Seaforth Highlanders

Thomas was born in York, son of Henry Percy and Elizabeth Lancaster, of 17 St James Mansions, West Hampstead, London. He had an elder brothers, Erwin and Percy Noel, and younger siblings, John Kenneth and Annie Frances. Thomas was educated at Highgate School where he played for the First XI.
He went out to France on Monday 29th May 1916, joining the Battalion in the field at Beaussart on Wednesday 14th June. The Battalion was in the trenches with HQ in ‘The Lyceum’. The men undertook work on creating assembly trenches at the north end of the ‘Tenderloin’. The artillery were beginning their preliminary bombardment of the enemy’s front line that would increase in intensity each day. The tour of duty ended on Sunday 18th when they were relieved to bivouac in Mailly-Maillet. The Colonel called a meeting of all his Officers to brief them on the plans for the forthcoming attack on Thursday 22nd. Throughout Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th the enemy artillery bombarded Mailly that killed 13 men who are buried side-by-side in Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet, I.A.1-13. The balmy good weather began to change but the dull weather made it more comfortable whilst undertaking fatigues. Final preparations were made for the attack on Friday 30th until moving to the assembly trenches via Beaussart Cemetery, the northwest end of Mailly and into the Sunken Road and up via ‘Tenderloin’. The record of the events of Saturday 1st July was made at the time.
A very fine day! The 4th Division had an objective to take at a distance of about 3,600 yards away. The objective was a ridge running between Grandcourt and Puiseux-au-Mont. The 11th Brigade which went forward first had as its objective the last trench of the German front system — named Munich Trench. The 10th and 12th Brigade had to move forward at a given time after to the 11th Bde had sufficient time to gained their objective to pass through the 11th Bde, and gain the final objective along the ridge. The whole attack was arranged by time, working hours from Zero. The 29th (Gallipoli) Division attacked on our right, and the 31st (New Army) Division on our left.
Zero was arranged for 7.30am. From 5.30am onwards there was a very intensive bombardment concentrated on the German trenches in front. At 7.30am the 11th Brigade moved forward from our front line trenches in waves.
By 8.45am no message had come through from the 11th Brigade, nor from Bde HQ. However it was time for us to move forward, so the patrols under Lt Harrison left the assembly trenches and advanced. Almost at once heavy hostile machine gun fire commenced, fire coming chiefly from the direction of Beaumont-Hamel, 2nd Lt Harrison was badly wounded. (He died of wounds 5 days later at Doullens.)
Our telephone wire to Brigade HQ being at that time out of order, two orderlies were sent there for orders. As they had not arrived back by 9.30am — the hour appointed for the Battalion to advance. The remainder of the Battalion moved forward A Coy in the centre, C on the left, B on the right moved in waves of platoons, D Coy followed as Company in Reserve. The 12th Brigade advanced on our left, the 2nd Essex being next to us. The 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers did not move forward with us, and hung back, awaiting further orders from the Brigade.
On coming into view of the German trenches the Battn came under heavy machine gun fire from the front and the direction of Beaumont-Hamel. A gun firing from the front trench opposite Redan was later silences by our Lewis gunners from behind but owing to its fire, the rear Company was ordered to cross the German trenches about 150 yards south of the Redan.
After passing the German front, parties pushed forward and reached the 3rd line between points 62 and 94.
Other parties of our men may had reached Munich Trench but there was no possible communication and none returned. As will be understood, the 11th Brigade had failed to reach their objective owing to very heavy machine gun fire, and by this time we were right in among them. Their casualties were very severe, and key had already lost their Brigadier, General Prowse (died of wounds) and all four Commanding officers (killed).
The Germans were holding their 1st, 2nd and 3rd lines on our right and left. Attempts were made to consolidate the ground gained. The enemy however made determined bombing attacks on both our flanks. These attacks were held in check as long as the supply of bombs lasted, and it was not until heavy losses had been inflicted on our advanced parties that the 3rd line was given up. This took place about 1.00pm.
By 11am there were only 5 officers left with the Battalion, and casualties were proportionately heavy in the ranks. During the evacuation of the 3rd line a large number of men of various Regiments went right back to our trenches. It was at this juncture that No 68 Drummer Ritchie repeatedly jumped into the parapet of a German trench, and sounded the charge, with the idea of encouraging these warriors who had lost their leaders. This gallant action, in addition to his gallant conduct throughout the whole day, gained him the Victoria Cross.
