Preparations of a very extensive nature, however, had to be made: Haig was in close consultation and agreement with Joffre, but the date was dependent on many doubtful factors; the British armies were growing in numbers and the supply of munitions steadily increasing; also training was daily improving the new levies. On the other hand, the Germans were continuing to press their attacks at Verdun, and both there and on the Italian front, where the Austrian offensive was gaining ground, it was evident that the strain might become too great to be borne unless timely action was taken to relieve it. It was in June no secret throughout France or England that an attack by us on a great scale was in contemplation. The different units, brigades, divisions and so on were all preparing for a very big event, and were moving to the several points from which action was to take place. It was on the 1st July that the Battle of the Somme actually took place or rather began, and it started by a grand combined Anglo-French offensive on a twenty-five mile front, north and south of the river of that name. The Somme operations lasted many weeks and are divided in Haig’s description into three phases: firstly, the successes gained between the 1st of July and the 17th, during which the southern crest of the main plateau between Delville Wood and Bazentin le Petit was gained; secondly, a long and severe struggle for the mastery between the contending armies, which may be said to have resulted in our favour by the first week in September; and thirdly, the advance, which was pushed down the forward slope and extended so that the whole plateau was in our possession.
There are many works now available, as well as the despatches themselves, which will give a military student a good and clear description of all this fighting; but the short sketch given above must serve one who reads merely to understand what the Buffs were doing in France during this momentous period.
II. 6th Battalion—1916
The 6th and 7th Battalions were the first of those engaged on the Western front to take their parts upon the Somme, and we will now note their story since the conclusion of 1915, when the 6th was in trenches at Givenchy—very cold, and waist deep in water. The New Year opened with a bombardment, and there were eighteen casualties on the 2nd January. After a short spell out of the line, the battalion returned to the trenches and for the next three months went through a time that was probably the severest of the whole war: the trenches were almost filled with mud—indeed, in some cases men were actually drowned in it; the cold was intense; fighting was continuous and the wastage by casualties appalling. The enemy had a preponderance of artillery and an unbelievable number of that most nerve-shattering of all engines of war—the heavy minenwerfer (mine-thrower). Mines were blown, all and every day and night, by both sides alike, and the orders then in force were to occupy at once any craters made, if within sixty yards of our line.
There was a somewhat notable attack on one of these craters made by the Buffs on the 6th March, 1916, which unfortunately, however, proved a failure owing, as the brigadier reported, firstly to the heavy condition of the ground, and secondly because the enemy had assembled in some force, presumably with the object of driving us out of our craters; consequently very much more opposition was met with than was anticipated. A short narrative of this minor operation may give an idea of certain incidents that are liable to occur in trench warfare. A scheme had been drawn up and the necessary orders issued for an attempt to seize what was known as the “triangle” crater, as well as certain portions of the trenches in the immediate neighbourhood of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, which were on the 6th March, 1916, in the hands of the enemy. C Company The Buffs was detailed for this minor enterprise and it was divided into three distinct parties, which were to emerge from craters in our own possession. The attempt was commenced at 6 p.m., but in ten minutes two of the attacking parties were held up by a barrage of bombs and the third by heavy ground—the mud being found to be knee deep. The party on the left managed, indeed, to reach their objective, but the fact that the others were not up necessitated their retirement, and at five minutes to seven the company had to report that its advance was absolutely stopped. Half an hour later another attempt was made, notwithstanding the fact that in the interim the enemy had attacked in his turn. At 8.5 and again at 8.35 p.m. the Buffs called urgently for more ammunition and grenades. They also requested reinforcements, and a company of the 6th Royal West Kent was ordered up to their support. Meanwhile the 7th East Surrey Regiment, which was on the left, was attacked, and, though the assailants were driven off, much damage was done to their trenches. There were two more attacks on this regiment before eleven o’clock, but they were unsuccessful. By midnight the situation on the Buffs’ front was exactly similar to what it had been previous to the attack; the enemy had made several bombing attacks against our own craters, but they were successfully repulsed and during the remainder of the night the enemy was quiet.
Later in the month on two separate occasions the battalion was brought into the line from a hurriedly snatched two or three days’ rest at Bethune, in order to resist German assaults or make a hurried counter-attack.
Amongst the many individual acts of heroism was that of Corpl. Cotter who, though himself at the time severely and, later on in the same engagement, fatally wounded, directed a bombing attack, throwing bombs himself after both his legs had been shattered, and thus saving a trench from being rushed by the enemy. Another regimental hero to be remembered for all time. It was sad that this glorious corporal died in hospital at Lillers, but very gratifying to know that he lived long enough to learn that his gallantry had been recognized by the award of the V.C.
The following official announcement was published on the 31st March, 1916, in the list of winners of the Victoria Cross:—
“No. 6707 Lance-Corpl. (Acting Corporal) William R. Cotter, East Kent.—For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. When his right leg had been blown off at the knee, and he had also been wounded in both arms, he made his way unaided for fifty yards to a crater, steadied the men who were holding it, controlled their fire, issued orders, and altered the dispositions of his men to meet a fresh counter-attack by the enemy. For two hours he held his position, and only allowed his wounds to be roughly dressed when the attack had quieted down. He could not be moved back for fourteen hours, and during all this time had a cheery word for all who passed him. There is no doubt that his magnificent courage helped greatly to save a critical situation.” His wonderful performance is still more remarkable on account of the fact that he had a glass eye. Unfortunately, he did not survive long to enjoy the great honour. At first he made good progress, but he died on the 14th of March.
For the following details of the hero’s life we are indebted to the Folkestone Herald:—