Reminiscences and Experiences of Adam Fulton in the Great War (Part Two)
The following article was written for the 1994 Spring issue of the Western Front Association journal "Stand To" and is reproduced here by kind permission of the author John M. Cameron. Thanks go both the author and the W.F.A. for allowing this article to be shown here, which was first reproduced in 2009 in an earlier version of this website. Notes originally added by the author will remain as they were at time of print. Additional research and notes have been included by Adam Fulton’s Grandson. Where this is the case the letters (hf) will precede the note to separate it from those not originally published.
By John M. Cameron
From his own notes, supplemented by additional information in War Diaries, references in The Border Regiment in the Great War and taped comments.
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 billeted for some days in the empty houses soon after arriving in France and then we manned the trenches 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 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 dugout. There was an enquiry and he was not seen again. Perhaps court martialled, but it was never divulged.
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,[note 1] and next day I was dispatched to Blighty.
Captain Carr was also wounded at the Thiepval attack.[note 2] There is a short description of it in the history Tried and Valiant by Douglas Sutherland on page 143.[note 3]
25th. Moved from Mailly Maillet at 4 p.m. Marched to Martinsart and arrived Ovillers 10.30 p.m. where the men completed to what they would carry on the man in attack.
26th. Relieved the 6th Duke of Wellingtons at 2 a.m. in:
- Danube Trench 2 coys.
- Stafford Street 1/2 coy.
- Border Street 1/2 coy.
- Third Street 1/2 coy.
Carrying parties completed at Battalion Dumps. On 25th, the signalling officer Lt Hood had laid three separate lines from Bat. HQ to Danube. The men were situated in the trenches in the order detailed for advance. Our objective comprised two trenches i.e. Joseph and Schwaben. "B" coy. under Capt. Carr to lead in two waves, pass over Joseph Trench and secure Schwaben. The clearing party and caretakers for Joseph Trench went forward with the second wave. This ensured that all men of leading waves went ahead. "A" coy. under Capt. C. B. May followed "B" coy. to occupy and consolidate Joseph Trench also in two waves. 1/2 "D" coy. from Stafford Trench to follow immediately and consolidate communication trench R22a77 to 26c77. This coy. moved from their positions at zero and arrived just in time at their objectives. The attack was carried out in a very gallant manner. The men were completely confident. The artillery preparation and timing were all that could be desired and there was not a single hitch in the proceedings. Capt R. A. Carr and 2nd Lt A. Fulton led most gallantly and were a very fine example to their men. Both of these officers were wounded before or at Joseph Trench but continued in the attack and saw their men settle down to work in Schwaben before thinking of themselves. In the second trench, Capt. Carr tackled three of the enemy single handed and accounted for two of them before he was knocked down by a second wound. The Sherwood Foresters carried on to their second objective across our front and all companies got busy at work. 191 wounded and unwounded prisoners were taken, over 90 enemy dead and 5 machine guns captured.
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.
(a) . . . was first Joseph Trench, in rear of that Schwaben Trench, behind again was Zollern trench, while crowning the hill was Schwaben Redoubt.
(b) . . . Joseph and Schwaben Trenches being carried by 12.45 p.m., the attack of the Border Regiment being led by Captain Carr and Second Lieutenant Fulton who, though both wounded before the objective was reached, "carried on" and saw their men established.
From France I was transferred to the Royal Herbert Hospital at Woolwich. While I was there I was surprised to get a visit from my mother. She had come all the way from home, alone, and that could not have been an easy journey during the War. She took the chance to visit some distant relatives, the Pickens, who lived at Southend-on-Sea. I had previously contacted the Pickens when stationed at Shoeburyness through an accidental encounter in a cinema. In the darkness of the cinema, Miss Picken sat down on my hat which I had put on the empty seat beside me. In the ensuing apologies and conversation, the relationship was disclosed and I was made welcome at the Pickens’ home.
