Reminiscences and Experiences of Adam Fulton in the Great War (Part Two): Difference between revisions
Reminiscences and Experiences of Adam Fulton in the Great War (Part Two) (view source)
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{{bold heading|size=140|font_colour=444|line_colour=b5a48c|line_size=6|text=6th Border Regiment - B.E.F. France}}
[[File:Fulton, Adam Border Regiment 1915.jpg|thumb|275px]]
We were taken by train from Marseilles to near Arras. Arras was within range of the German guns but at that time had not been badly damaged. There were still a number of civilians living in the town - mostly in cellars I suspect. There were actually shops still doing business. I purchased a watch that could be set for alarm. It was lost through being loaned. The battalion was [[billet]]ed for some days in the empty houses soon after arriving in France and then we manned the [[trench]]es in a quiet sector. Judging by later experience of trench warfare this introduction was unbelievably peaceful. The trenches were well constructed, dry, with good communication with the rear. We had a few spells of front line duty of a similar nature in various parts during which I was sent on two courses of instruction; one on bombing and one on poison gas. I think they were in the neighbourhood of St. Pols - a small town that was intact and afforded some entertainment. I was billeted in the house of a veterinary surgeon. In September, the Division was moved on to the Somme front. The contrast with our previous experience was terrific. The countryside was one vast desolation; villages in ruins to ground level and the whole area churned up by [[shell|shell fire]]. Shelling never seemed to cease; if it was not in one’s immediate neighbourhood, it was within seeing and hearing. Intense shelling becomes an intolerable strain and I think terrific noise and shock, more than fear of it, was responsible for many of those who "lost their nerve," There was one such in my [[company]], a [[2nd Lieutenant]], he had recently arrived. The company was in the front line and standing to on the alert and under heavy [[bombardment]]. The company commander, Capt. Carr, doing a check up, found this officer missing. Later he was found sheltering in an old German [[
On the 26th September 1916, there was a large scale attack at Thiepval, a much fortified position held by the Germans. "B" company led the attack on the battalion front. There was a strict timetable made up for the advance in conjunction with the [[artillery]] [[barrage]] and a rehearsal had been carried out behind the lines beforehand. Colonel Mathers and Captain James ([[adjutant]]) were beside me in the "jumping off" trench at [[zero hour]]. There was no need to look at a watch for that. The din at the opening up of the initial barrage was beyond description. It was laid down 25 to 50 yards in front of our jumping off trench. I had little difficulty in getting up and out of the trench but the men with their heavy equipment had to struggle, and on my first look back (about 20 yards out) I was somewhat dismayed to find I was alone. However the men began to appear and were ready by the time the barrage lifted to its second position. The accuracy and intensity of the artillery barrage was amazing and it was easy to follow closely behind it. I have no clear memory of the details of the capture of the enemy position. At the final rush I used my revolver, maybe more due to excitement than to necessity. I do remember seeing Germans with their hands up and others coming out of a dugout. About then I was knocked to the bottom of the trench by a wound in the chest. After making sure that the lungs had not been punctured, as there was no blood in my split, the tunic was ripped off and a field dressing applied by one of the men. Once on my feet, I took charge, arranged the dispatch of the prisoners and for the defence against a counter attack. The next recollection is making my way back to the battalion dressing station and passing a strange contraption which I learned later was one of the first tanks, lying on its side. At the dressing station it was discovered that in addition to the wound along the chest wall there was a bullet wound in the upper right arm. After the redressing of the wounds and anti-tetanus inoculation, I with other walking wounded were taken to a field hospital. There the chest wound, under anaesthesia, was curetted,<ref group="note">Curretted means that a small part of a rib was removed.</ref> and next day I was dispatched to [[Blighty]].
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*Third Street 1/2 coy.
<br>
In a later extract, a list of awards is given. [[DSO]]'s to Lt Col. Mathers and Capt. (& Adj.) James, M.C. to Capts Carr, Morris, Lt Wood, 2nd Lts, Newsome, Rennie, Park and Chaplain Keegan. Nothing for Adam Fulton however.
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While he was in the UK, he received letters from his brother officers. He has preserved two. For some reason or other Adam Fulton was known as Johnny to some of his fellow officers.
