Lieutenant: 159 George Duncan MAITLAND

World War 1 Records

ARMY SERVICE CORPS - 34th BATTALION A.I.F.

Lieutenant: 159 George Duncan MAITLAND.

Born: 1897. Ryde via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:6817/1897.

Married: 1922. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:9507/1922.

Wife: Alice A M Maitland. nee: Bothamley.

Died: 21st February 1986.

Father: William Maitland.

Mother: Margaret Maitland. nee:.

INFORMATION

George Duncan Maitland served with the 19th Infantry Militia prior to enlisting with the Australian Service Corps on the 19th January 1916.

BATTLE OF YPRES

The Approach March commenced at 6 p.m. from Cavalry Camp to the jumping off Line, the assembly Point being the Junction of Zonnebeke-Roulers Railway Line and Cemetery to the South West corner of Augustus Wood, thence to assembly Road along Roulers-Ypres Railway Line. The march was carried out without loss for about 7 Kilos, although the going was extremely difficult due to the rain and shell-holed state of the track, until Zonnenbeke Station was reached. From here to the Assembly tape the Battalion was subjected to heavy shell fire, principally 7.7's and 4.2's in many places the track had been blown up and the tape had disappeared. however in spite of this and casualties sustained, the Assembly Point was reached by 2.45 a.m. on 12th October, but some of the men were still arriving at Zero Hour. The heavy shelling of 7.7's and 4.2's continued during the Assembly and right up to Zero Hour, the greater part of which appeared to come from the South and South end of Passchendaele. Our casualties were very heavy, principally on the right flank near the cemetery and mostly occurred in "A" and "B" Companies.

The Brigade was formed up on the jumping off tape in the following order- 34th,35th and 36th Battalions. The 35th and 36th Battalions suffered heavily and were badly shot up, as the shells were passing over the 34th Battalion and were falling the the rear of the Battalions. At 5.25 a.m. our Barrage came down, but was so weak that in many cases was difficult to determine which was our Barrage and which was the enemy's. This made it hard for the men to keep up with Barrage, however the greatest obstacle met in the advance was the condition of the ground, particularly on the left flank of "C" and "D" Companies. There were many men lost altogether in the mire. The pace of the advance was slowed up owing to the assistance it was necessary to give men who had sunk into shell holes and could not extricate themselves without assistance.

(3) The action of the 9th Division advance to the starting line to commence the dawn attack at Passchendaele I on 12th October 1917, through the German gas barrage called "Moondnacht", in pouring rain and pitch darkness, only to find the line was not secured. Captain: 1263 Telford Graham GILDER and Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES commanding the leading companies of the 34th Battalion, halted their companies at the entrance to the Broodseinde railway cutting, and themselves went forward to make sure that their column might not run into the enemy.?

(1) In a number of cases the helpers became engulfed in the awful morass and many of the wounded had to be left where they fell. The first organised opposition met with was two concrete Pill Boxes, East of Augustus Wood and North East of Seine House. These help up the center of the advance until Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. organised a Bombing Party and succeeded in rushing and capturing the Strong Point, taking 35 Prisoners and Four Machine Guns, 150 yards in the rear of this Dugout was a small Trench, about 50 yards long, in which were 20 or 3o of the enemy, who were accounted for as the Wave passed on. Throughout the advance to the Red Line heavy Machine Gun Fire was encountered from the direction of Belle Vue and Meetchiele on the left flank, and from Tiber and Tiber Copes on the right flank in the Railway Embankment. The position was also mopped up as the Wave went forward. On reaching the Red Line the Battalion began to dig in, but was greatly harassed by fire from Machine Guns situated on the right flank, about 200 yards from Railway Embankment. Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. again organised a Party of 2 N.C.O's Sergeant: 21 James BRUCE Corporal: 2036 Vere "Vic" Cumming STEVENSON. and 10 men to capture this Post. Unfortunately this brave Officer was killed in the attempt. For this action we was posthumously awarded the VICTORIA CROSS

The N.C.O's Sergeant: 21 James BRUCE and Corporal: 2036 Vere "Vic" Cumming STEVENSON. carried on and captured the Post in a gallant fight, taking two Machine Guns and 40 Prisoners. Casualties all along had been very heavy and the 35th and 36th Battalions had also suffered severely. It was decided to send all the men of the 34th Battalion to assist in the capture of the Blue and Green Lines. Captain: John William RICHARDSON. of "D" Company succeeded in reorganizing the Battalion and took them forward to the Blue Line, where he was killed. Tiber Copse caused considerable trouble, but was taken by organised Parties of the 35th and 36th Battalion, augmented by the 34th Battalion. On reaching the Blue Line, the Parties commenced to dig in and were subjected the whole time to heavy Machine Gun Fire from Belle Vue and Meetchiele, in addition to heavy Barrage Fire from the enemy Artillery.

