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Tommy

Page 79

by Richard Holmes


  Bethell, Maj. Gen. Keppel 211, 229, 236

  Bethencourt 614

  Bethune 19, 463

  Bewsher, Pte 87

  Bezonvaux 24

  Bickersteth, Lt Burgon 360, 390–91, 447, 506, 542, 615

  Bickersteth, Revd Julian 172–3, 400, 476, 502, 504–5, 506–7, 510, 511–12, 513–14, 515, 520, 524, 559, 569

  Bickersteth, Lt Ralph 400

  Bickersteth, Revd Samuel 505–6

  Biefvillers 494

  Bigham, Pte Robert 361

  Binding, Capt. Rudolf 51, 406

  Birdwood, William 209, 210–11

  Birley, Pte W.G. 246

  Birr Cross-Roads 236

  Biscoe, Lt Julian Tyndale 401

  Bisley ranges 126, 132

  Bisseker, F. D. 356

  Black Watch Corner 271

  Blacker, Capt. C. P. 284, 292–3, 302, 308–9, 318, 345, 355”6 368 385, 403, 473, 519–20, 525”6‘ 601 602, 605

  Blair, Capt. H. 265

  Blargies military prison (Amiens) 347

  Blighty 495, 530, 631

  blitzkrieg 375

  blockhouses 261

  Bloomfield, Pte George 296–7

  Blunden, Lt Edmund 322, 538

  Boer War (1899–1902) 26, 27, 33, 48, 79, 83, 89, 98, 101, 104, 105, 108, 113, 116, 119, 125, 127, 134, 161, 182, 190, 192, 194, 208, 214, 246, 266, 356, 377, 380, 390, 394, 435–6, 454, 466, 471, 507, 517, 587

  Bois des Buttes, Chemin des Dames 397–8

  Bois Grenier 295

  Bolton, Pte 288, 289

  Boltz, Corporal Clifford de 92

  bombardment 404–6, 407

  bombers 8–9, 385, 386–7, 389, 394

  Bond, Brian: The Unquiet Western Front xvii

  Bond, Corporal R. W. R. 520

  Bongie, E. A. 45

  Bonham-Carter, Brig. Gen. Charles 217

  Boorer, Pte Herbert 320, 328

  Booth, Lt W. M. 45

  Bordon, Hampshire 80, 132

  Boreham, RSM 289

  Boulogne 191, 337, 479, 595, 610

  Bourke, Joanna: A Brief History of Killing 382’

  Bourlon Wood 65, 206, 430, 626

  Bourne, John xxii

  Bout-Deville 308

  Bowlby, Sir Anthony 478

  Bowring, Maj. E. L. 570

  Bowyer, Quartermaster 236

  box barrage 409, 549

  box respirator 369, 421–2, 425

  Boxer Rising (1900) 108

  Brabazon, Lt Col Lord 77

  Bradford 85, 96, 97

  Bradford, George 208

  Bradford, Brig. Gen. Roland Boys 208

  Brancourt le Grand 448

  Bray 316

  braziers 318

  Breeze, Corporal 578–9

  Bretons 52

  brevet promotion 201

  Brian Born (Irish tune) 154–5

  Bridges, Maj. Gen. Tom 162, 213, 437

  British Army

  amalgamation of regiments 104–5

  armistice 613–18

  artillery 57, 106, 110, 175, 183, 233–4, 261, 273, 278, 312, 321, 369, 371, 381, 395–417, 430

  bathing 590–92

  batmen and servants 359–62, 366, 497, 532

  battalion orders 558

  battalions 177–8, 275–9, 281

  billets 349–54, 600

  brigade staff 170, 171

  brigades 176, 235–8, 275, 276, 278

  brigadier general Royal Artillery (BGRA) 183

  brigadiers and generals sacked 218–22

  ‘bullrings’ (base depots) 340–49

  camps 336–50

  ‘Canaries’ (bullring staff) 341–2, 348

  cavalry 110–11, 112, 121, 127, 163, 375, 379’ 435–50

  ‘chateau generalship’ 170

  chief of general staff 189–90, 191

  colonels 200

  commander royal artillery (CRA) 175

  commander royal engineers (CRE) 175

  commanders 170–74

  commissions 140–45, 146, 148, 159, 200–201, 356–8, 420, 580, 605, 606, 621, 622, 627

