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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 166

A Great War casualty group of three awarded to Private W. Bow, Worcestershire Regiment, who shared in the first Trench Raid of the Great War on the evening of 3 January 1915, who was later killed by a sniper on 2 October 1915

1914 Star, clasp (11766 Pte W. Bow. 1/Worc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11766 Pte. W. Bow. Worc. R.), very fine (3)

Walter Bow was born in 1892, probably in Bewdley and was registered in Kidderminster. The son of George and Emma Bow, he was the then youngest of five brothers. All five sons served during the Great War and young Bow had enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment prior to the outbreak and was serving with them in Egypt when War was announced. The Battalion was immediately brought home and joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 6 November 1914, forming part of the 24th Brigade of the 8th Division, having arrived at Le Havre from Southampton on board the Transport Ship Maidan. By a succession of slow troop movements, the 1st Battalion moved towards the front lines, but it was not until the 14 November, under heavy shell fire did they arrive in their trenches facing Neuve Chapelle and relieved the 1st Royal Scots of the 8th Brigade. At dawn on the 15th November, the enemy unleashed a heavy howitzer barrage on the Battalions trenches, causing the first Battalion casualties of the war - 7 killed, 1 Officer and 24 ranks wounded. And so began a long four years of relentless trench warfare.

On 19 December 1914, the local newspaper, the Kidderminster Shuttle, reported that a Bewdley man had received a personal letter from The King:

'Mr Bow...of Welch Gate, Bewdley has five soldier sons serving in various departments of H.M. Forces. The facts were reported to the King, who has sent a letter of congratulations to Mr. Bow. The names of the soldiers are James, John, William, Albert, Walter. William has been missing six weeks and the War Office have sent a notification to the relatives. The father, Mr. George Bow, is employed at Highley Colliery. Such a record will be difficult to beat in this locality.'

The Battalion remained in the trenches facing Neuve Chapelle throughout November, December and into January 1915. It was in front line trenches during the very misty evening of 2-3 January. The German frontline trench has been some 200 yards distant across gently sloping ploughed land, across which ran a ditch with willow tress. At dawn, astonished right flank sentries saw that the Germans had constructed a new trench only 50 yards in front. The exact reason for this construction was unknown - was it to be a new channel by which to flood the British trench system; a closer position that enabled the enemy to be safe from our artillery fire, or a closer position by which to launch an attack. It was decided that whatever the reason, it must be eliminated.

Lieutenant F.C. Roberts was chosen to lead the assault. He asked for 25 volunteers to accompany him. Bow was one of those volunteers. An artillery barrage was also arranged to suppress the German main front line trench system 200 yards away, once Roberts's attack had gone in, to protect their return. They waited for cloud to obscure the moon and at 2045hrs, the little raiding party left their trench and lay down some 10 yards in front, then on a silent signal, (at the point that Lt. Roberts rose to his feet), rushed forward with bayonets fixed and 5 rounds of ammunition each. Three enemy sentries were encountered 10 yards from the enemy trench and were completely surprised and immediately bayonetted. The raiding party dropped down into the new German trench, finding most of the enemy asleep, others were busy digging - all were bayonetted, only one shot was fired, which was from the German officer in charge, who was immediately silenced by the bayonet of Sergeant Edwards. The raiders remained in the German trench no more than five minutes. The task achieved, the party quickly returned to its own trench, with the last man in ordered to shout "Fire", to alert our Battery to begin - just as heavy rifle fire began from the main German trenches, which was answered by rapid shrapnel fire from the 33rd Battery, R.F.A.

At least 30 Germans were killed in the raid. Casualties to the raiders amounted to 2 killed, Lance-Corporal Palmer and Private Davies, whose bodies were later seen the next day on the German parapet - they had run too far to their left and had come up against the main German trench.

After 20 minutes, the intense firing stopped and the raiding party were met by a lorry on the main La Bassee road, given two cigarettes and a ration of rum each and taken to their billets.


Within 18 hours of the raid, Roberts was awarded an immediate D.S.O. and later, Sergeant Edwards, Lance-Corporal Darby and Private Evans awarded the D.C.M. (Roberts, would later be Major-General F.C. Roberts, V.C., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C.). This trench raid is thought to have been the first (besides two similar raids having also been conducted by the Gurkhas of the Indian Corps over the previous) British one, which was why it was held in such high regard and reported upon so favourable in the Commander-in-Chiefs reports on the Battles of Ypres.

On 23 January 1915, the Kidderminster Shuttle reported:

'Letters from the Front

Private Walter Bow of Bewdley

We mentioned some time since that Mr, George Bow had received a letter from the King congratulating him upon the fact that he had five sons serving with H.M. Forces. The following letter was received by Mr. F. Gardner, Welch Gate, Bewdley, from Private Walter Bow, 1st Worcesters:

"Am sorry to say I have not received your parcel of mittens and fags, but am delighted to say I am in the best of health. Last night, my company ("A") found twenty-five volunteers, with an officer, to raid a German trench. Needless to say, I was among the number. It was a surprise attack and proved successful and we gained the information we went to seek. Everything was done quietly, the only word spoken being the order to retire when we had finished our task. We started at 7pm, climbed over the parapets, then we charged, and the Germans did not see us until we got within 10 yards of them. They were taken completely by surprise. They started shouting and appealing for mercy. Needless to say our mercy was the bayonet. They were as thick as peas in the trenches. We couldn't miss them. I accounted for three myself, the second one being dispatched as he was trying to get out of the trench. Then the order to retire was given. We were all done up when we got back. I walked the last twenty yards under heavy fire. I found it impossible to run and when I got back to safety could scarcely move for a quarter of an hour after I got in the trench. I couldn't answer my name at the roll call and the section Sergeant thought I was missing. It was a daring thing to do for the Germans outnumbered us twelve to one. I expect the officer will get the DSO and the Sergeant the DCM. Probably the privates may only get the satisfaction of having done their duty."'

