First day on the Somme

For its first offensive action, 30th Division formed the extreme right of the BEF and was to attack alongside the French Army; its task was the Capture of Montauban. After a seven-day bombardment, the attack went in at 07.30 on 1 July 1916. 89th Brigade, with 17th and 20th King's leading, set off from their four lines of assembly trenches. They advanced in quick time, with rifles slung, over the 500 yards (460 m) of No man's land, finding the barbed wire well cut by the bombardment. To ensure good liaison, Lieutenant-Colonel B.C. Fairfax of 17th King's and Commandant Le Petit of the neighbouring 3rd Battalion, 135th French Infantry Regiment, stepped over the parapet together as the second wave advanced, and they went forward arm-in-arm. The companies of the last wave advanced ahead of schedule, and thereby missed the German counter-bombardment that came down on their assembly trenches a few minutes later. The German defenders were not out of their dugouts in time to man their front trench, and about 300 were captured in the dugouts by 2nd Bedfords, 'mopping up' behind the leading battalions, which pressed on through 'German's Wood' to 'Casement Trench' and 'Alt Trench'. After a pause to allow the British barrage to lift (the attackers were ahead of schedule) 89th Bde pressed on to its first objective, the newly-dug 'Dublin Trench' a reserve line some 700–1,000 yards (640–910 m) beyond the front. The brigade found the trench unoccupied, and the 135th French Regiment also entered 'Dublin Redoubt'. The troops began to consolidate the captured line, using picks and shovels brought up by carrying parties of the supporting battalion. In fact Dublin Trench was so battered by Allied artillery that it was unrecognisable, and in places the British dug new positions by joining up shellholes 150 yards (140 m) beyond it (which saved casualties when the Germans began shelling the original trench). In a little over an hour 30th Division had easily taken its first objective. 90th Brigade then passed through to complete the Capture of Montauban by 11.30. The division's final objective for the day was a brickworks beyond Montauban, the chimney of which was a German observation post. It was subjected to heavy artillery fire and then assaulted by No 4 Company of 20th King's, from Dublin Trench. They took the place within a few minutes, capturing a German regimental HQ. 30th Division had taken all of its objectives – one of the BEF's few successful actions on the otherwise disastrous First Day on the Somme. Although there were still 8 hours of daylight, and the division sent patrols ahead into Bernafy Wood (finding it unoccupied), it was not allowed to advance further, because the other British formations were held up. It was several days before Bernafy Wood was captured, by which time 30th Division had been relieved in the line.^{[7][9][12][16][17]}

Thereafter, the brigade took part in the following actions:^[7][9]

• Battle of the Somme
  • Capture of Trônes Wood (7–13 July)
  • Battle of the Transloy Ridges (10–18 October)

1917

• German retreat to the Hindenburg Line (14 March–5 April)
• Battle of Arras:
  • First Battle of the Scarpe (9–13 April)
  • Second Battle of the Scarpe (23–24 April)
• Third Battle of Ypres:
  • Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July–2 August)

Sanctuary Wood, painted by David Baxter.

At Pilckem Ridge, the opening phase of the Ypres offensive, II Corps was given the toughest objective, the capture of the Gheluvelt Plateau. Within the corps, 30th Division had the hardest task of all, but it had not recovered from its severe losses on the Somme and at Arras. Although General Headquarters had suggested replacing it with a fresher division, this had not been done. The infantry attacked at 03.50 on 31 July 1917 behind a creeping barrage, but despite 14 days of bombardment, the Germans' rearward positions were still intact, and their guns behind the Gheluvelt Plateau remained unsuppressed. 21st and 90th Brigades made slow progress, held up by machine guns, and lost the barrage. They could not get beyond their first objective (the Blue Line). Two battalions of 89th Bde were tasked with advancing in combination with 18th (Eastern) Division on the third and fourth objectives. Learning that the second objective (the Black Line) had not been reached, part of 18th (E) Division was recalled, but the battalions of 89th Bde and two from 54th Bde had already set off. Trying to pass through the tangled fallen trees and shellholes of Sanctuary Wood and delayed by constant German shellfire, they missed the barrage, which had already lifted onto the third objective before they reached the Blue Line at 08.00. Attempts to get across the open ground beyond were unsuccessful, and casualties were heavy. The failure of 30th Division meant that the neighbouring 8th Division was also held up. By 13.30 the whole of II Corps' attack was deadlocked, and it consolidated its meagre gains. Heavy rain set in at the end of the day, effectively ending the Battle of Pilckem Ridge.^{[7][9][18][19][20]}

