Medal & Mortality index
The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to
reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army
in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August
1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only.
In the latter part of January 1917 the long awaited order arrived for the 58th
Division to proceed overseas.
2/Lieut. A. M. Duthie (Bombing Officer).
24th February 1917 :
The advancing British troops in the south this day were beginning to threaten
Puisieux, the possession of which would lay open to attack the Bucquoy Ridge to
its north. It was clear that with British forces on the Bucquoy Ridge the German
reserve lines of defence and gun positions about Adinfer Wood (which supported
the lines now opposite the 173rd Brigade) must either retreat precipitately or
run a serious risk of being cut off. Requests for information from Brigade
consequently became more and more insistent, and information was passed to the
Battalion that the lines opposite had actually been evacuated. Officers' patrols
under 2/Lieuts. A. G. Croll, A. M. Duthie, T. J. Bell and D. S. Boorman, which
covered No Man's Land, especially in the vicinity of the Blockhouse and the
Talus on the nights of the 24th and 28th, however, elicited unmistakable signs
of occupation of the German defences.
March 1917 :
Casualties included Major W. A. Nunneley, gassed ; 2/Lieut. R. K.
Caparn, wounded ; 2/Lieuts. A. M. Duthie and S. P. Ferdinando, accidentally
wounded ; 2/Lieuts. H. W. Hallett and G. G. Hunt, sick ; and in N.C.O.'s and men
10 killed, 25 wounded, and about 170 sick, chiefly from exposure.
September 1917 :
During this period the Battalion was joined by the following officers :
Capt. E. E. Spicer, Lieuts. A. Bath and A. M. Duthie, and 2/Lieut. E. L. Mills.
and by the following attached officers :
November 1917 :
While the l/4th Londons had been thus heavily engaged the London
Scottish had made a successful resistance in the front Hindenburg trench which
defied all the enemy's attempts. Towards the evening the enemy's activity both
in shell fire and bombing somewhat lessened, and at 8.30 p.m. D Company (Duthie)
was also sent forward relieving C Company in the trenches. At the same time the
Rangers took over from the Scottish in the front trench.
As the fighting on the 24th was somewhat involved, it seems desirable to restate
the positions now held by the companies of the Battalion in the Hindenburg
system :
Front Line — D Company — Quadrilateral in support trench, and communication
leading up to front trench. B Company — Communication trench leading from the
Quadrilateral back to third trench.
Support Line — A and C Companies and Headquarters — Front trench from west edge
of Tadpole Copse to communication trench east of it and old German outpost line
in front of the Copse.
The 25th November also witnessed very severe fighting in which the l/4th Londons
bore an important part and achieved considerable success. The fighting this day
fell to D Company who had not yet been engaged, and the objective allotted to
them was the recapture of the lost portion of the Hindenburg support trench as
far as its junction with the communication trench, which had been defended by
Mills the previous day. At the same time the Rangers were to make good the two
communication trenches leading back from the front trench to the support on the
east side of the Inchy Road, and also the support trench in prolongation of
Duthie's attack.
We propose to narrate this gallant little action of D Company in the words of
Duthie's report on the operation :
Artillery preparation began at 12.30 p.m. It was reported to be very short on
our right. Our two blocks were removed at 12.45 p.m. At Zero (1 p.m.) the attack
commenced. The Company was disposed as follows :
14 Platoon, 2/Lieut. E. Petrie, Bombers, Rifle Grenadiers, Riflemen (carrying) ;
13 Platoon, 2/Lieut. C. W, Rowlands, with sections in same order. Lewis gun
sections took up a position near our blocks so as to fire along the trench and
to prevent any movement in the open. Company Headquarters moved with the leading
platoon. For about 50 yards very little opposition was met with but the leading
bombing section was then held up by stick bombs and suffered eight casualties,
which included the leading bombers. To overcome this check fire was opened for
several minutes with No. 23 and No. 24 Rifle Grenades, and the trench was
searched forward for about 100 yards. The shooting was very accurate and the
enemy were driven back with the loss of about 5 men killed. The advance was
continued by bounds of from 20 to 40 yards under cover of salvoes of rifle
grenades. The first two deep dugouts were unoccupied. The third and fourth were
not immediately searched but sentries were posted. It was thought that some of
the C Company men who had been wounded the previous day might still be down
there. The small C.T. (about 100 yards from the Quadrilateral) was blocked about
120 yards up. At the entrance a good deal of bombing was overcome. This is a
shallow trench and the far end under water. Further delay was caused by the
third and fourth dugouts which were found to contain 21 of the enemy. These were
finally cleared. Several were killed and the remainder badly wounded and
captured. The company then pushed forward to trench junction at E 13 c. 15,75
(objective) and reached it about 2.45 p.m. The Lewis gun sections were brought
up and placed in suitable positions to protect a further advance and also the
blocking party in the small C.T. None of the Rangers were encountered and the
trench appeared unoccupied, but bombing was thought to be heard about 300 yards
further along.