  communications problems 34

  company orders 557

  compulsory transfers 91–3

  concert parties 602–3

  confined to barracks (CB) 557–8, 560

  conscription 90, 106, 138, 156, 163, 334, 467–8

  cooking 314–17

  corps 182–4, 188, 226–7, 233–4

  cyclist units 298–9

  Daily Fighting Strength Returns 186, 187

  decline in shooting standards 380

  demobilisation 617–22

  diversity in 75–6, 85–6, 222

  divisional staff 170, 171

  divisions 176–82, 188, 274–5, 276> 279

  drunkenness, brawling and women 115–18

  Effective Strength Returns 187

  Field General Court Martial 561, 564

  field punishments 87, 348, 558–61, 595

  fines xxvii, 556–7

  formation headquarters 169–70

  gambling 599–601

  gas, use of 419, 420, 423, 424–5

  ‘Geddes axe’ of army reductions 622

  general officer commanding Royal

  Artillery (GOC RA) 183

  general staff see separate entry

  GHQ see separate entry

  Haldane’s reforms 107–8, 128–9

  humour 533–5

  importance of the Somme 47, 48

  infantry 55, 90, 91, 94, 104, 111, 112, 121, 130, 156, 163, 174, 177, 230, 231, 264, 273, 274, 275, 278, 279, 299, 310, 311, 367, 368, 369, 371, 375, 379, 382, 393–6, 405, 407, 414, 420, 429, 431, 438, 441, 462–3, 570, 577

  iron rations 318–ig language 491–503

  leave 610–12

  Lewis-gunners 8, 92

  lice 589–90

  machine-gunners 389–94

  major general Royal Artillery (MGRA) 189

  marksmanship 377–81

  messes 354–6

  militia and volunteers

  Channel Islands 103

  Ceylon Planters Corps 103

  moustaches 355, 365, 366, 368–g, 394

  mutinies 347–8

  myth that generals remote from their men 211–17

  NCOs 537, 538

  nicknames 496–8

  non-combatant element 273

  officer corps 119–24

  officers 572–82

  officers brought out of retirement/rapidly promoted 194–8

  pay xxvi-xxvii, 5, 82, 91, 136–7, 139, 156, 203, 310–11, 330, 419, 560, 593–4, 624

  promotion 119, 199–208, 357

  ration parties 288–g, 290, 322, 323

  Ration Strength Returns 186

  recruits’ training 109–12, 129, 158–9

  reduction to the ranks 334, 558, 563

  regimental medical officers 273, 467, 469–71, 475, 485, 567

  regimental pride 112–15

  reports and returns 184–8

  sappers 245–6, 310, 451–65

  sentry duty 301–3

  sick parades 469

  signalese 184, 494

  signallers 410, 415, 534–5

  singing 498–503, 602, 603

  size of British Army 103–4, 106, 138, 194. 376

  ‘sleeping at post’ 302

  smoking 326–8

  stand-down 292, 293, 294

  stand-to 284–5, 292, 293, 294, 295

  statistics 90, 103, 104, 191

  strikes (1918–ig) 347, 617

  tactics xxi, xxii, 278

  Trench Strength Returns 186, 187

  trench warfare see separate entry

  uniforms xxvi, 8, 106, 108–9, 112‘ 124, 147, 148, 157–8, 160, 225–6, 349, 365–8, 411, 436–7

  venereal disease 483

  war plan 26

  wastage per annum 130

  British Army units

  Higher formations:

  Northern Command 620

  Western Command 196
/>   1st Army 33, 37, 193, 209, 222, 226, 420, 511

  2nd Army xxi, 33, 54–5, 56, 59, 60–61, 155, 209, 214, 233, 236, 269, 369, 453, 458–9, 567

  3rd Army 6, 21, 36, 40, 52, 64, 65, 67, 188, 198, 199, 209, 210, 231

  4th Army 39–43, 45, 56, 69, 84, 188, 189, 209, 227, 238, 431

  5th Army (previously Reserve Army) 40. 54, 55, 59, 61, 66, 67, 69, 189, 209, 215, 278, 414, 442, 604