B.E.F.<br>3.10.16
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Thine,
Frank W. Stiven
<hr>
B.E.F.<br>1.12.16.
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Yours very sincerely,
John Runciman
{{bold heading|size=140|font_colour=444|line_colour=b5a48c|line_size=6|text=1st Border Regiment – France}}
[[File:Fulton, Adam Shoeburyness 1915.jpg|thumb|275px|Adam at Shoeburyness, 1915]]
In January 1917, I, along with others was sent to France as reinforcements to the [[1st Battalion]] of the [[Border Regiment]].<ref group="note">He mentions that the battalion was part of the (87th) "Union" Brigade of the 29th Division; being made up of the (1st Batt.) Border Regiment (English), (1st Batt.) King’s Own Scottish Borderers, (2nd Batt.) South Wales Borderers and the (1st Batt.) Inniskilling Fusiliers.</ref> We proceeded on our own, being given warrants for the journey and reporting to various transport officers en route, I joined company with 2nd Lieutenant Hamlett. He became my closest friend. We were joined by his sister for dinner that last night in London and the theatre after. On arrival at the battalion, we were both posted to "A" company. Captain Bunting was the company commander and the 2nd in command was Lieutenant Thorburn Brown. I think Bunting was one of the young officers training at Shoeburyness when I was there. Anyhow, I was welcomed by him in "A" company and we were friends. Circumstances (casualties) may have favoured his early promotion with the 1st Borders, but he was worthy and later was transferred to the brigade staff. Unfortunately, he was not long there when he became ill and died after a few months in hospital (?T.B.).<ref group="note">Died 5th February, 1918.</ref> At the outbreak of the War, I think he was employed in a bank, maybe in Carlisle. Thorburn Brown took over command of the company. He was an Edinburgh man and belonged to the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
When I joined, the Battalion Commander was Lt Col. Morris. He was a good soldier but thoroughly disliked. He was succeeded by Lt Col. Ellis, also a good soldier and well liked. After the War, while serving in India [his family?] were captured by frontier tribesmen. The mother was murdered but the daughter was rescued alive. Major Ewank was 2nd in command of the battalion. His brother was a padre and was doing duty with the brigade and helped to run a good concert party for the 29th Division. I think the Ewanks were of a family connected with Carlisle Cathedral.<ref group="note">Captain Walter Ewbank of 1st Border Regiment was uncle to Ven. Walter F. Ewbank, Archdeacon of Carlisle.</ref>
Other officers in the Battalion who come to mind include: Captain Sutcliff, the [[Adjutant]], efficient and well liked; Lieutenant Paul New who had shared a room with me at Shoeburyness; 2nd Lieutenant Croan(?) previously met when he was a sergeant instructor at the courses at Purfleet Camp; 2nd Lieutenant Trotter who joined the company when I was in command —from Glasgow — I think his father was something in the whisky trade (White Horse).
Two other officers who I had previously met at Shoeburyness were Paul New and Chambers. The latter ("Dolly," I think he was called), was given command of "A" company when I was wounded and he was awarded the {{wl|Military Cross}} on the result of the engagement the following day.
The battalion had its share of [[trench]] warfare and in the early months of 1917 the conditions were most miserable with icy weather and mud which was sometime knee deep in the front line. The most disagreeable and frightsome assignment was a night patrol of [[No Man's Land|no-man’s land]]. Later he took part in the battle of Arras. I missed most of it as I was one of the 10% on that occasion. At that time the order was that 10% of the battalion was kept behind at each engagement so that it would not be without experienced men in the event of excessive casualties. My memory of that time is dim. After the Arras fighting, the 29th Division was moved north. The Battalion did some trench duty and then was involved in the 3rd Battle of Ypres. By that time I had been given command of "A" company - I think my predecessor Thorburn Brown was a casualty at Arras.
We had taken up our position in the evening in preparation for an advance at dawn when "A" company was subjected to an intense [[shell]] [[bombardment]]. 2nd Lieutenant Hamlett was killed and I was wounded.<ref group="note">In another set of notes, "The night before the attack my company was in position ready when I received the message that 2nd Lt Hamlett had been killed. I went to assess the situation and had just finished giving instructions when there was a burst of enemy shelling and I was wounded".</ref> In a Field Hospital [[shrapnel]] was removed from my right hip and then I was transferred to the Military Hospital at Bangour near Edinburgh.
