Ph1 - WWI Background & Ops -23 (Brit) Div
BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO ITALY - AUTUMN 1917
The slide above depicts the Phase 1 location that 23 British Division was deployed to, post de-trainment and a route march exceeding 100 miles over the Venetian Plain in N Italy.
In terms of background, on 26th October, GHQ in France received an urgent order from London, directing Sir Douglas Haig to send two Divisions to Italy as quickly as possible. The Italian Army had suffered a shattering reverse when attacked at Caporetto (Isonzu River in NE Italy) and was in danger of collapse. The Supreme Inter-Allied War Council had advised moving British and French reserve forces into the Italian theatre. The 23rd and 41st Divisions, both about to be relieved, were selected. A further order on 8th November then expanded the force and the 7th and 48th Divisions also prepared to move. On 14th November 5th Division was added, taking the British force in Italy to x5 divisions.
Commander in Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, inspected 23rd Division at Leulinghem on 31 October and the entrainment of the last units of 23rd Division was completed on the 11th November 1917. If ever there was a 'tonic' for the troops it was the journey through France, to the Riviera and across Lombardy following their harrowing experiences of the Western Front.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) commanding the BEF in Italy was Gen Sir Herbert Plumer who had been commanding the British 2nd Army in France. General Plumer, later to become Field Marshal The Viscount Plumer GCMG, GCVO, CBE, was appointed Colonel of the Regiment (York & Lancs) from 1917 to 1932, having been commissioned into the regiment (65th of Foot) in 1876. He was to hand over command of XIV Corps in Italy to another Western Front veteran, Lord Cavan, in Spring 1918.
The British and French had each planned on sending expeditionary forces comprising two Army Corps - c.120,000 men and 26,000 horses and 23rd division was commanded by Major-General JM Babington who had the singular record of leading a British division from 1914 onwards. The Great War on the Italian Front featured combat on a wide variety of battlefields including lagoons, marshes, rivers, limestone plateaus and up in the mountains with deep Alpine gorges and river valleys. From 1915 to 1918 the 400-mile long front was one of history's greatest mountain battlefields. As such, the men on opposing sides faced dangers not experienced on the Western Front in France. Such hazards included frostbite, landslides and avalanches, flash floods and falling, either whilst climbing or simply being swept off a ledge by the howling Alpine wind. Readers will be staggered to learn, for example, that in the Alpine sectors of the front line, c.60,000 troops were killed through avalanches alone.
The Italians had been forced back to establish a new defensive line on the River Piave following an offensive and breakthrough by Austro-Hungarian & German forces at Caporetto in the N Isonzu river region.
At this time, 23rd Division comprised x3 Brigades (68th; 69th & 70th Infantry Brigades), plus supporting Arms i.e. Artillery; Machine Gun Units; Mortars; Engineers; Field Ambulances and specialist Divisional Troops such as Sanitary units; mobile Veterinary Units; Pioneers; Military Police and more.
As an example, 9th (Service) battalion York & Lancasters, was one of the x4 infantry battalions in 70th Brigade (each brigade comprised x4 battalions respectively). WWI Infantry battalions on the Western Front numbered x1000 men (bayonets) and so, as a rule of thumb on force levels, each brigade, including supporting arms & specialists, would have numbered c.5000 and 23rd Division, c.20,000.