After a short time in the Royal Herbert, I was given leave to go home and continue to have my wound dressed by a local doctor. That was done by Dr. Stephen in Lochgelly.
Towards the end of the year a medical board passed me fit and I returned to active service with the 3rd Border Regiment which was then at Barrow-in-Furness, having transferred from Shoeburyness. I was attached to a company under Captain Kennedy, a member of a wealthy Cumbrian family. The young officers were a friendly lot, the battalion mess was good and life generally in Barrow was pleasant. We were honorary members of the Conservative Club and there I had, what was to me then, a substantial winnings at auction bridge. On Boxing Day with three others I went by train to Windermere for a trip on the lake steamer.
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.
3.10.16
Dear Johnny,
Just a line to enclose a letter sent in a parcel of sweets to you. We demolished the parcel with great delight. We all wish you the best of luck old man & "Blighty" for a month or two. I think all our wounded officers are going on all right from all I hear. I’m pretty broken up myself, old man, as I’ve just heard afortnight after my eldest brother’s death of the passing of my dear old Dad. I hope to get home for a day or two to see mother as she is very down I’m afraid. Well old boy here’s wishing you all the best.
Thine,
Frank W. Stiven
B.E.F.
1.12.16.
My Dear Johnny,
I was very pleased to get your letter this week. I was beginning to wonder what had become of you. You are a lucky dog to get two months at home at this time of year. We had about six weeks rest during which time I was home on leave & then came back to the same part of the line, across the river this time. We have just had ten days in the most abominable trenches I was ever in. The best part of the firing line was only about four feet deep & two wide, and the worst did not exist at all.
I don’t remember what I told you in my last so I will begin at the beginning. Ridley is O.C. "A", Price "B", Ross "C" & Williams "C". Chance has gone to take command of a Middlesex battn. Hood is on the 34th Bge Staff for instruction. Did you hear that the C.O. & James both got the D.S.O. & Carr, Morris, Newsome, Parke, Hood, Rennie & Padre Keegan the M.C. S.M. Percival got the D.C.M. the day before he got his commission. So much for honours. Stiven has been transferred to "D" company and myself to "C". Ross went on a month’s course to the Army School the day we went up to the trenches & left me with the company & two new officers, one of whom had never been in the line before. However they were both excellent fellows, so all went well. Bakewell went to hospital before he went up. He got a chill & a high temperature, went sick & reached the Field Ambulance five minutes before the train left for Blighty, and he went with it.
Have you heard from Carr? He has just had a month’s holiday & is all right again & already pulling the strings to get back to the 6th. Glad you got another month. When you do come out again be sure & come back t’oud sixth. With best love, Rissen & Stiven are not here to say so but I am sure they would concur.
Yours very sincerely,
John Runciman
- Reminiscences and Experiences of Adam Fulton in the Great War (Part One)
- Reminiscences and Experiences of Adam Fulton in the Great War (Part Three)
- ↑ Curretted means that a small part of a rib was removed.
- ↑ (hf): Further detail to the action was provided by Stephen Royle in his book, From Mons to Messines and beyond. The Great War experiences of Sgt. Charles Arnold, published by Brewin Books, 1999. The following is taken from pages 42-43: "The Official History makes no mention of the Battle of Thiepval Ridge being planned for any day other than September 26th at 12.35pm with a preliminary bombardment on the 23rd. The 33rd Brigade had the task of attacking up the Nab Valley and the 6th Borders and 9th Sherwood Foresters had as their first objectives the Joseph and Schwaben trenches. The War Diary notes that the ‘waves left in grand style all along the line’ By 12.45 the trenches were taken and the Borders consolidated their position. They lost 3 officers wounded and 14 other ranks killed and 46 wounded and according to the War Diary killed 90 Germans and captured 191. The editor was conscious that Charles’ account of the Theipval Ridge action rather lacks in depth, he seems to have been wounded quite early in the affair and so I sought out another old soldier of the 6th Battalion, Border Regiment to try and get another, more detailed account.