{{bold heading|size=120|font_colour=444|line_colour=b5a48c|line_size=4|text=Extract from the War Diary of 1st Border Regiment for August 1917:}}
'''11th. Trenches Steenbeek sector:''' Battalion moved into the line tonight. Battn HQ at Saules Farm. "C" and "D" coys were in Wood 15. "B" coy at Saules Farm. Battn HQ and "B" coy moved to Abri Wood. The whole unit being attached to the 86th Brigade temporarily. No sooner had the battalion got into position, dark night and guides who were at least doubtful, than orders were received that a company was to be moved forward to "a line parallel to Fourches Farm." When a map had been carefully studied an idea was formed as to what was probably meant, orders were issued to o / c "A" coy to occupy a portion of the GREE LIE from Fourches Farm to the S.W. for about 200 yards and owing to the excellent judgement and skilful handling of his company, Lt A. Fulton o/c "A" company got his men there just at dawn with few casualties. 2nd Lt J. B. Trotter was wounded.
'''12th. Trenches.''' Fairly quiet time for all coys except "A" who had a few casualties from fairly lively shelling round the GREE LIE. Bt. moved up to front line 3 coys "A" remained in Green Line. Bt. HQ at Fourches Farm, The Bt. struck the enemy barrage round Fourches Farm and all told the Bn had about 40 casualties.
'''13th. Front Line Trenches.''' More shelling at Stand To this morning. 2nd Lt Hamlett<ref group="note">'''<small>(hf)</small>''': Newspaper clipping reporting on the incident noted:, “Prior to this the parents had received a telegram stating that their son was wounded, but the first intimation of his fate came to hand on Friday morning in a letter from a fellow officer, Second Lieutenant A Fulton who was himself wounded. The letter dated August 14th was written in a hospital abroad, and read:- You will have heard the awfully sad news by this time. I can only send my heartfelt sympathy. Froude was my best friend in the regiment, and I can in a way understand the loss you have sustained. I have been with him all the time, even to the last, and I saw him half an hour before he was hit. When the news came to the company headquarters, I immediately rushed up to find what had happened. He was unconscious then, and continued so; then I was wounded myself. He passed away just as he reached the first aid post."</ref> killed and acting [[Adam Fulton (Captain)|Captain A. Fulton]]<ref group="note">'''<small>(hf)</small>''': Adam Fulton’s notes entitled "Roll of Honour" confusingly talks about Claude Tremlett Hamlet rather than Froude: “We spent the last night together before proceeding, as reinforcements, to join the 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment on the French Front. We were both posted to "A" company, then under Captain Bunting, and we were together there until he met his death, about eight months later. It happened when I had been in command of the company about a month. We had taken up position in the dark for an attack in the morning when Hamlet was hit in a burst of heavy shell fire by the Germans. When I was informed I went to investigate and found him dead from shrapnel wound in the head. A few minutes later I was also hit by shrapnel and had to be carried off."</ref> (just promoted that day)<ref group="note">His promotion to Acting Captain on 20th July 1917, was gazetted on 26th December 1917. One assumes that information regarding his promotion came through on 13th August.</ref> wounded and about 10 casualties to other ranks. Again heavy shelling principally in the early morning, between 2.30 and 3.30 a.m. an absolute barrage was put down on the line Fourches Farm/Captains Farm, getting 3 or 4 direct hits on Fourches Farm Bt HQ causing about 5 casualties in the Green Line and around.
{{bold heading|size=120|font_colour=444|line_colour=b5a48c|line_size=4|text=Extract from ''The Border regiment in the Great War'':}}
When on 12th August the Battalion moved up to the front line it came under very heavy shelling and within the next twenty-four hours had over 50 casualties, including 2 officers, Second-Lieutenant G. F. Hamlett being killed and [[Adam Fulton (Captain)|Captain A. Fulton]] wounded;. . . . The casualties for the we week ending 17th August amounted to: killed 1 officer and 25 other ranks; wounded: 3 officers and 105 other ranks while 1 officer and 22 non-commissioned officers and men were missing.
{{bold heading|size=160|font_colour=444|line_colour=b5a48c|line_size=6|text=See also}}
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