Tournai, November 1918

The city of Tournai in western Belgium was occupied by German forces in August 1914. It remained under German occupation for the rest of the war.

With the British advance in October 1918, the Germans lines had fallen back to Tournai. By mid-October the 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment were in the line to the east of Orcq, on the outskirts of Tournai, the village being strongly held by machine guns. The British dug their own line of resistance, and the Battalion spent a few days in the trenches followed by similar period in billets. In the latter part of October these were at Marquain, just 2000 yards from the front line. When billeted the Battalion carried on with a certain amount of training with Lewis guns and in gas drill.

A British soldier
demonstrates a
small box respirator

In the early hours of October 29th about 600 gas and high explosive shells fell in Marquain, and the men were required to wear small box respirators. The chief target had been artillery batteries there. Intermittent gas shelling on the front and support lines continued through the day.

On the evening of October 30th the 15th Suffolks were relieved by the 10th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, and they moved to billets in Haudion, south west of Marquain. 2nd Lieutenant T.B. Minshall 15th Bn. Suffolk Regiment may have come across some old pals at this time, having served with 10th Bn. KSLI in Egypt and Palestine, prior to his Commission and transfer to the Suffolks in December 1917.

The first few days of November were spent in training and working on the line of resistance – at this time Private Charles Sydney Stevens (No. 51856) 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment was killed from artillery fire. The Battalion was also sent to the baths at Baisieux on 3/4 November.

Outpost Encounters

Early in October 1918 the 74th Division took over from the 19th Division a sector of the front line in northern France nearly three miles in length with Neuve Chapelle, in the centre. By then the Germans were in retreat towards Lille, about 15 miles away to the north-east. On the evening of 3 October the 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment moved up on to the Aubers Ridge line, as the main line of resistance.

230th Infantry Brigade Order No. 72, dated 2 October 1918, required after arrival on the Aubers Line that patrols should be pushed out. It further required that “Patrol Leaders must show more enterprise. Once the objective is given cumbersome orders only complicate the task and delay operations.”

At 0500 on 4 October the Battalion moved out passing through the positions held by the 10th Buffs and 16th Sussex; two companies were in the front line and two in support, with the 10th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) on their left and Liverpool Scottish the right. The first objective was met by 0915. The advance continued, but was halted at 1030 due to shelling, which wounded six men. The lines were consolidated taking up a defensive position covering the villages of Lattre and Wavrin, with B, C and D Companies in the line and A Company in support. Through the afternoon the Battalion experienced heavy shelling, and patrols sent out encountered enemy machine gun posts about 400 yards ahead. Night patrols also met with considerable opposition from enemy machine guns.

Lamotte-Buleux Portrait

15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment arrived at Marseilles, France, on 7 May 1918 by way of a voyage from Alexandria. After resting for a couple of days they proceeded by train to the north of France arriving at Noyelles-Sur-Mer in the early hours of 12 May, later marching to Lamotte-Buleux.

The Battalion had spent the previous two years in open warfare in Egypt and Palestine, but the country and the conditions of fighting on the Western front were entirely different and there was naturally much to learn. While in the Lamotte-Buleux area the Battalion was lectured to on the “Spirit of the Bayonet” by Colonel Cambell and on anti-gas procedures by Major Braid, the Corps gas officer.

On 21 May the Battalion were on the move again by train and foot, reaching a new billeting area around Herlin-le-Sec some 20 miles west of Arras. A few days later they marched another 6 miles eastward to Penin, where they remained billeted for a month.

Training continued, the Battalion War Diary reporting “good progress with Lewis Gunners and with rifle shooting also bayonet fighting.” Whilst at Penin they were able to take part in several demonstrations of infantry cooperating with tanks.

Rumours of a move…

The War Diary for 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment on 3 April 1918 simply notes, “A quiet day. Rumours of a move.” At the time they were based in Palestine, at Sinjil, approximately 20 miles north of Jerusalem. The day before they had been ‘treated’ to a heavy bombardment by the Turks.

The 74th Division was to embark for France. The 230th Infantry Brigade (74th Division) were relieved by the 158th Brigade of the 53rd Division, the 5th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers relieving the 15th Bn. Suffolk Regiment.

After relief was completed, at 0930 on 7 April the 15th Bn. Suffolk Regiment commenced its long march to Ludd which was reached on 11 April following several bivouacs. Here, on the night of 13/14 April they entrained for Kantara, where they remained until 29 April. Their time at Kantara was spent in training, particularly gas training, and re-equipping - handing in stores and equipment only needed in Palestine.

On the 29th the Battalion entrained for Alexandria and on the morning of 30 April they embarked on HMT Leasowe Castle, bound for Marseilles, France. Other troop ships in the convoy were S.S. Camberra, Caledonia, Malwa, Kaiser-i-Hand and Omra, plus escort. The Divisional War Diary notes that the men were fairly comfortable but crowded and that the food for all ranks was good. The Battalion War Diary covering this time states: “The voyage was uneventful for first four days. On the morning of the 5th however a submarine was sighted and fired on with depth charges and guns and believed to have been sunk.”

