How Major Borrett Of The 2nd Battalion K.O.R. Lancaster
Regiment, Won The D.S.O. At Zillebeke, On February 18th 1915
After the failure
of the prolonged and savage effort of the Germans to break through the
French and British lines round Ypres in October and November, a period of
comparative quiescence followed. Winter
made operations on a large scale almost impossible, and the attentions of
the enemy were drawn to the Eastern Front, where a similar onslaught
against Warsaw met the fate of that against Ypres.
In February, however, there was a renewal of local activity, and
the war of sapping and mining reached a climax on the 18th,
when a trench at Zillebeke held by a certain British regiment was blown
bodily into the air. The
position, which faced the famous Hill 60, then in German hands, was one of
the great importance; it’s loss meant a serious gap in our system of
defences and enabled the enemy to enfilade the advanced trenches to right
and left. It was imperative that the lost trench, though more like a
ditch than a trench as the result of the explosion should be retaken.
The attack was entrusted to Major Borrett’s company, which was in
reserve about two miles in the rear.
The order was communicated during the night, and at dawn the
company left its trenches. Major
Borrett had no illusions as to the difficulties and risks of his task.
The enemy had had time to establish themselves in the captured
trench, to reorganise its defences, and to bring up the machine guns,
which are an integral, indeed the essential, part of their equipment.
A February dawn, when the sun’s pale rays strike through a thick
curtain of heavy rain, is hardly the condition to instil enthusiasm into
sleepy, tired an drenched British soldiers; but the men, with the prospect
of warm work ahead of them, felt themselves masters of their fate, and a
few simple words from Major Borrett put them on excellent terms with
themselves. The one thing
needful was to be on even better terms with the enemy.
The two miles of soaked fields, dripping woods, quagmires and shell
swept roads had to be covered, though the road itself was speedily
abandoned as little more than a death trap.
The communication trenches were ditches in which the men waded up
to their waists, but Major Borrett inspired them by his example and a few
cheerful words.
At length our second line trench was reached,
a short hundred yards from the place where the Germans imagined they
secure in their new stronghold. A
communication trench connected the two trenches at this point, and Major
Borrett decided himself to lead a storming party up this communication
trench while the rest of his command rushed the German trench in the open.
On his word of command the two companies leaped to their feet and
raced across the intervening space, throwing bombs as they went. In a minute there was a desperate scuffle on the parapet and
bombs, grenades, and bayonets competed in deadly rivalry.
Then the enemy lost heart, broke and fled with yells; hand
grenades, as parting gifts, whizzing past their ears.
Meanwhile the Major himself and his bombing party were engaged in
the most critical and difficult part of the operation.
The communication trench was handful of water, and though its
windings kept the attackers from the view of the enemy until the last
moment, the Germans lobbed over bombs over the top of the parapet, which
caused many casualties. The
Major, leading the men, had a series of narrow escapes, but at length the
last turn was reached, and with as shout the party hurled itself and a
cloud of bombs and grenades against the German barricade.
No man has ever yet done justice to the pandemonium, which ensues
when men armed with every kind of explosive fight each other in a confined
space. All the more wonder,
then, that Major Borrett kept his head, continued to direct and encourage
his men, and at length discovered the German officer in command and
singled him out as a worthy rival. Then
ensued what can only be described as a freakish incident in modern war-a
full dress duel between the respective commanders.
At point blank range the two men raised their revolvers and fired
simultaneously. Major Borrett
dropped his weapon, shot through the shoulder, but his rival flung up his
arms, and fell back into the mine stone dead.
The death of their leader struck dismay into the surviving Germans
and as the news of the loss of the main trench reached them they gave way.
Many surrendered, and of the rest most were shot down as they tried
to escape. Major Borrett’s wound
was serious, but happily not fatal, and with returning health came the
knowledge that his fine leadership and the brilliant exploit of his men
had been accorded the recognition they deserved. Extracted
from 'Deed That Thrill The Empire'
The York and Lancaster Regiment
The
York and Lancaster Regiment is built of the formerly linked battalions of
the 65th (2nd York North Riding) and the 84th
(York and Lancaster).
In 1756 the 12th Foot had a 2nd
battalion, which, two years later, became the 65th.
It was called the “2nd Yorkshire North Riding
Regiment” in 1782, a title it retained until the present
territorialisation system was introduced.
The new regiment first saw active service at Guadaloupe and
Havannah, 1759 to 1762, and then embarked for America, to fight at
Bunker’s Hill, but going home afterwards; it returned to the West Indies
in 1794, to take part in the attack on Martinique and Guadaloupe.
A curious method of enlistment was adopted in the regiment when it
came home: “Parish boys,” from the Scottish poorhouse, who had been
enlisted for the 16th, were posted to the 65th.
After routine duty at the Cape in 1801, the
regiment sailed for India, and fought under Lake at Guzert, Mawla, and
Bhurtpore; after which, in 1809, it saw active service against the
Wahabees, in the Persian Gulf, and assisted to destroy Ras-ul-Khynah and
other piratical holds.