In fact, unit strength in Italy was apparently well below this due to sickness and other reasons. Horses were used extensively and many hundreds would have been moved to Italy with the men. Consider for a moment the rail journey logistics: the horses; blacksmiths; forage; artillery guns; heavy weapons; ammunition; rations; equipment; mail/parcels from home for the boys. For interest, a published Order of Battle for 23rd Division during WWI showing which brigades and regiments made up the division is shown below:
68th Brigade:
10th (Service) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (joined September 1914)
11th (Service) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (joined September 1914)
12th (Service) Bn, Durham Light Infantry (joined September 1914)
13th (Service) Bn, Durham Light Infantry (joined September 1914)
68th Machine Gun Company MGC (joined 4 March 1916; moved into Divisional MG Battalion 1 April 1918)
68th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 13 June 1916)
69th Brigade:
11th (Service) Bn, West Yorkshires (joined September 1914)
8th (Service) Bn, Yorkshire Regt (joined September 1914)
9th (Service) Bn, Yorkshire Regt (joined September 1914)
10th (Service) Bn, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt) (joined September 1914)
69th Machine Gun Company MGC (joined 4 March 1916; moved into Divisional MG Battalion 1 April 1918)
69th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 23 June 1916)
70th Brigade:
11th (Service) Bn, Sherwood Foresters (joined October 1914)
8th (Service) Bn, KOYLI (joined October 1914)
8th (Service) Bn, York and Lancasters (joined October 1914)
9th (Service) Bn, York and Lancasters (joined October 1914)
1/8th Bn, Middlesex Regt (joined October 1915,left February 1916)
70th Machine Gun Company MGC (joined with Brigade in July 1916; moved into Divisional MG Bn role wef 1 April 1918)
70th Trench Mortar Battery (formed by 18 June 1916)
NB - In Feb 1918, brigades in France & Flanders were reduced to x3 battalions resulting in x115 battalions disappearing and x38 more amalgamating to make x19 new battalions. x7 more became Pioneer battalions. (This the result of British PM, Lloyd George, refusing Douglas Haig additional reinforcements he had requested). The structure of 23 Div is based on this Order of Battle.
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MID NOVEMBER 1917: ARRIVAL OF 23rd DIVISION IN ITALY.
By 16 November 1917, the arrival and concentration of 23rd Div had been completed between Mantua and Marcaria in N Italy. The French Corps was deployed further West on the Southern shores of Lake Garda. After a brief staging role in reserve, 23 Div was then ordered to move up to the new Italian defensive line on the South side of the River Piave (running East-West in this sector of the Front) dominated by a hill feature called the Montello. Not too distant to the North and clearly visible to all the boys, were the snow topped Venetian Alps. By 4th December 1917, 23rd Division had taken over its sector of front line - 9th Yorks & Lancs in 70th Brigade, having relieved the 136th Regiment of the Italian 70th Division.
23rd Divisions mission was to defend a key sector of the Front Line - most likely to have been based on an East-West defensive disposition, facing the enemy across the River Piave to the North. But, what about the divisional deployment on the ground and the river / terrain etc? Consider these thoughts.
Without the benefit of detailed archives / war records research, what cannot be confirmed is the exact initial tactical disposition of units opted for by Commander 23 Div. This would have been based on his appreciation of the ground; exact area of responsibility; length of frontage and knowledge of the disposition of the enemy. More than likely re-adjusted regularly, the military principles influencing him would have been based on:
1. Depth. Reserve units to the rear to counter any attack / breach or cover the withdrawal of own troops in forward positions.
2. Mutual Support. Interlocking arcs / fields of fire.
3. Concealment. Counter the threat of enemy snipers & artillery spotters (observation posts).
4. All Around Defence. Ensure flexibility and capacity to defend full area of responsibility and not just the very front line.
5. Administration. Re-supplying front line efficiently and covertly.
Thoughts from a military mindset. Whilst WWI in France was very 'linear' (front lines facing one another) the Italians suffered front line breaches with near catastrophic consequenses. Lessons learned and tactics adjusted, a more plausible deployment posture for 23 Div may well have been based on having x2 brigades up with the third to the rear in depth (South). In the event of any enemy breach, this force would be positioned to stop and repulse it. If so, the 23 Div frontage on the Front Line would probably not have exceeded x10 kms, but was probably c.5-7kms as more units arrived.
At brigade level each Brigadier commanding, dependant on the ground, would probably have had x3 battalions up with the 4th in depth covering as reserve. Whilst the division had the benefit of some dominating high features overlooking the River Piave, the Montello area was primarily covered by olive groves and apparently fields of fire visibility at trench-level was very limited.
It is likely that the 4th battalion in each brigade would have been back in the divisional Rear Area (at Biadene etc) subject to an R&R (rest & recuperation) and training roulement programme. Bath parades; washing 'doby' (clothes) etc, would have been really welcomed by the lads. Units would have been subject to strict notice to move timescales-a policy enabling a speedy return to the front line into pre-prepared positions.