* Companies were still organised in two platoons owing to their reduced
strength, which had not been made good since the third battle of Ypres.
A small block was made in this trench about 30 yards from the junction. The
enemy was now observed leaving the trench and crawling over the open towards the
bank at D 18 d. 90.98 (in the unsuspected valley). Heavy rifle fire was opened
and at least 30 of the enemy killed. Few, if any, got over the bank. As the
trench beyond the objective appeared to be unoccupied a party of 12 including
O.C. Company, 2/Lieut. Rowlands, Sergts. Norris and Arklay, moved on up the
trench. No fire was opened and silence was maintained. In the next bay past the
trench at E 13 c. 00.85 (50 yards beyond the objective) two men were seen firing
a machine-gun which was mounted on the parapet and aimed down the bank (in the
valley). This was rushed. . . . The gun was dismounted and brought in. Other
guns were heard firing and two more were seen (at points farther along the
trench in the valley described in the report by map reference). Two parties
under Sergts. Norris and Arklay moved round to a point from which fire could be
brought to bear. The crews of two men to each gun were killed and the guns
brought in. O.C. Company and Sergt. Norris continued to advance along the trench
and up to the top of the bank. Heavy bombing could be seen in Tadpole Lane and
in the front line towards the Inchy Road. Further advance was prevented by the
fire of our own guns firing on the trench in response to S.O.S. signal which had
been sent up from the front line. The trench was very full of dead, both of the
London Scottish and of the enemy. It was impossible to walk without treading on
them. As our barrage continued the party moved back to our original objective
and blocks were made at this trench junction. The remainder of the party carried
back four wounded London Scottish, who were found in the open near the bank.
Later in the evening when our barrage was discontinued an attack was made on our
block. The enemy was quickly silenced. At 11 p.m. D Company were relieved by A
Company.
A very successful operation, and a modest account of it by Duthie, whose
personality and leadership was an important factor in the result achieved. The
two men in charge of the first gun captured were shot by Duthie with his
revolver. The resistance offered to the Rangers was stubborn, and but for their
inability to advance it is possible a considerable success might have been
achieved, since the barrage put down by our guns, in response to the Rangers'
S.O.S., had the effect of shelling Duthie out of part of his gains.
#At 11.30 p.m. on the 26th the Battalion was relieved by the Kensingtons,
withdrawing on relief to its former position in the Brigade support area behind
the old British front line. This relief brought to a close the Battalion's
active participation in the British offensive, which was now practically spent.
During the very trying three days spent behind the bombing blocks in
circumstances which required particular vigilance and fortitude, all ranks had
behaved splendidly, and it is difficult to mention individuals when all had
rendered such excellent service. A few names, however, call for outstanding
mention, among these being Capt. S. J. Barkworth, M.C., M.M., and Capt. A. M.
Duthie, the commanders of C and D Companies, on whom the brunt of the work had
fallen, and their subalterns Rowlands and Mills. The Padre, the Rev. S. F.
Leighton Green, did splendid service throughout, being always about the
Hindenburg lines and going up to the advanced blocks. At night he was constantly
visiting and helping with casualties and administering the last rites to those
who had fallen.
The honours awarded for services rendered in the Battle of Cambrai were as
follows :
D.S.O.— Capt. A. M. Duthie.
THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE DEFENCE OF ARRAS, 1918 :
Centre : C Company (Duthie) 1 platoon in Wood Post.
Officers: Capt. E. E. Spicer, 2/Lieuts. R. E. Campkin, H. T. Hannay and H. V.
Coombes, killed ; Capt. A. M. Duthie, D.S.O,, and Lieut. H. M. Lorden, Wounded ;
Decorations were awarded to the following :
Lieut.-Col. A. F. Marchment, M.C., and Major F. A. Phillips, the D.S.O. ; Capts.
A. M. Duthie, D.S.O., T. B. Cooper, M.M., and H. N. Williams, the M.C. ; O.S.M.
T. Lock, M.M., the D.C.M. ; L.-Corpl. W. J. Hutchin, M.M., Bar to M.M. ; Sergts.
F. G. Udall, H. V. R. Randall and C. J. Gibbs, Corpls. G. Hayes and A. Parker,
L.-Corpls. S. G. Coates, C. L. Husk and A. J. Deadman, and Ptes. W. A. G.
Battershall, P. C. Swinchatt, A. J. Sellars and J. R. Phillips, the M.M.
Distinguished Service Order :
Lieutenant (A/Capt.) A. M. Duthie , London Gazette 4. 2.18
Mention in Despatches :
Lieutenant (A/Capt.) A. M. Duthie, D.S.O ; London Gazette 25.5.18
Military Cross :
Lieutenant (A/Capt.) A. M. Duthie, D.S.O. ; London Gazette 22. 6.18
Mention in Despatches