  I Corps 37, 438

  II Corps 33, 371, 438

  III Corps 216, 221, 222, 233, 442

  IV Corps 36, 37, 216, 442, 443

  V Corps 241

  VI Corps 184

  VIII Corps 234

  IX Corps 221, 230

  X Corps 226

  XI Corps 37

  XIII Corps 189, 232–3, 442, 446

  XIV Corps 234, 450

  XV Corps 442

  1st Cavalry Division 443

  3rd Cavalry Division 446

  5th Cavalry Division 443

  1st Division 439, 570

  2nd Division 182

  3rd Division 396

  4th Division 174, 602

  5th Division 177, 396

  6th Division 174, 524

  7th Division 10, 182, 205, 240, 439

  8th Division 178, 216, 281, 439

  9th Scottish Division 64, 148, 180, 181, 233, 256, 409

  10th Division 153, 154, 195

  11th Division 178

  12th Division 181, 390

  14th Division 193

  15th Division 179

  16th Irish Division 153, 154, 155, 178, 204

  17th Division 221, 229, 232, 602

  18th Division 180, 197, 393

  19th Division 178, 181, 571

  20th Division 57, 197

  21st Division 6, 171, 176, 178, 197–8, 201, 207, 267, 274–5, 278

  23rd Division 195, 607

  24th Division 47, 176, 267, 606

  25th Division 178, 221

  27th Division 192

  29th Division 180, 545, 586, 603

  31st Division 84, 149, 305

  32nd Division 205, 222, 602

  33rd Division 146, 177, 178, 219, 440

  34th Division 174, 176, 195, 197

  36th (Ulster) Division 154, 155, 177, 178

  38th (Welsh) Division 150–52, 217, 226, 241, 275, 347, 628

  46th (North Midland) Division 230, 231

  47th (London) Division 216

  48th (South Midland) Division 276

  51st (Highland) Division 136, 178, 180, 181–2, 184, 212, 227–8, 229, 290, 429, 478

  55th (West Lancashire) Division 196

  56th (London) Division 41, 145, 230, 607

  58th (2/is[ London) Division 607

  66th Division 194, 208

  Guards Division 37, 65, 86, 180, 181, 182, 308, 391, 557, 626

  Household Division 78

  Cavalry:

  2nd Dragoon Guards (Royal Scots Greys) 108, 438

  3rd Dragoon Guards 446

  4th Dragoon Guards 162, 197, 437–8, 443, 449

  5th Dragoon Guards 111, 493

  7th Dragoon Guards 440, 441, 443

  Household Cavalry 77, 161

  3rd Hussars 450, 628

  10th Hussars 445

  11th Hussars 115–16, 161

  13th Hussars 179

  14th Hussars 379

  18th Hussars 76, 118

  19th Hussars 447, 448

  20th Hussars 449

  King Edward’s Horse 78, 142

  9th Lancers 197, 437–8, 44g

  12th Lancers 436, 438

  17th Lancers 194

  19th Lancers 445

  Life Guards, 1st Battalion 263

  Northumberland Hussars 87, 128, 135, 625

  1st Battalion 439

  Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars 128

  Royal Horse Guards 114–15

  South Irish Horse 445

  Yeomanry:

  Bedfordshire Yeomanry 164, 356

  Berkshire Yeomanry 105, 128

  Essex Yeomanry 161

  Hampshire Yeomanry 62, 91

  Hertfordshire Yeomanry 127

  Imperial Yeomanry 105, 127

  Kent Yeomanry 46

  Middlesex Yeomanry 127–8

  Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 18

  Shropshire Yeomanry 91

  Suffolk Yeomanry 128, 136, 193

  Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry 46

  Artillery:

  Royal Artillery 47, 64, 121, 122, 131, 229, 396, 411, 417, 452, 615

  Royal Horse Artillery xxvi, 109, 157, 396, 438, 441, 625

  Royal Field Artillery 23, 86, 156, 157, 158, 296, 396, 398, 405, 417, 524, 564, 565, 574, 615–16

  4th North Riding Howitzer Brigade 133–134

  Royal Garrison Artillery 10, 156, 370, 371.396

  21st Siege Battery 159

  108th Heavy Battery 77

  156th Heavy Battery 164

  Royal Marine Artillery 156

  Engineers:

  Royal Engineers 20, 91, 122, 156, 162, 180, 245, 247, 282, 304, 305, 308, 310, 311, 336, 419, 456, 461, 4633

  20th Fortress Company 457

  171st Tunnelling Company 457, 459

  175th Tunnelling Company 458

  250th Company 419

  Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners 456

  No. 3 Field Survey Company 453

  Railway Operating Division 311

  Signal Service 452

  Special Brigade 419, 422, 425

  Special Companies 419

  Infantry:

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 76, 148, 247

  1st Battalion 136, 279

  10th Battalion 179

  Bedfordshire Regiment 15, 59, 86, 116

  1st Battalion 607

  3rd Battalion 123

  4th Battalion 242

  Border Regiment, 11th Battalion 470

  Brigade of Guards 124, 587, 617

  Cameron Highlanders 349

  1st Battalion 159, 279

  5th Battalion 148, 149

  6th Battalion 147

  Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) xxvi, 123, 159, 161, 207, 239, 281, 349, 366, 629