The next position held was about pint 77. While there, Lt Buckworth, one of the Regiment was attached to the 10th Bde MG Coy, came up and reported that he had 2 machine guns and 1 Stokes gun in action just south of point 92 on our left. From there he was able to enfilade the Germans in their front line trenches north of point 87. It was soon after this that Lt Buckworth was severely wounded and last seen.
While holding the above position near point 77 as many bombs as possible were collected from casualties and messages were sent back for further supplies; but as none arrived and the enemy continued to bomb our flanks, the line was finally withdrawn at about 5pm to the original German front line position extending from pt 56 to pt K.35.C.5.8.
At this time there were about 40 men of this Battn left, in addition to two platoons of the right B Coy which were unable to advance from our trenches on the south side of the Redan. On arrival in the German front line the trench was consolidated by double blocking the flanks, and at about 5.30pm a supply of bombs arrived by carriers and bomb depôts were established on the flanks. After this the enemy made no serious attack and was easily driven back when he attempted to bomb us. Orders were received at 5.15pm to return to their own line as soon as possible — after dark if necessary. It was considered that to wait till dark before leaving, in order to avoid casualties and to enable us to evacuate as many wounded and as much material as possible. A message was also sent back asking for stretcher-bearers to be sent up. Several of the wounded were evacuated before dark, and also a number of men from other Battalion of the 11th, 12th Brigades returned to our lines.
At about 7pm 2 platoons of the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers arrived with a good supply of bombs, and the right flank which we had consolidated was handed over to them. The other 2 platoons which were to follow went astray and got hung up by the enemy’s artillery barrage which was landing across No Man’s Land from about 10pm to 11.30pm.
At about 9pm two messages — J.22 and H.18 — were received from the 10th Brigade. The first contained orders to hold on at all costs and the other contained orders to return to our lines. These messages were not timed, but both were brought by the same orderly. It was decided that J.22 was the latter of the two as the 1/RIF had been sent up to relieve us. We therefore waited for the remaining 2 platoons of line, 1/RIF to arrive. This they did about 1am on the 2nd and we returned to 1 Sunken Road in Q.3.a as previously ordered, taking with us what wounded we could find in the dark and all the material the men could carry; At this time the enemy were quite inactive so that the relief was completed without further loss.
The Battalion took significant losses with 109 men killed and over 250 wounded or missing. The Officers lost 8 wounded and those killed were:
Captain Charles Edward Baird is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2, I.K.21, Lieutenant Charles Raymond Buckworth, I.K.22, 2nd Lieutenant Stewart Alexander Crum, I.C.32 and 12 of their men;
Lieutenants James Morrison Low and Norman Ian MacWatt are commemorated on the Memorial, with 2nd Lieutenants Frederic Attenborrow Conner, James Harvey, 18 year-old Thomas Erwin Lancaster, Francis Ramsay Mackenzie, William Shaw, Harry Frederick Lionel Sillars, and the majority of their men;
Captain George Newdegate Alison with 2nd Lieutenants Miles Harry Blackwood, Frederick Jordan Broom, David Buchanan and John Williamson who are buried in Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, I.H.36, 21, 20, 35, and 22 respectively and 25 of their men. Their bodies were collected over the ensuing days and buried together in the large British Cemetery in the village;
2nd Lieutenant John Norman Gourlay is buried in Pargny British Cemetery, III.A.41;
2nd Lieutenant William Harrison died of wounds on Wednesday 5th July who is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1, II.A.7.
Drummer Walter Ritchie was born in Glasgow on Sunday 27th March 1892. He served from the outbreak of war including at the Battle of Mons and was wounded near Armentières in October 1914. The citation for the Victoria Cross reads: “For most conspicuous bravery and resource, when on his own initiative, he stood on the parapet of an enemy trench, and, under heavy machine-gun fire and bomb attacks, repeatedly sounded the ‘Charge’ thereby rallying many men of various units who, having lost their leaders were wavering and beginning to retire. This action showed the highest type of courage and personal initiative. Throughout the day Drummer Ritchie carried messages over fire-swept ground, showing the greatest devotion to duty.”
He was presented with his medal by King George on Saturday 25th November 1916 at Buckingham Palace. In December he was presented with the French Croix de Guerre. Drummer Ritchie survived the War taking part of the VC Honour Guard for The Unknown Warrior at Westminster Army. He died on Wednesday 17th March 1965 in Edinburgh.