30th Division was criticised for its performance by the chief of staff of Fifth Army, and after the failure on the opening day of the Ypres offensive, 30th Division was not used for an attack again in 1917.^[7][9][13]

1918

By early 1918 the BEF was suffering a manpower crisis and brigades were reorganised on a three-battalion basis, the surplus units being broken up to provide reinforcements. 20th King's was disbanded on 8 February 1918 and on 11 February 2nd Bedfords transferred to 90th Bde in exchange for 18th King's (which had absorbed the personnel of 1/1st Lancashire Hussars during 1917). The brigade MG companies were grouped into a divisional battalion of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) on 1 March 1918. These changes gave 89th Bde the following organisation:^[7][9][10]

• 17th King's (1st City)
• 18th King's (Lancashire Hussars)
• 19th King's (3rd City)
• 89th TMB

Spring Offensive

When the German spring offensive was launched on 21 March 1918, 30th Division was in the centre of XVIII Corps, holding a forward slope facing the town of St Quentin. 89th Brigade was in corps reserve, in and behind the Green (Reserve) Line, and therefore was not engaged at the start of the battle. The Germans attacked out of a morning mist after a savage bombardment, and 30th Division's outposts were soon overrun. However, a line of redoubts in the Forward Zone held out for a considerable time, and the mist had cleared by the time the Germans approached the main Battle Zone, sited on a reverse slope and supported by artillery. By nightfall the Germans had gained a footing in the defended village of Roupy, but could not take the 'Keep' in the centre. 30th Division had carried out one of the most successful defensive actions of the day. At 01.45 the following morning 19th King's from 89th Bde came up and made a counter-attack which regained some of the lost ground. Of the other two battalions of 89th Bde, one was positioned at Vaux to support the left of 30th Division, the other at Attilly in support of the neighbouring 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. During 22 March the Germans made two further attacks on Roupy, with aircraft directing the artillery. After hard fighting. they finally took the village between 14.00 and 15.00, whereupon the survivors of the garrison fell back to 'Stanley Redoubt' in a group of houses south-west of Roupy, where the battalion HQs of 19th Kings and 2nd Green Howards were situated. Here they made a stand that caused heavy casualties to the attackers, and then they broke through the encircling Germans and went back to the Green Line. However, the Green Line trenches had only been dug a few inches deep, and there were no tools or time to complete them quickly. Furthermore, the Germans had achieved substantial breakthroughs both north and south of St Quentin. That night XVIII Corps issued orders to withdraw from the Green Line to the left bank of the Somme, 30th Division passing through 20th (Light) Division which was to act as the rearguard. 89th Brigade was reassembled to hold the new divisional line on the Somme, while the rest of 30th Division went into reserve.^{[7][9][21][22]}

