Destination Unknown
The Diary of Gunner Bates R.H.A. 1914
by
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The Battle of the Marne General Joffre visited British G.H.Q. to make an impassioned appeal to Sir John French for his assistance to which he agreed and gave his word. Orders issued for the following day directed an eastwards advance, pivoting on the right flank. The Cavalry Division (1st, 2nd and 4th Cavalry Brigades under Major General Allenby and the 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades, under Br.-General Gough, acting together [to be officially designated the 2nd Cavalry Division on 17th September]) were to cover the front and flanks and to connect with the French Armies between which the British was moving. E Battery started at 8.30 am. D Battery was reorganised. The 3rd and 5th Brigades covered the left fl ank of I Corps. The Germans had started to retire. Consequently to their great relief the Cavalry Division at last formed in general advance of the three Corps. They progressed through Champlet, east of Marles and came to Lumigny. Everywhere advanced patrols came into contact with large numbers of the enemy especially in the direction of Pécy to the east. Large numbers of cavalry could be seen moving south on Jouy le Chatel (east of Pécy) but heavy hostile columns observed on the road north of Pécy suddenly and without assignable cause turned about while still two miles distant and counter-marched to the north. Whilst the brigade were waiting for orders (although fi ring was heard close by), a church service was held by the Rev. Guinness; it was ‘most impressive’. It was held in a swede/turnip fi eld. Rev. Guinness gave orders to keep hats on as the day was very hot. He was clearly not put off by the shelling taking place in the adjacent fields. But, immediately, the 2nd Cavalry Brigade was shelled out of Pécy and the leading regiment of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade was forced back from Touquin and then shelled out of Pézarches and driven back to Rigny (one mile south-west of Pézarches). The 12th Lancers did good work but lost several men and horses. As the Army was pivoting, Gough’s Brigade was ordered to the rear of I Corps on the left just south of Coulommiers. By the time these orders arrived it was too late to make more than a short movement to Pézarches. E Battery shelled a village and wood during the evening where Germans were bivouacking for the night but fi red only 30 rounds at long range. They went into bivouac just north of Pézarches at 8.30 pm. A close shave Monday 7.9.14 Les Potées reveille on the 7/9/14 at 2 a m when daylight broke found men of the 12 Lancers not buried properly had to bury them made me feel a [touch?] groggy just begginning to see the result of war hope it soon fi nishes sent letters on the date hope they get there we have already advanced fi ve miles and driven the German’s back hope the advance continues name of place where big battle was fought (Marles) 9 a m chasing German’s passed through places they had looted in one village they cut man’s head off for looking at them very exciting incident at 5 to 12 coming along happy and going over a big hill when all of a sudden bang right in line with us came a German shell the nearest shave up to the present dropped around us like rain the teams galloped like mad to safety and the guns went into action and soon silenced the German’s followed them for the rest of the day I am afraid that we will run up against something warm by and bye went into Billet at 8.50. peterhumfrey@hotmail.com
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About the Book
Ted Bates joined the Royal Horse Artillery in 1910. Moving to
In his diary Ted describes the events of each day, in retreat and in advance, in defence and in the heat of battle. With humour and humanity he reveals the skill and professionalism of the regular solider, and his loyalty to his comrades and compassion for victims.
The author, Ted’s grandson, sets each day in the context of the campaign. The causes and effects of military decisions flow through the daily events of the soldier’s life in battle. This book covers the campaign up to the end of the First Battle of Ypres in November 1914. Photos and maps illustrate the stages of the campaign.
About the Author
As a child Peter Humfrey met his blind grandfather and later was given his diary from the first months of World War 1. He kept the diary and some press cuttings for many years until he decided one day to follow his grandfather’s footsteps from Mons to Ypres. Today all is calm and the villages and roads and indeed the battlefields are mainly empty. This puzzling and somewhat disturbing experience lead him to the National Archives and the Imperial War Museum to discover in detail the events and characters of the important moments of the Great War though the Army War Diaries and the personal diaries and papers of those with whom his grandfather served. The author has written a number of books and articles on religion, education and spirituality. In his teaching of history and religion, he has used the diary as an aid and a prompt to engage especially young people in a consideration of war and its consequences. He writes now with conviction and compassion about his discovery of humanity and spirituality in the face of great danger. He seeks to set one man’s personal experience of war in the context of great events and personalities. He believes the telling of this experience from the past gives hope and encouragement for the future.