PREFACE
“Sir William Douglas asks me ‘to write a few lines’ to be embodied in the preface to a history of the 42nd Division.
“In the regions of time and space the Dardanelles enterprise forms only a trifling part of the record of this famous Division; but, in the sphere of the imagination, that part will be reckoned by Lancastrians yet unborn as the most precious heirloom bequeathed to them by the generation who fought the great war.
“Why? I will give the reasons in the words of a gallant young Australian killed shortly after he wrote me as follows from the front in France: ‘I often compare the two situations: out here and on those wild romantic shores of the Ægean; I compare them and I find that the Peninsula war stands quite alone and apart, an ineffaceable memory.’
“Bearing in mind that I am limited to a few lines I propose to think out nothing new, but to repeat now what was jotted down about a sample of the 42nd Division at the time (the 4th June, 1915), in my post of command, shared that day with two enormous tarantulas—
“On the right the French rushed the ‘Haricot’—so long a thorn in their flesh; next to them the Anson lads stormed another big Turkish redoubt in a slap-dash style reminding me of the best work of the old Regular Army; but the boldest and most brilliant exploit of the lot was the charge made by the Manchester Brigade in the centre who wrested two lines of trenches from the Turks; and then, carrying right on to the lower slopes of Achi Baba, hadnothingbetween them and its summit but the clear, unentrenched hillside. They lay there—the line of our brave lads, plainly visible to a pair of good glasses—there they actually lay! We wanted, so it seemed, but a reserve to advance in their support and carry them right up to the top. We said—and yet could hardly believe our own words—‘We are through!’
“Alas, too previous that remark. Everything began to go wrong. First the French were shelled and bombed out of the ‘Haricot’; next the right of the Naval Division became uncovered and they had to give way, losing many times more men in the yielding than in the capture of their ground. Then came the turn of the Manchesters, left in the lurch, with their right flank hanging in the air. By all the laws of war they ought to have tumbled back anyhow,but by the laws of the Manchesters they hung on and declared they could do so for ever....
(signature:) Ian Hamilton
General,“Lieutenant of the Tower of London.”
1st September, 1919.
The foregoing words were written by the Commander-in-Chief under whom the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division went into action for the first time of its existence. It is nearly a year now since Sir Ian Hamilton wrote them; this will give the reader some idea of the gigantic task those who have collected the material for, and the writer of, this book have had.
The work is an attempt to record the doings and follow the fortunes of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division in the Great War, but nothing that can be written can adequately disclose the noble manner in which these lads preserved throughout that dogged courage and insistent resolution from which it was impossible, for those who were present, to withhold their admiration. My own four years’ experience of them has left me with the deepest feelings of pride and affection. From first to last they proved themselves to be gallant, loyal and self-sacrificing soldiers, warm-hearted, responsive and lovable men.
The thanks of the Committee responsible for the publication of this book are due to Captain E. R. Streat and Mr. George Bigwood, who collected much of the data, but more especially to Mr. F. P. Gibbon, who so kindly consented to write the History. The labour of collecting information from War Diaries and comparing the various accounts which so many old members of the Division have been kind enough to send him, has been very great, and we owe Mr. Gibbon a debt of deep gratitude.
(signature:) W. Douglas. Maj. General [illegible] 42nd Division]
7th August, 1920.
The Committee and the Author wish to record their warm appreciation of the assistance given in the compiling of this History by many Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Men of the Division.
As the final proofs of the book were being passed, there came the sad news of the death of the first Divisional Commander, Major-General Sir William Douglas, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., at Cultz, near Aberdeen, on November 2nd, 1920. He had come to be regarded as the Father of the Division. It was under him that it earned the distinction of being the first Territorial Division to leave these shores, and under him it received its baptism of fire. Even when he had passed from command—both during the war and after hostilities had ceased—his interest in the welfare of all ranks remained unabated, and the affection he felt towards them was warmly reciprocated.
In expressing their deep sorrow and their sympathy with Lady Douglas, the Committee feel that they may speak for all ranks and all services of the Division.