While his battalions were dispersed, Brig-Gen Stanley had been sent to Ham during 22 March to organise the defence of the bridgehead there. He had the 21st and 23rd Entrenching Battalions, 30th Divisional Royal Engineers (RE) and three 'Special' (gas) RE Companies, five platoons from XVIII Corps Reinforcement Camp and some of the Corps Cyclists. With these troops he had improved the trenches and wire round the town, but the position was still weak. As soon as the battalions of 89th Bde arrived about 02.00 on the morning of 23 March, these other troops were withdrawn, leaving Stanley with three weak battalions to hold a semicircular line round the town over 2 miles (3.2 km) long. The Germans attacked at dawn, covered by morning mist. For about an hour, 89th Bde held off the frontal attack, but its line did not extend back to the river, and German troops infiltrated along the riverbank from the west and installed machine guns in the brigade’s rear. The three battalions withdrew through the town, fighting as best they could, many of the men being cut off near the river. A remnant managed to cross over by No 4 Bridge, which was blown up by the engineers just as the Germans gained a footing on it (the other bridges had already been damaged). Nevertheless, German infantry scrambled across the ruins. The men cut off in the town continued fighting for another two hours before they were eliminated. The survivors of 89th Bde reformed in front of Verlaines and then moved forward again to confront the Germans along the railway. By the end of the day, the Germans had gained two other crossings of the river and canal, and XVIII Corps had been forced back. Next day 90th Bde held the line, with 89th Bde (its three battalions forming a single composite battalion) in support, but the Germans were lapping round 30th Division's flank, and it continued its withdrawal soon after 10.30. Once the artillery had withdrawn, the infantry (much mixed up) crossed the Canal du Nord at Lannoy Farm. That night 90th Bde dug in along the deep canal cutting, with the other two brigades in support. Next day (25 March) the division held its ground, despite heavy shelling, but about 16.00 it began to be shelled from its right rear, while German troops who had crossed the canal further along began rolling up its line. Half an hour later it was ordered to retire through the French troops who had come up in support, though casualties were heavy during this retirement. By daybreak on 26 March what was left of 30th Division (no more than about 1000 men) was assembled 7 miles (11 km) WNW of Roye, ready with the rest of XVIII Corps to fill the gap between the French and XIX Corps. 30th Division encountered the Germans moving towards Le Quesnoy; it took up positions at Bouchoir about a mile back and covered the rearguard's retirement from Le Quesnoy. That night it formed the front line. The German attack came at 09.00 on 27 March and fighting was heavy. Owing to a misunderstanding with the French, 30th Division fell back a short way, but was able to regain its position. However, that afternoon it had to retire to conform with the rest of the corps. The enemy did not follow, but pushed past the division towards Montdidier. French troops were supposed to relieve 30th Division that night, but it was not until midday on 28 March that the survivors were allowed to fall back through the French and across the River Avre into reserve.^{[7][9][23][24][25]}

The exhausted 30th Division was withdrawn for rest on 29 March, but the BEF had no reinforcements available for it. In early April it was sent north to the quiet Flanders sector under Second Army. However, this was the area selected by the Germans for the second phase of the spring offensive (the Battle of the Lys), launched on 9 April. 30th Division was positioned holding the most northerly sector of the Ypres Salient, and by 12 April the pressure on Second Army was such that much of the salient had to be abandoned in order to shorten the line. 30th Division completed its move on 15 April. This freed 89th Bde to be sent on 17 April to support IX Corps, which was under attack on the southern side of the salient. Together with men of 13th Battalion, Tank Corps, operating dismounted with Lewis guns, 89th Bde relieved brigades of 25th and 34th Divisions. Next day IX Corps successfully held off attacks against Mont Kemmel and was then relieved by French troops over succeeding days; 89th Bde passed to the command of XXII Corps. However, the Germans renewed their attacks on 25 April, taking Mont Kemmel from the French and pressing back the flank of XXII Corps. The whole of 30th Division was now present, comprising 89th Bde and 21st Composite Bde, detachments of which were used to relieve frontline units of XXII Corps. When the attack developed 89th Bde was ordered up from east of Poperinge and put at the disposal of 21st Division at 14.50 to help hold the Vierstraat Line (the Support Line) to which the division was retiring. Bitter fighting continued next day, XXII Corps giving some ground. On 27 April the fighting centred on Voormezeele: 39th Division Composite Bde lost the village in the afternoon but recovered it by an immediate counter-attack. 89th Brigade was then ordered to relieve 39th Comp Bde that night, but the Germans attacked while this was being carried out, and they gained a foothold in the village. Next day Brig-Gen R.A.M. Currie of 89th Bde was given command of the whole 21st Division front from Ridge Wood to Lock 8 on the Ypres–Comines Canal. The Germans pushed along the canal and captured the lock, but Currie established a new outpost line from Voormezeele to 700 yards (640 m) north of the lock. Next day, 29 April (the Battle of the Scherpenberg), saw all three battalions of 89th Bde desperately holding this line against a heavy bombardment and infantry attack. Two companies on the left were surrounded and captured, making the Voormezeele Switch trench untenable, but 89th Bde swung back its left as far as the main line of resistance before the second infantry attack developed. This was then stopped by effective artillery fire. About 17.00 further enemy movements were slowed by rifle and machine gun fire, then stopped by the artillery. Next day the Germans called off the Lys offensive.^[7][9][26]