At 3 p.m. the word was received that owing to the severity of hostile Shelling and Machine Gun Fire the Line was withdrawing. Instructions were immediately sent to hold the Line at all costs and to endeavor to refuse the left flank. Under murderous fire and vilest conditions a new Line was constructed from Deine Crossing on the Ypres-Roulers Railway, north to the direction of Waterfields. In advance to the Red Line all the Officers of the Battalion had been killed or wounded with the exception of three, who became casualties before reaching the Blue Line. Therefore the bulk of the organisation fell on the shoulders of the N.C.O's, who, although suffered heavy casualties, did remarkable fine work. The Trench Mortars took no active part in the Battle. One Mortar was blown out before reaching the Assembly Line and owing to the difficulties of the ground the Ammunition Carriers of the other did not arrive.

The Machine Gunners found it impossible to carry their Guns forward and they did not arrive at the Assembly Point until some hours after Zero. The general condition of the ground over which the men had to travel and attack was one of the two primary causes for non-success of the operation. Never before had the men been called upon to fight under such awful conditions. It was simply a mass of mud and water across the entire Front. A succession of water-filled Shell holes, which not only reduced the rate of advance but bunched the men together in their attempt to find a track around the shell holes. This gave the enemy a splendid opportunity to use his Machine Gun. The barrage throughout was very weak, no doubt caused by the extreme difficulty experienced in getting the Guns and Ammunition forward owing to the terrible state of the ground. Thus many enemy Strong Points which otherwise would have been put out of action, were left to take active participation in the fight. Belle Vue on the left flank gave the enemy a magnificent field of Fire across the whole Brigade Front. Failure may have been turned to success if the Reserve Battalion (33rd Battalion) had been brought up and used to reinforce the other Battalions. Undoubtedly this would have been of great assistance on the Blue Line, in refusing the left flank and may have saved a withdrawal.

During the initial attack Battalion Headquarters were established at Seine House. An arrangement which worked well proved economical for Signalers and Runners throughout. the following day, 13th October, the enemy kept up a heavy concentrated Artillery Fire over the whole area, apparently having no idea of the actual position of our troops. Seine House and the Regimental Aid Post at the Railway Line were subjected to particular heavy fire and many casualties occurred at both places. Major: Gother Robert Carlisie CLARKE. M.I.D (Regimental Medical Officer), was killed by a shell which fell right among the wounded who were being dressed in the open. Major: Gother Robert Carlisie CLARKE. M.I.D fell dead across an Officer of the 37th Battalion, whose wounds he was dressing. A number of Ambulance Medical Corps staff were also killed and wounded by the same Shell.

Captain: Norbert Henry BRIDGE. later took over as (Regimental Medical Officer). The Battalion was sadly depleted and all the Officer had become casualties. The "B" Team, consisting of 3 Officers and 135 Other Ranks, was sent forward as reinforcements. The Lewis Guns and Rifles were in a very bad state, as the liquid mud had gradually worked into the parts and put them out of action. The heavy Shelling continued, especially in the vicinity of the Railway and Seine Mule track. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the Rations up, as many of the Mules were being bogged and in some cases had to be abandoned. Enemy Planes were coming over in Large formations, flying low and Machine Gunning both Troops and Transport thus inflicting many casualties.

At 6:00 pm on 14th October, being relieved by the 43rd Battalion, the men in a very exhausted condition withdrew to the reverse side of Abraham Heights, as close support, whist Headquarters remained at Seine House. Squadron after Squadron of enemy Planes continued to come over during the day and night, bombing and Machine Gunning with impunity, as our Planes were missing.

On the night of 15th October the Battalion relieved the 41st Battalion in the Front Line, from Augustus Wood to Waterfields, Battalion Headquarters being at Otto Farm. The 33rd Battalion was on our right and the OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES (N.Z.) on our left.. The weather was bitterly cold and raining. About 100 Gas Shells came over but did little damage owing to the rain. Very heavy Shelling by 5.9's and 4.2's was systematically carried out as well as bombing by Planes. Everyone was having a very trying time, including the Q.M. Store and Transport at Caralong Farm. The Battalion was relieved on the 19th October by the 4th York and Lancers and marched to the Camp South Ypres. The Central Camp had been removed from Caralong Farm owing to the severity of Shelling. The men (a small number) arrived at Camp completely exhausted and done up. After a hot meal, rum and a complete change of clothing, the men settled down for a rest. However very little rest was obtainable, as Bombing Planes were freely dropping the cargoes on the Camp and surrounding area, day and night.

The total number who took part in this operation, as far as the 34th Battalion was concerned was 19 Officers and 509 Other Ranks. Of these 16 Officers and 250 Other Ranks were either killed or wounded. The Officers killed in action were:- Major: Gother Robert Carlisie CLARKE. (R.M.O.) Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. and Captain: John William RICHARDSON. Lieutenant: John Abbott LONGWORTH. Lieutenant: 160 Bruce Gray McKENZIE. Lieutenant: James Clement BURGES. Lieutenant: 1291 Albert Leslie WATSON. The Officers wounded were:- Captain: Telford Graham GILDER. Lieutenants:- Lieutenant: 1291 Albert Leslie WATSON. Lieutenant: 4 Thomas Clifton PITTAWAY. Lieutenant: 61 Cryil Osman EDWARDS. Lieutenant: Harold Wydham LILJA. Lieutenant: Eric Charles EDWARDS. Lieutenant: 1410 Oliver Provan DAVIDSON. Lieutenant: W C PULVIS. Lieutenant: 159 George Duncan MAITLAND.