Jerusalem Surrenders

At the end of October 1917 Sgt. Thomas Minshall, 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry, was in Cairo at the Imperial School of Instruction. On 8 December 1917 Thomas Minshall was appointed to a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment.

Jerusalem surrendered on 9 December 1917, and Thomas’ papers include this souvenir photograph of Sir Edmund Allenby’s entry into Jerusalem on 11 December.

It is not known what date Thomas returned from Cairo and joined Suffolk Yeomanry. The movements of the two Regiments he is associated with, at the time of Jerusalem's surrender, are summarised in the following War Diary extracts:

War Diary, 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
8 December 1900	Nos. 2 & 4 Coys relieved 25th R.W.F. extending our line to ROMAN ROAD in R35d. Very wet night
9 December	From Batt O.P. much enemy movement observed as result of attack on Jerusalem by 20th Corps. ZEITOUN and JOFFIER ridges and RAFAT were seen to be still occupied. Patrol under Sgt. Price entered EL JIB and found enemy had left about 2100 on 8th.
10 December	No.4 Coy were withdrawn into reserve at BEIT IZZA
11 December	2 Coys. 25 R.W.F. were sent to increase Batt. Reserve under Major DUGDALE and were placed one in R34d and one in BEIT IZZA
9-14 December	Weather very fine and cold, daily patrols to EL JIB and nightly patrols to N & E. No sign of enemy outside his main position in JOFEIR Ridge which was closely observed from O.P. and was seen to be strongly held by Machine Guns in SANGARS linked up along crest of ridge. These posts were all pointed out to R.A. and noted for future reference.

War Diary, 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment
8 December	In accordance with 230th Brigade Order No 30 for the attack on Turkish positions S & S.W. of NEBI SAMWIL, the BN. Left Bivouac area at 0130. The First objective was some Turkish positions running N. & S. through T.18a T.18.C and T24.a. The Bn. With exception of D. Coy which followed the assaulting Bns as “moppers up” needed in support at T10.b in wadi RUWAI. The position was captured about 0800 and Bn moved up to T17 under rather heavy shell fire & thence to T17.b. 1115 Brigade after 1/2 hour artillery preparation advanced to occupy the attack on EL BURJ. The attack was hung up by very heavy enfilade machine gun fire and the Bn. Moved up to support the left (ie the Norfolks). They also came under the enfilade fire from NEBI SAMWIL. The Brigade was withdrawn slightly to a better line & held an outpost line during the night.
9 December	The Sussex were ordered to proceed and occupy high ground N. of BEIT HANINA. Soon after arrival we had orders to return & relieve the 24th Welsh in NEBI SAMWIL arriving to heavy for and rain we missed the guides of the 24th Welsh and they were not relieved unil 0100.
10 December 0700	Orders were received to withdraw Bn, to x roads S.W. of BIDDU for work on roads. As soon as any movement was shown the enemy started shelling heavily without casualties, but the reserve Coy & H.Q. had to remain until after dark. The total casualties during these operations were 1 officer (died of wounds) and 1 (wounded) 8 ORs killed & 47 wounded.
11 & 12 December	Bn. employed working on the BIDDU ENAB Rd.

Commissioned in the Field

Thomas Minshall, of Northwich, Cheshire, enlisted with Cheshire Yeomanry at Chester, on 27 August 1914. The regiment was based in Norfolk on home defence duties until March 1916, when it sailed for Egypt.

At the end of the 1916 Cheshire Yeomanry learnt it was to be formed into an infantry battalion, and amalgamated with Shropshire Yeomanry to form 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. The new Battalion was placed under orders of 231st Infantry Brigade in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division.

Thomas had gained several promotions, and by June 1917 he was an Acting Sergeant. In October 1917 he was studying at ‘Cadet Class’, the Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun, a suburb of Cairo.

2nd Lieutenant T.B. Minshall 15th (Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment

London Gazette 8 February 1918

Successfully completing his training, on 8 December 1917 Thomas Minshall was granted a Commission in the Field as 2nd Lieutenant 1/1st Suffolk Yeomanry (Duke of York’s Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars).

In the same reorganisation that affected both the Shropshire and Cheshire Yeomanry, so Suffolk Yeomanry had been converted to infantry and became 15th (Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment. They were under orders of 230th Infantry Brigade in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division.

No information has been found to date of when Thomas reached the Suffolk Regiment in the field, from his training in Cairo. In December 1917 the Regiment was positioned amongst the hills and villages to the north west of Jerusalem, as part of the general advance on the city.

Notice of Thomas’ promotion was published in the London Gazette, 8 February 1918.