9th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 9th (Scottish) Division.
9th Battalion formed at Fort George in October 1914 and attached to the new 9th Scottish Division of Kitcheners “First New Army”. In November 1914 it moved to Aldershot and early in 1915 became the divisional pioneer batt. This was an extra batt, not forming part of a brigade, normally used for such tasks as digging trenches and gun pits, building huts and maintaining roads, although being fully trained as infantry and able to fight in that capacity as required.
The battalion went to France on 10th May 1915 with the Division, and remained there for the rest of the war.
Approximate order of engagements for the 9th Batt. Seaforths (Pioneers)
(Extracts from “The Seaforth Highlanders” edited by Col. J.M. Sym 1962)
25/9/1915- Battle of Loos. Trench digging. Won praise for linking up newly won trenches under fire, and in taking up arms to repel enemy.
14/7/1916- Battle of the Somme. Hard and continuous fighting around Longueval and Delville wood. Several attacks carried out, much progress made. (See detailed breakdown)
9/4/1917 Battle of Arras. Abandoned tools to repel enemy counter-attack.
1/6/1917 In conjunction with a night attack by another batt. the 9th entrenched a new area under heavy fire, suffering severe casualties.
Oct 1917 Battle of Ypres. (First Passchendaele). Took part in the battle but rain and shell-fire had by this time destroyed the terrain so little progress was made.
11/3/1918 Batt. returned to the line
21/3/1918 Battle of St. Quentin. In Divisional reserve. Enemy attacked at 9am. Heavy fighting.
23/3/1918 Situation critical, patrols report enemy massing for attack. Batt. holding St. Pierre Vaast wood.
24/3/1918 Vast hordes of Germans attack. They were mown down. Batt. suffered heavy casualties. After leaving the wood batt. was observed and subject to heavy machine-gun fire. Batt. fought rearguard action through Rancourt and Combles. Acted as cover for Div. Artillery firing over open sights. Enemy slaughter terrific. Eventually took up position in front of Hardicourt for a prolonged stand. Retreat via Trones Wood, Maricourt and Bray, and on evening of the 25th to Etinhem. At midnight orders to hold line Meaulte-Albert. Stern fighting, ammunition now scarce. Withdraw to railway embankment between Albert-Dernacourt. Severe losses inflicted on enemy.
25/3/1918 Quiet night but heavy shelling at 7am. Then machine-gun fire and infantry attacks all day. Hand to hand combat. Relieved by Australians at nightfall. Marched to Henencourt via Lavieville. Batt. strength on 21/3/1918 was 881. On 27/3/1918 163 answered roll call. Most casualties on railway embankment and from own artillery fire. From the great war Forum
2nd Battalion where at Arras
