Artists Rifles First Battalion ; Second Battalion & Third Battalion
The First Fifty ; Artists Roll of Honour
Section II
List of Decorations, Honours and Rewards for services in the Field obtained by members of the Corps since August 4th, 1914.
Victoria Cross
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Cross
Military Cross - A
Military Cross - B
Military Cross - C
Military Cross - D
Military Cross - E
Military Cross - F
Military Cross - G
Military Cross - H
Military Cross - IJ
Military Cross - K
Military Cross - L
Military Cross - M
Military Cross - NO
Military Cross - P
Military Cross - R
Military Cross - S
Military Cross - T
Military Cross - UV
Military Cross - WY
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross
[Much of the detail here are excerpts from the text of "The regimental roll
of honour and war record of the Artists' Rifles (1/28th, 2/28th and 3/28th
battalions, the London Regiment T. F.) Commissions, promotions, appointments and
rewards for service in the field obtained by members of the corps since 4th
August, 1914" ]
THE FIRST BATTALION.
On the 2nd August, 1914, the 2nd London Division T.F. to which the Artists were
allocated as Army Troops, assembled on Salisbury Plain for their annual camp. At
midnight the Division was recalled post-haste to London and on the 5th August
was mobilised for active service and placed on duty the same day. Within a
fortnight it moved out to its War Station in Hertfordshire, minus the Artists,
who were left behind, much to their chagrin "to help in the defence of London."
Quartered successively at Manchester Street Schools, Lord's Cricket Ground, and
the Tower, they presently rejoined their Division in the country but had not
been there a week when at less than 48 hours' notice the Battalion was embarked
overseas, landing in the critical period at the end of October, 1914.
On their way up to Ypres they were dramatically halted at Bailleul by a
Staff-Officer (as it happened, an old Artists Adjutant, Col. Romer) with an
urgent message from the Commander-in-Chief who wished to see them. They
de-bussed and were visited by him there. The result of an historic interview
between him and Colonel May was that a few days later some 50 "other ranks,"
public school and University men who had taken to heart Lord Roberts' warning
and trained in peace time, were rapidly given some practical tips, promoted to
Second Lieutenant and the next day went straight into action (still wearing
their Territorial private's uniform and Artists badge with the addition of a
"pip") against some of Germany's most famous Regiments, in command of seasoned
regular soldiers of the immortal Seventh
Division.*
The experiment of thus attaching Artists to the Old Contemptibles as
"Probationary Officers" having proved successful, a further batch was called for
and orders were issued by the G.O.C. directing the Battalion to be transformed
into an Officers' Training Corps to be drawn on from time to time to supply
Officers, the remainder being retained as a fighting unit to be used as occasion
demanded. He thus refers to the matter in his first Despatch.
" I established the Battalion as a Training Corps for officers in the field. The
cadets pass through a course, which includes some thoroughly practical training
as all cadets do a tour of 48 hours in the trenches, and afterwards write a
report on what they see and notice.
They also visit an observation post of a battery or group of batteries, and
spend some hours there. A Commandant has been appointed, and he arranges and
supervises the work, sets schemes for practice, administers the school, delivers
lectures, and reports on the candidates. The cadets are instructed in all
branches of military training suitable for platoon commanders. Machine-gun
tactics, a knowledge of which is so necessary for all junior officers, is a
special feature of the course
of instruction. When first started the school was able to turn out officers at
the rate of 75 a month. This has since been increased to 100. Reports received
from Divisional and Army Corps Commanders on officers who have been trained at
the school are most satisfactory."
Earl French has since on several occasions written and spoken on this subject in
generous terms and in particular at a recent reunion of survivors, when he said
:
" I shall never, never forget the first visit I paid to the Artists after they
landed in France, or the wonderful impression they left on my mind of the
possibilities which were in that Corps of furnishing a want which was so
terrible to all of us at that time, the supply of officers. What really
influenced me in trying the experiment I had
to try was the appreciation I had of the splendid material of which I saw you
were composed, and of the marked aptitude of Colonel May and those who helped
him for organizing and commanding such a Corps. Just at the period I am speaking
of we had suffered fearful casualties, and the proportion of losses in officers
was higher than in any other rank, and it was going on every day. I was really
positively at my wits' end, suffering almost agony, to know where I could get
officer reinforcements. You all know how any fighting force must deteriorate,
and deteriorate badly, unless this supply of officers is kept up properly and
regularly.
Well, in this trouble and difficulty the Artists came to my help, and I shall
never forget as long as I live the courage, the determination, the skill,
the organizing power which they displayed in trying to meet my wishes. By day
and by night, almost under the enemy's guns, and very often under close rifle
-fire in the trenches, they commenced, they carried on, and they developed this
work to the very highest standard of efficiency, and they showed clearly what
men of energy
and skill could do in this direction when they knew how. They taught us, indeed,
a very great lesson, among the many lessons which all we regular soldiers had to
learn in the war. We never knew what the possibilities were before. We used to
talk about it taking two years to train an artillery driver, and, above all
things, we said we could not turn out officers under a certain considerable
length of time. Well the Artists showed us we made a mistake there, because they
turned out a most efficient body of officers, and kept up everything they said
they would. From that moment they became the model for and an example to that
large number of training establishments all over France, which to the end of the
war turned out officers with the utmost speed and the utmost efficiency. What
they suffered in doing
it is recorded in this book which I now hold in my hand (Artists Rifles
Regimental Roll of Honour, 1914-1919), and I may recall at this moment, without
frivolity, the fact that these boys, all of them, looked death straight in the
face, laughing and smiling, and that the Artists earned at that time the
sobriquet of 'The Suicide Club'. That, perhaps, is the highest honour that could
be paid to them."
The School in France was originally run entirely by Colonel May and his Officers
and Sergeants, but presently, as the enemy pressure relaxed, he had the
advantage of the assistance of Regular Officers (one of whom was appointed
"Commandant of School") and gradually as additional candidates for commissions
began to arrive from other regiments, the two units were worked as separate
organisations.
In April, 1915, quarters were changed from Bailleul to St. Omer and a new
Commandant to the school was appointed, which from that date became "G.H.O.
School." Thereafter Artists who came out in drafts, together with selected
N.C.O's. from Cavalry, Artillery, Canadian and other units sent up for
instruction in Infantry work, were first trained in "the Colonel's Class" and on
passing out went on to this School until July, 1916, when the Battalion was
specially authorised by Earl Haig to send candidates approved by their C.O.
direct to Commissions.
Another branch of their early activities was the staffing of the Machine Gun
School at Visques, near G.H.Q. , which was started by a Hythe Instructor (Major
Baker-Carr), who had one Hythe Sergeant to assist him. They trained as
assistants 16 men from the Artists, who in their turn trained others of their
comrades, until eventually multitudes of little groups (each of eight Officers
or N.C.O's. temporarily withdrawn from the trenches) were daily to be seen
dotted all over the parade ground keenly studying the intricacies and tactics of
the weapon, expounded to them by an Artists' Sergeant who had specialised in the
subject. A large proportion of
such Instructors afterwards passed on to Commissions in the M.G. Corps, Tanks,
R.F.C., and other units where their expert knowledge was invaluable.*
Reinforced from time to time by strong drafts, the special task of supplying and
training Officers thus undertaken by the Artists kept them at G.H.Q. (where as
"Headquarters Battalion" they were also entrusted with multifarious other and
responsible duties) for about 2 years. During this period there were of course
considerable changes in personnel. The bulk of the original N.C.O's. and men had
soon obtained Commissions, while senior Captains had been promoted to command
Battalions in the field, and many junior Officers had been attached or
transferred to regular Regiments.