Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Private H. W. Cole, 3rd Worcestershire Regiment, killed in the disastrous attack on Spanbroek Mill in March 1915, when Lieutenant C. G. Martin, R.E., won the Victoria Cross and several men of the Worcesters were decorated

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4445 H. Cole, Worcester: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4445 Pte. H. W. Cole, Worcester: Regt.); 1914 Star (9116 Pte. H. W. Cole, 3/Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (9116 Pte. H. W. Cole, Worc. R.) nearly extremely fine (5) £250-300

Henry William Cole, 3rd Worcestershire Regiment, was killed in action in the attack on Spanbroek Mill on 12 March 1915. A classic Flanders disaster wherein many of the survivors of a failed attack were pinned down in ‘No-Man’s’ land and anihilated by our own artillery fire. He is commemorated by name on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. The following details are taken from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War:

‘On the morning of March 12th the mist, which further south was even then veiling the Bavarian counter-attack against Neuve Chapelle, had deepened on the Messines Ridge to a dense white fog through which nothing could be seen. The British artillery had been bombarding the enemy’s positions since 7 a.m. but the mist made it impossible to observe the result.

Waiting before an attack is never pleasant. The assembly trenches were only half dug and were full of water. In such cover as those shallow trenches afforded the two battalions crouched all the morning while the German shells crashed down about them in answer to the British fire. Slowly the mist cleared, and as it cleared the German fire became more accurate. There were many casualties. Even to the Staff in rear the success of the attack appeared problematical. "I think there was still some doubt whether the assault would take place," wrote an officer at 7th Brigade Headquarters, "when a message arrived to say that the First Army were making excellent progress down south, that there were indications of the Germans withdrawing troops from these parts, and that therefore our attack should not be delayed a moment longer than possible." The die was cast; the British artillery definitely opened their bombardment at 2.30 p.m., and at 4.10 p.m. the leading companies of the two battalions rose from the waterlogged ditches, crossed the front-line trenches by temporary plank-bridges under a hail of bullets and plunged forward through knee-deep mud to the assault..

“C” Company, led by Captain J. Goff, rushed forward up the slope, followed closely by “A” Company under Captain G. E. Hewett. The enemy’s fire was fierce and deadly, and officers and men went down at every step. The survivors plunged on through the mud, reached the German wire entanglements and struggled through such gaps as they could find. The leading party was headed by 2/Lieut. A. Holland (officer attached to the 3rd Worcestershire from the Dorsetshire Regiment), closely followed by Sergt. R. Drinkall, Sergt. A. E. Ince and Corpl. W. Mansell. They broke through the wire and stormed the hostile parapet. A few minutes fierce fighting sufficed to clear a short length of trench. Then the subaltern rallied his party under cover in the trench and prepared to make good the ground gained. He had with him no more than 40 N.C.O’s. and men. Lieutenant C. G. Martin of the Royal Engineers had reached the trench and directed the work of consolidation. Another Worcestershire subaltern, 2/Lieut. W. H. Clarke, was dragged into the trench, mortally wounded, only to die shortly afterwards. Further to the right another small party had succeeded in breaking through the German lines and seizing a group of ruined houses. That was the total success. The rest of the two attacking companies of the 3rd Worcestershire had been shot down, and were lying killed or wounded on the broken mud between the trench-lines. The other two companies of the Battalion had been ordered not to move from the assembly trenches. On the left the attack of the Wiltshire had failed as signally: not a man had reached the German lines.

Soon the enemy began to press inwards along the trenches with bomb and bayonet against the two little parties, which had penetrated their position. Isolated though they were, the Worcestershire lads held firm and repulsed all attacks for over three hours. But no help came: instead the British artillery, misinformed as to the position, commenced again to bombard the German front line, and annihilated the helpless party in the ruined buildings.

If 2/Lieut. Holland’s party was to avoid a similar fate it was urgently necessary that news of their position should be sent back: and it was not possible to establish signal communication. Corpl. W. Mansell volunteered to take back a message, and boldly worked his way across the open from trench to trench. He was fired on all the way and was hit three times; but he persisted in the attempt, reached safety and made his report. Then, after having his three wounds dressed, he bravely turned again to the battle, worked his way again across the open to the captured trench and resumed his place in the defence (Corpl. Mansell was awarded a bar to his D.C.M.).

The defence was maintained until dusk. Lieutenant C. G. Martin (Royal Engineers officer who volunteered to lead a small bombing party against a section of the enemy trenches which was holding up the advance. Before he started he was wounded, but, taking no notice, he carried on with the attack which was completely successful. He and his small party held the trench against all counter-attacks for two and a half hours until a general withdrawal was ordered) showed great bravery (Lieut. Martin, R.E., was awarded the V.C.), and Sergeants Ince and Drinkall were conspicuous for ability and determination, grimly holding an improvised sandbag block under a continuous fire of bombs (Sergeants lnce and Drinkall were awarded the D.C.M.). Outside the trench efforts were made to rescue the wounded. Two of the Battalion stretcher-bearers, Corporal B. Whittington and Pte. W. Suffolk crawled forward across the open under heavy fire and brought back stricken men from the German wire entanglements (Corpl. Whittington and Pte. Suffolk were awarded the D.C.M.).

Darkness closed down, and a report on the situation was carried back by Sergeant Ince and Private J. C. Wooton, who returned to Lieut. Martin bearing orders to evacuate the captured trench. The General had decided to accept the failure rather than uselessly to sacrifice more lives. The little party under Lieuts. Martin and Holland made their way back. Game to the last, they sent back all their wounded (the work of removing the wounded was carried out by Sergeant Ince, who personally rescued several men.) before they finally withdrew.

The losses in that disastrous attack were severe. The two attacking companies were almost annihilated. The casualties of the Battalion were nearly 180, including nine officers killed.