  1st Battalion 257, 281, 291, 358

  2nd Battalion 366–7, 575

  5th Battalion 76, 131, 148, 520

  Cheshire Regiment 91

  11th Battalion 193, 566

  Coldstream Guards 77, 78, 133, 184, 204, 226, 280, 338, 496

  2nd Battalion 284, 355, 356

  3rd Battalion 366

  4th Battalion 19, 308, 310, 355

  Connaught Rangers 115, 153, 392, 519–520

  6th Battalion 204, 586

  Devonshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion 281, 282–3, 397–8

  Dorsetshire Regiment 46, 310, 418–19, 627

  1st Battalion 90, 252, 357

  5th Battalion 627

  Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 6th Battalion 145

  Duke of Edinburgh’s Wiltshire Regiment 105

  Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 10th Battalion 160

  Durham Light Infantry 83, 384

  2nd Battalion 89, 205

  9th Battalion 208

  18th Battalion (1st County) 149

  19th Battalion 569

  East Lancashire Regiment

  2nd Battalion 530

  11th Battalion (Accrington) 75, 82–5, 87, 149, 366, 379, 380, 384, 560, 628, 629

  East Surrey Regiment 113, 133, 254, 270, 366, 541

  1st Battalion

  East Yorkshire Regiment

  loth Battalion (1st Hull) 149

  11th Battalion (2nd Hull) 149

  12th Battalion (3rd Hull) 149

  13th Battalion (4th Hull) 149

  Essex Regiment 76, 116, 566

  7th Battalion 156

  12th Battalion 116, 156

  13th Battalion 146

  Gloucestershire Regiment 63, 496

  1st Battalion 76, 104

  2nd Battalion 104

  2nd/5th Battalion 268

  5th Battalion 605

&nbs
p; 6th (Territorial) Battalion 140

  Gordon Highlanders 297, 536

  4th Battalion 348

  6th Battalion 544

  Grenadier Guards 45, 77–9, 86, 87, 124, 133, 171, 204, 241, 255, 320,

  1st Battalion 46, 523

  2nd Battalion 46

  3rd Battalion 144

  Hampshire Regiment

  1st Battalion 104

  2nd Battalion 104

  Highland Light Infantry 108, 602

  17th Battalion 205

  Honourable Artillery Company 125, 131, 208, 348

  Irish Guards 46, 72, 133, 338, 519

  King’s African Rifles 201

  King’s Own Royal Regiment, tst/4th Battalion 218

  King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 16, 83, 387

  2nd Battalion 264, 400

  12th Battalion 149

  King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 42

  1st/10th Battalion (Liverpool Scottish) 470

  12th Battalion 58–9

  King’s Royal Rifle Corps 143, 347,

  9th Battalion 193

  12th Battalion 57, 58

  16th Battalion (Church Lads’ Battalion) 146

  21st Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) 627

  King’s Shropshire Light Infantry 132, l33

  4th Battalion 421

  6th Battalion 57–8

  Lancashire Fusiliers 93, 544, 607

  1st Battalion 368, 458

  2nd/8th Battalion 66

  3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion 129

  10th Battalion 93, 262

  11th Battalion 236, 533

  16th Battalion 336, 388

  18th Battalion 573

  Leinster Regiment, 7th Battalion 153

  London Regiment 131–3, 208

  1st/15th Battalion 92

  1st/16th Battalion (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) 41, 157, 549

  1st/20th Battalion 603

  2/2nd Battalion 145

  2nd/16th Battalion 298

  2nd/20th Battalion 303

  5th Battalion (London Rifle Brigade) 15, 131–2, 208, 209, 544, 549

  8th Battalion 254

  11th Battalion (Finsbury Rifles)

  12th Battalion 145

  13th Battalion (Kensington) 131

  14th Battalion (London Scottish) 46, 131, 136, 146–7, 298, 315, 316, 386, 508, 524, 552, 565, 592, 601

  15th (County of London) Battalion (Civil Service Rifles) 131, 534

  21st Battalion 246

  22nd Battalion 132

  24th Battalion (The Queens) 132–3

  25th Battalion 254, 459, 492

  28th Battalion (Artists’ Rifles) 131, 143

  Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment 76, 359

  5th Battalion 196

  Manchester Regiment 72, 145, 193

  2nd Battalion 383

  22nd Battalion 6, 10

  New Army battalions 48

  Middlesex Regiment 46, 133, 543

  16th Battalion 146

  17th Battalion (1st Football Battalion) 146

  18th Battalion (1st Public Works) 146

  Norfolk Regiment 149, 154, 310

  1st Battalion 92

  2nd/6th Battalion (Cyclist) 92, 157–8

  North Staffordshire Regiment, ist/

  6th Battalion 471

  Northamptonshire Regiment 93, 119

 

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