My contact was former Lieutenant A. Fulton. He was a member of B Company and does not remember Charles Arnold of D Company but he did participate in the same action on this day so his memories are of relevance to this book. The Battalion War Diary singled out Lieutenant Fulton’s actions for particular praise: "The attack of the Border Regiment (was)...led by Captain Carr and Second-Lieutenant Fulton who, though wounded before the objective was reached, carried on and saw his men established." This extract from the diary was also reprinted in Sutherland’s history of the Border Regiment.
Extracts from Lieutenant Fulton’s letter written in December 1981 follow: "The Theipval attack was on the 26th September 1916. The Battalion did a rehearsal behind the lines some days beforehand, the important part of which was instruction on cooperation with the 'creeping barrage.' The latter consisted of intense artillery fire arranged so that it was concentrated on a line for a specified time, then the range was advanced a certain distance for another period, then again moved on. In my opinion it was the efficiency of this manoeuvre which resulted in the success of our attack.
"In the attack the battalion had two companies in the front line and the other two in support. I do not know where D Company was but my company, B, was in front. At 'zero' the outburst of gunfire was terrific. I heard that our artillery were wheel to wheel. I was quickly out of our trench, ? the first man of the 6th Borders to go into an attack in France. Anyhow, when I got a few yards into the open and looked around I was momentarily dismayed to find that I was alone. The men had been so encumbered with extra equipment that they had trouble getting out of the trench. However, I saw them gradually appear and I went forward to about 25 yards of the first line of the barrage.
"There was no doubt about it, the earth was in a turmoil with bursting shells. In a few minutes, I forget the number, the barrage lifted I think about 100 yards and we again advanced to it as close as possible. It again lifted and settled down on the enemy front line and we again advanced ready to rush the enemy trench when the barrage was lifted to the enemy support lines. Our barrage had been so fierce as to have silenced the enemy machine guns and driven the Germans into their dug-outs. They were just getting out of them when we reached the parapet of their trench. They offered little resistance. I must have used my revolver as I remember the shock I got when I found it was empty. That was before I jumped down into the trench. I have practically no memory of using it. I was giving instructions about prisoners when I was knocked flat on my back by a bit of shrapnel. Fortunately, the chest wasn’t penetrated - no sign of blood in spit - and after a field dressing had been applied, I was able to carry on making preparations for a possible counter-attack.
"I then made my way back to the Field Dressing Station. There the battalion MO Dr McCrady, an Aberdonian, after an anti-tetanus injection dispatched me to hospital. There I think I had a rib curetted. I forgot to mention I had I clean bullet wound in the upper arm which had not been noticed in the heat of the fray but seen at the Field Dressing Station. On the way there I passed what was to me then a strange object and which I learned later was one of the first tanks. It had been abandoned for some reason.
Sgt. Arnold and Lt. Fulton seem to have been 'fortunate' in that they were walking wounded for the Battalion War Diary contains a memorandum bitterly complaining of the poor arrangements made for the stretcher cases in this station. There were insufficient stretchers and bearers and the dressing station was too far from the front line at about one mile distance. The diarist was distressed that the dead of the battalion had to be left where they had fallen and he recommended that in future forward dumps for stretchers be established and that prisoners be used to help carry the wounded back to the rear." - ↑ (hf): Tried and Valiant. The story of The Border Regiment 1702-1959 by Douglas Sutherland, published by Leo Copper, 1972: "The 6th Battalion left the Arras area where it had been ever since its arrival from the Dardanelles, early in September, as part of 33rd Brigade, they were ordered to attack towards the village and chateau of Thiepval. The War Diary records: - The waves left in grand style all along the line, Joseph and Schwaben Trenches being carried by 12.45 pm, the attack of the Border Regiment being led by Captain Carr and Second-Lieutenant Fulton who, though wounded before the objective was reached, 'carried on' and saw their men established; the captures amounted to 2 machine guns and 191 prisoners, while nearly a hundred enemy were killed."