Present at the reduction of Mauritius, it
returned to India for the operations in Kattiwar, Guzerat, and Cutch; the
Pindari War, and the capture of Poonah; in the Persian Gulf at
Ras-ul-Khymah again; once more in Cutch at the taking of Dwarka; in the
Persian Gulf, for the third time, on the destruction of the stronghold of
the Beni-boo Ali tribe; finally to return home in 1822, with the reward,
for continual and gallant service in the East, of bearing on the colours
the Royal Tiger, with “India” and “Arabia.”
The 65th saw active service in the
New Zealand campaign-during which Sergeant McKenna and Lance-Corporal J.
Ryan won the Victoria Cross-after 1846; but after that saw no further
fighting until the Suakim disturbances, when, on its way home, it was
landed to fight at El Teb and Tamai.
The 84th regiment first appears
from 1759 to 1764; then as the “Royal Highland Emigrants” in 1775,
which became the 84th in 1778, and was disbanded in 1784, when
its uniform was similar to the 42nd; and finally in 1893, when
the present regiment came into being, and incorporated with a 2nd
battalion, raised in 1794, received the title “York and Lancaster
Regiment” in 1809.
Its early history was uneventful.
It served abroad in Madras, Flanders, the capture of Cape Town,
Perim, Aden, India (seeing active service at Surat and Guzerat and Goa),
the capture of Mauritius, the operations in Kattiwar and Cutch, the
Pindari disturbances, and at Kandeish and Cutch again before it returned
home in 1819. these services were rendered between 1800 and 1819; after
which date it saw no further active service until 1842, when it was in
Burmah, and was stationed at Moulmein; but it returned to India in time to
share in the suppression of the Mutiny in 1857.
Detachments were sent to assist Wheeler at Cawnpore (where most of
them were massacred) and Lawrence at Lucknow; the latter serving in the
defence of the Residency. The
keeper of the cemetery at Cawnpore when the Mutiny was suppressed was
private Murphy of the 84th, who was one of the two soldiers,
other than officers, who escaped from the massacre.
The rest of the regiment was also in the first relief of Lucknow,
and its defence; at the battle of Alumbagh and the capture of Lucknow, and
finally with the Azimghur column.
Its last active service was in the Tel-el-Kebir
campaign, where it did good work at Kassassin and throughout the campaign.
A 2nd battalion, raised in 1808,
served at Wacheren and the siege of Flushing in 1809, and for its services
in the Peninsula from 1813 to 1814 added “Nive” and “Peninsula” to
the colours, though it was also present at the Bidaddoa and the investment
of Bayonne. The
facings of the 65th were white, those of the 84th
yellow. Now both are white.
The “Union Rose” is the badge on the 84th in 1820.
The Royal Tiger, with “India” and “Arabia,” were given for
the valuable services of the 65th in those countries from 1802
to 1822. The buttons have the
title, a laurel wreath, the Tiger, a coronet, and the Union rose; the
tunic collar has the Royal Tiger; the helmet-plate the Union Rose and
title; the waist-plate the same with the Royal Tiger; on the forage-cap a
Union Rose, with the Tiger.
The 3rd West York Militia forms
the 3rd battalion of the regiment, and was raised in 1757.
The Volunteer battalions are the 2nd West Riding,
Yorkshire (Sheffield), and the 8th West Riding, Yorkshire (Doncaster).
Both wear scarlet uniforms, with white facing.
The regiment has no special name, and is
usually called by its territorial title.
The depot was at Pontefract.
THOMAS
GRADY
(Private,
afterwards Sergeant)
4th
King’s (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
This brave Irishman, on October 18th 1854, volunteered
to repair the embrasures of the battery on the Left Attack, assisted by
another whose name has not been handed down.
This act was accomplished successfully in clear daylight, under a
heavy fire from a whole line of batteries.
Again, on November 22nd, during the repulse of an attack
on the most advanced trenches, although severely wounded he refused to
quit his post among his comrades, but kept encouraging them to “hold
on,” and was the means of saving the position and preventing the guns
from being spiked.
Sergeant Grady died some years ago in
Victoria, New South Wales.
JOHN SINNOTT (Lance-Corporal,
afterwards Corporal) 84th (York and
Lancaster) Regiment
On October 6th 1857, at Lucknow, Lieutenant Gibaut went
several times, carrying water, to extinguish a fire which had occurred in
a breastwork, and he was accompanied by Lance-Corporal Jogn Sinnott on
almost every fell mortally wounded, upon which Sinnott, together with
Sergeants Glinn and Mullins, and Private Mullins, went out, and carried
him into shelter under a heavy fire. He was twice wounded during the performance of this act, and
was elected by his fellow-soldiers to receive the Victoria Cross under
Rule 13 of the Warrant.
He died at Livingstone Road, Clapham on July
20th 1896, aged 63.
