to be no Artillery barrage in support. This attack was to be silent - by stealth.
"When the attack commenced, the hostile artillery immediately shelled behind the jumping off line, while rifle and machine gun fire broke out from the ODD Trench, with machine gun fire from concrete block houses from the Brigade boundary line crossing ODD trench on right, also from another "block house" on the left flank."
Adding to the impending failure, the barbed wire had not been cut sufficiently to allow easy access to the advancing brigades.
The 50th Battalion was in reserve for this attack. Even though they were in "reserve" the following report was filed:
"A gap of around 450 yards existed in the right portion of the Brigade sector where touch had not been gained with the Brigade on our right". Orders were received to capture the gap consolidate and advance to the ODD trench - held by the enemy. A Brittish Battery commander reported that the ODD trench in front was unoccupied. 50th Battalion patrols reported otherwise.
Due to inaccurate reporting, the 51st and 45th Battalions were actually 200 yards further from the ODD trench than they were supposed to be - 650 yards instead of 450 yards.
There was to be no Artillery barrage in support. This attack was to be silent - by stealth.
"When the attack commenced, the hostile artillery immediately shelled behind the jumping off line, while rifle and machine gun fire broke out from the ODD Trench, with machine gun fire from concrete block houses from the Brigade boundary line crossing ODD trench on right, also from another "block house" on the left flank."
Adding to the impending failure, the barbed wire had not been cut sufficiently to allow easy access to the advancing brigades.
The attack failed.
A second attack was hastily scheduled for the next night, and in the opinion of the Captain of the 50th, too early in the night as hostile observers were active.
The 2nd attack commenced at 10.30pm which was hampered by a hostile artillery barrage. Again the wire had not been cut effectively, however sufficient damage had been done by artillery to enable the attack to proceed. "The enemy bombed our men while they were getting through the wire but our bombers and ODD Grenadiers here and there engaged the enemy while small parties of bayonet men worked through. When these parties charged the remaining Germans dropped their rifles and bolted. They were followed by Lewis gun and rifle fire." By daylight the attack had succeeded forcing the Germans to retreat to their support lines. Captured guns and ammunition were used by the 50th to save on their own reserves. Captured Hostile machine gun emplacements were re occupied with men from the 50th.
The 50th gained more ground than they were supposed to, to such an extent that those relieving at 4.30am were unwilling to take the ground, however, after some negotiation, the ground was taken.
The 50th captured 75 rifles, a field gun and a machine gun. Approximately 170 Germans were killed. Casualties from the 50th totaled 8 officers and 149 other ranks during this battle.
John was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 26th June.
After a short reprieve, the Battalion returned to the front line at Ploegsteert Wood in July. "The name of this small village, and of the nearby wood, is actually Ploegsteert, but to those who served here during the Great War it became known as "Plugstreet". The village is at the very south of the area associated with Ypres; in fact it is not regarded as part of the 'Ypres Salient' by many. It is only about two miles north of Armenitieres, close to the French border and eight miles south of Ypres".http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/flanders/plugstreet.html There are some 13 WW1 cemeteries in and around the village. Duties were to hold and improve the Front Line. Hostile Shelling was a daily event.
August saw another rotation, resting in Kemmel and returning to the front line at Ploegseert Wood where the war was fought primarily with artillery. Light casualties for the month were endured - 2 dead, 11 wounded, 25 sick.
September the Battalion moved to Lucy and Senlis. There the platoons underwent intensive training preparing to go back into the front line, this time, at Westhoek Ridge - Ypres.
The above picture taken from the Victorian Museum portrays the real conditions that John Henry Bannan, and many others endured while on the front line.
John was fortunate, he was obtained leave to England on the 23rd September, missing the attack on Zonnebeke Ridge.
Preparations for attack commenced at Westhoek Ridge on the 24th September with the attack commencing at 5.50am on the 26th. The Battalion achieved its goal of capturing Zonnebeke Ridge with 4 Officers and 174 other ranks as casualties. Of these, 35 were killed.
The 2nd attack commenced at 10.30pm which was hampered by a hostile artillery barrage. Again the wire had not been cut effectively, however sufficient damage had been done by artillery to enable the attack to proceed. "The enemy bombed our men while they were getting through the wire but our bombers and ODD Grenadiers here and there engaged the enemy while small parties of bayonet men worked through. When these parties charged the remaining Germans dropped their rifles and bolted. They were followed by Lewis gun and rifle fire." By daylight the attack had succeeded forcing the Germans to retreat to their support lines. Captured guns and ammunition were used by the 50th to save on their own reserves. Captured Hostile machine gun emplacements were re occupied with men from the 50th.
The 50th gained more ground than they were supposed to, to such an extent that those relieving at 4.30am were unwilling to take the ground, however, after some negotiation, the ground was taken.
The 50th captured 75 rifles, a field gun and a machine gun. Approximately 170 Germans were killed. Casualties from the 50th totaled 8 officers and 149 other ranks during this battle.
John was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 26th June.
After a short reprieve, the Battalion returned to the front line at Ploegsteert Wood in July. "The name of this small village, and of the nearby wood, is actually Ploegsteert, but to those who served here during the Great War it became known as "Plugstreet". The village is at the very south of the area associated with Ypres; in fact it is not regarded as part of the 'Ypres Salient' by many. It is only about two miles north of Armenitieres, close to the French border and eight miles south of Ypres".http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/flanders/plugstreet.html There are some 13 WW1 cemeteries in and around the village. Duties were to hold and improve the Front Line. Hostile Shelling was a daily event.
August saw another rotation, resting in Kemmel and returning to the front line at Ploegseert Wood where the war was fought primarily with artillery. Light casualties for the month were endured - 2 dead, 11 wounded, 25 sick.
September the Battalion moved to Lucy and Senlis. There the platoons underwent intensive training preparing to go back into the front line, this time, at Westhoek Ridge - Ypres.
The above picture taken from the Victorian Museum portrays the real conditions that John Henry Bannan, and many others endured while on the front line.
John was fortunate, he was obtained leave to England on the 23rd September, missing the attack on Zonnebeke Ridge.
Preparations for attack commenced at Westhoek Ridge on the 24th September with the attack commencing at 5.50am on the 26th. The Battalion achieved its goal of capturing Zonnebeke Ridge with 4 Officers and 174 other ranks as casualties. Of these, 35 were killed.
Exhausted stretcher bearers at Zonnebeke Ridge - 10th October 1917
John returned from leave on the 7th October, however, a new battle would soon be looming for him, this one (his health) will be a lone battle, and extend until early 1918.
The Battalion was relieved and returned to Halifax camp near Dickebusch, moving back to Ypres at Broodseinde Ridge on the 11th October. Broodseinde had been taken the week before http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?menuid=36&submenuid=38&id=25&menuname=Broodseinde&menu=subsub
43 were killed during this activity - with over a hundred wounded.
At the end of October, John became ill - possibly as a result of his leave to England. He was admitted to the Field Ambulance Hospital with Gonorrhea, but curiously had an extended stay with a lung infection developing, (John had experienced the Gas used by the Germans in WW1) being admitted to the Field Ambulance Hospital on the 30th of October, not rejoining his Battalion until the 3rd January 1918 - a total of 65 days.
November and December saw the Battalion
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