Given the shortage of reinforcements, not all the British divisions could be brought back to full strength, and a number (including the 30th) were selected to be reduced to cadre strength until fresh units could be brought back from the Palestine Campaign. From 2 to 11 May the remnants of all three brigades of 30th Division were formed into '30th Composite Brigade' under the command of Brig-Gen Currie of 89th Bde:^[7][27]

• 17th King's (with available men of 18th and 19th King's)
• 2nd Bedfords (with available men of 2nd Wiltshires)
• 2nd Green Howards (with available men of 16th and 17th Manchesters)
• 202nd (County Palatine) Field Company, Royal Engineers
• C Company, No 30 Battalion, MGC
• No 4 Company, 30th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps

In its short existence 30th Composite Bde served under the command of 49th (West Riding) and 33rd Divisions. For a while the units of 30th Division were used to train newly-arrived US Army battalions. On 14 May the three battalions of 89th Bde were reduced to training cadres (consisting of 10 officers and 45 other ranks) and transferred to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division to continue working with the Americans. The cadre of 7th Bedfords briefly joined the brigade from 21st Bde on 15 June, but within days it had also gone to 66th Division to be absorbed by 2nd Bedfords.^[7][9][28]

Hundred Days Offensive

The reconstituted 30th Division was re-assigned to Second Army on the Flanders front. By the time the division was ready for action the Final Allied Advance (the Hundred Days Offensive) had begun, and Second Army was cautiously following a deliberate German retirement. On 1 September 89th Bde carried out a small operation by itself to capture Neuve Eglise.^{[7][9][32][33]} Second Army began a major offensive (the Fifth Battle of Ypres) on 28 September. 30th Division was to watch for opportunities, and it sent patrols forward. At 16.40 it was ordered to advance and complete the capture of that day's third objective. The brigades attacked at 18.30 and gained a little ground, slowed up more by broken terrain and oncoming darkness than by enemy opposition. Starting early next morning 89th Bde cleared the Messines–Wytschaete Ridge, and made rapid progress towards the Comines Canal, which it reached easily.^{[7][9][32][34]}

89th Brigade was in reserve when 30th Division attacked again at the Battle of Courtrai on 14 October. The division pushed patrols forward to the River Lys on 15 October and crossed next day. It continued its advance over the following days, using small advance guards with 89th Bde further back in support. On 21 October patrols from the brigade took over the lead as the division approached the River Schelde and occupied its west bank.^[7][9][35]

Second Army prepared an assault crossing of the Schelde timed for 11 November, but the enemy began withdrawing on 8 November and next day 89th Bde forced a crossing of the river at Avelgem. It advanced rapidly through Ansercoeuil to reach Renaix that night. The line was pushed forwards next day, and the division occupied Ellezelles, confronting the German rearguards at Flobecq, east of Renaix. On the morning of 11 November the 7th Dragoon Guards passed through the infantry, and advanced rapidly with the leading infantry of 89th Bde to reach a line from Ghoy to La Livarde, north west of Lessines when the Armistice came into force at 11.00.^[7][9][36]

Afterwards 30th Division moved back to the west and by 4 December was billeted in Renescure until the end of the month when its units moved to the base ports of Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne and Étaples for duties there. In February demobilisation began, but 30th Division remained in existence until 1 September 1919.^[7][9]

89th Brigade was not reformed in World War II.^[37]