FRANCE
By 18th October 1916 the Division, now the 63rd (RN) Division, had taken its place in front of the village of Hamel by the River Ancre. From there they could see the Schwaben Redoubt and Thiepval. (At that time Edmund Blunden was with the 11th Royal Sussex in trenches by the Redoubt.)
The forthcoming attack on Beaucourt –sur- Ancre necessitated the building of new assembly trenches. It was ordered that these should be built overnight so as to avoid casualties to the diggers and Arthur Asquith was put in charge. Going forward the parties came under shellfire and Asquith and a subaltern were buried during the bombardment. The concussion had broken Asquith’s ear-drums but they both carried on. Alas, the shellfire had disorganised the unwilling diggers and they all retired without a shovelful of earth having been dug. With the attack on Beaucourt coming ever nearer, Lord Haig decided that Asquith must leave the battalion and take up a Staff appointment at his HQ – a bitter blow both to Asquith and the Hood battalion. Freyberg (affectionately known as "Khaki Jack" or "Tiny") took over. Haig’s reasoning in this case was that another of the Prime Minister’s sons – Raymond-had recently been killed in action. Haig felt it would be too much of a strain for Herbert Asquith to bear should another son be killed, especially as Herbert Jnr. was already serving with the Royal Field Artillery.
The attack on Beaucourt by the Hood battalion was successful although the losses were heavy, particularly amongst officers – 22 out of 23 and about 250 Other Ranks. Among the many wounded was Freyberg. Nevertheless he had displayed great leadership throughout the attacks and for this he was awarded the Victoria Cross. "Cleg" Kelly had reached the German third line trenches but in attacking a bombing post was killed. He lies in Martinsart British Cemetery
Rupert Brooke had gone, Freyberg and Asquith were both away wounded, Browne, Lister and Kelly were dead. Dodge had transferred to the Army. Out of that unique party there now remained Patrick Shaw Stewart still with the battalion.
During 1917 both Freyberg and Asquith returned to active service. Just before the Hood battalion was detailed to attack Gavrelle on the Arras front, Freyberg was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and despatched at once to his new job with 173 Brigade. He had spent two years and nine months with the battalion. The second in command of the battalion was nursing a wound and was not fit, so Asquith was asked to take over command which he did with enthusiasm.
Once again the R.N.Division (now the 63rd (RN) Division) distinguished itself and Gavrelle was captured on 23rd April 1917. Further excellent service by the Division followed including service at Passchendaele.
When about to return to the Ypres salient the Division was suddenly transferred on the 6th December 1917 to a sector called Welsh Ridge southwest of Cambrai. On the 18th December Asquith had been promoted to Brigadier-General and had left the Hood battalion. His tenure of office was short-lived for on the 20th December he was wounded below the knee, a wound which resulted in a partial amputation.
Patrick Shaw Stewart took over the temporary command of the battalion having just returned from leave. By the 29th December he was in the line. There was no reason to expect an attack, but heavy shelling began early on the 30th December and the whole battalion "stood to" ready to receive the attackers. It was during this period that Shaw Stewart was hit but decided to carry on but just a few minutes later he was killed outright. An eye-witness reported that Shaw Stewart was making his rounds of the front line and that the initial wound was in the lobe of his ear which bled profusely. Refusing to let the wound hinder him in his inspection of the front lines he carried on when a shell burst on the parapet and a fragment hit him in the mouth and killed him instantly.
The last member of the Grantully Castle group back in 1915 had gone. He is buried in Metz –en-Couture Communal Cemetery- British Extension. 11 miles SW of Cambrai.
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