The whole of 23rd Divisions sector would have been covered with supporting artillery fire plans and the gunners would have laid down proactive barrages on the enemy; covered infantry night fighting patrols; hampered enemy movements and kept them awake and guessing! The front will have been pepper-potted with artillery observation posts (OPs) using binoculars; telescopes and communications devices (wire laid telephone links) and, possibly, carrier pigeons!
Finally, the infantry in the Front Line will also have looked to gain tactical advantage by positioning Listening Posts and covert temporary Standing Patrols well forward to deny the enemy initiative and freedom of movement and to gather vital battlefield intelligence. The enemy too would also have made full use of snipers and artillery / mortar fire onto British forces. The inherent dangers of these tasks cannot be stressed enough and the safe return of all involved to unit lines will have generated huge sighs of relief. So, what might it have been like on the front line for the boys? Share below an illustrative description of what operations might have been like for infantry men on the Front Line at this time:
------ No wonder he is shivering under that full moon on sentry duty tonight with an icy wind piling straight down from the Alps just a few kilometres to the North West and depositing a couple of inches of the white stuff on his great coat. His sentry duty watch is x2 hours on, x2 off, with two soldiers on picket duty together. One of the boys changes hourly to optimise vigilance. ''lucky lad'' he probably thought,''he has only got another x20 minutes and then back for a cup of hot Rosy Lee (tea)- I have got x80 mins to push''!
------ The river Piave. Just imagine, at its widest point it is just about x1 kilometre across. A huge mass of moraines (rock sediment) swept down over hundreds of years from the Alpine glaciers. Picturesque and steady flow during the snow season & Winter freezes but a raging torrent during the Spring & Summer thaws and always posing the risk of flash floods and more?
------The night fighting patrols. Patrols are mounted to reconnoitre (recce) the Front Line area with specific tasks issued. Each mission designed to gain valuable intelligence as to routes; crossing points; enemy dispositions and preparedness.
------ Out On patrol. His platoon went out last night .... just imagine the scene. After receiving orders / briefing from the patrol commander they all carried out final preparations and checks on equipment and rehearsals (e.g. ''actions on'' enemy contact etc). At 2245hrs they slipped quietly out of the wood on the Southern edge of the river on their assigned patrol route.... The lads faces blacked out with cam; all weapons cleaned & oiled and a round up the spout.
Yes, it was a pretty clear moonlit night, albeit with pockets of thick mist rolling slowly across the river bed. All very quiet, save for the noise of the river some x250m ahead out over the shingle and rocks. The unmistakable pops of a couple of enemy artillery flares went off a couple of Kms East, illuminating the scene.... the drills - everyone immediately crouched down on one knee and froze, dead still.... the patrol commander, OC 7 Platoon, paused for five long minutes until everyones night vision was restored after the bright flares. He then gave the hand signal to move forward once more which was passed back down the line to tail end charlie at the rear.... the patrol continued on task without further incident....
.... ''well done lads....stay safe''....
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** A Nov 1918 extract from the War Diary of 11th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (68th Brigade, 23 Div) is added below. It provides a valuable extra insight on the journey to Italy; move up into the line; and layout of the forward defensive positions**
Unfortunately the Italian railway system completely broke down under the strain of x5 British Divisions arriving from France and detrainment and concentration proved somewhat chaotic. The 23rd Division finally concentrated in the Mantua area. A high command meeting on 14th November decided to move the 23rd and 41st Divisions immediately into the front line in the Vicenza area, as soon as the Italians could provide road and billeting facilities, which would not be before the 19th.
The march to the new front began in cold weather on the 19th Nov 1917, moving the troops from Mantua towards Legnano. The new front was on the River Brenta. On 28th, the two Divisions were moved again, the 23rd going via Castelfranco and Montebelluna to the front lines of the Montello. Forward battalion positions comprised x3 lines of well-revetted trenches parallel to the bank of the River Piave, with the forward one on the sand and shingle of the river itself. The Montello was a high flat-topped hill facing the 800-yard wide river. Much work was required to strengthen the position and this provided the 11th Bn with plenty of manual activity over the coming weeks.
In the early weeks of 1918 there were no major enemy incidents, but there was regular shellfire to endure.
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AFTER NOTE:
Thank you for exploring this support resource for Harry and Bill Lamin. This is a tribute to the brave young men who:
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