Writing in reference to the attack mentioned above, Private Bow, in a subsequent latter to Mr. Gardner, says:

'I am short of the most valuable thing to a soldier, viz., a cheap, small wrist watch. We have just received one hundred cigarettes per man from a gentleman in London, so we have a good supply to take back into the trenches.

For the little bit of work done the other night the reward is as follows: - Lt. Roberts DSO; Sergeant Edwards, Lance-Corporal Darby and Private Evans, DCM; the remainder, including the writer, mentioned in despatches.'

Writing on January 16th to Mr. Gardiner, the soldier says:

'I have received the watch safely, for which I send my best thanks. I am glad to say that we are all sticking to our guns in all kinds of trials. The last time in the trenches we were up to our knees in water. This time they have sent us a few more shells as souvenirs.

During February, it was decided that the British 1st Army should attack the German lines covering Lille. As plans were developed, it was seen as necessary for the salient in the German line, formed by the village of Neuve Chapelle, should be crushed. A break in that line would then be opened up, through which reinforcing British troops would push through, capture the village and later, Aubers Ridge.

The 8th Division held the ground in front of Neuve Chapelle. The plan involved the 23rd and 25th Brigades opening the attack, with the 24th Brigade, which included the 1st Battalion, held in reserve and used to push through the gap. The leading Brigades were to capture the village and the 24th Brigade was to continue forward to Aubers Ridge.

On 10 March, at 0730hrs a massed British barrage, (some 500 guns) opened fire on the German trenches - the heaviest bombardment that had ever been conducted in any war to that point in history. After half an hour, the barrage was lifted and the infantry attack commenced. The advancing troops met with little resistance, with the German trenches had been almost completely destroyed and by 0830hrs, they had swept through the village. They could advance no further due to the continued shelling of the land (Bois du Biez), between the village and Aubers Ridge. However, a small patrol of one Officer and two men of the unit moved around the northern end of the shelled land and discovered that this land was unoccupied and was a route through to Aubers Ridge beyond. It returned to the ruined Church at Neuve Chapelle to report on the situation, the Brigades not being able to advance immediately as the orders were to wait until 0930hrs. Equally, progress had not been made by the 23rd Brigade on the left of the line, and the enemy resisted stubbornly, their trenches not being destroyed like in other areas.

Meanwhile, they waited in Reserve and it was not until 1400hrs, that the request came for two Companies to advance to assist the left of the line and reinforce the 23rd Brigade. The open unoccupied ground to the north, discovered by the little patrol, had not been exploited, so when orders finally came for the 24th Brigade to advance, via the north of the village as darkness was closing in, the Germans had by then moved into that gap, dug new trenches and installed barbed wire. Shelling continued during the night, with no further advance being made.

At 0645hrs, 11 March, a new attack was to begin, initiated by a British barrage on the new German positions, but the Artillery appear not to have been made aware of the correct positions and their shelling fell wide of the mark and achieved little success. On the other hand, the German artillery was accurate and fell heavily on the 24th Brigade. Several attempts were made to advance, but under heavy shelling and accurate machine gun fire, casualties quickly mounted. In an effort to provide some impetus to the advance, two platoons were ordered forward and got to within 30 yards of the German trenches, losing half their men in doing so. They held on for 30 minutes. By 1500hrs, the British artillery had been provided new coordinates and began a new barrage, but with disastrous results - the first 3 shells landing on the remnants of the two platoons exposed in an advanced position, killing all but two 2nd Lieutenants and six men.

During the night, fresh reinforcements were brought into the German lines, with a view to re-capture the village of Neuve Chapelle at first light. As a thin white mist gradually rose, heavy enemy shelling commenced. The Northamptons on the left and the Foresters on the right opened fire. Suddenly, emerging from the mist were two Battalions of the 21st Bavarian Regiment, their officers carrying swords, with their commanding officer mounted on a white horse. The Foresters on the right began to fall back under the onslaught. The 1st Battalion, who were still awaiting the order to open fire, remained steadfast, with 'A' Company - in which Bow served - swinging to their right to protect the exposed flank created by the retirement of the Foresters. They opened rapid fire, which brought down the Bavarians in swathes. The German attack began to falter and at this crucial point, the Battalion broke from their trenches and launched a battalion bayonet charge, pushing the Bavarians back 400 yards to their trenches. 'A' Company, under Captain J. H. M. Arden, moved to the right, passed the Foresters abandoned trenches and entered an orchard, where the men of 'A' Company continued to bayonet their enemy, additionally capturing some farm buildings nearby.

Colonel Wodehouse sent a message detailing his advance, seeking reinforcements to exploit the gained ground and calling for artillery support to help consolidate the new advance, but none came. They beat off repeated attacks, but it was clear that as they were surrounded on three sides in their advanced position with no help coming, their position was untenable and at 1000hrs, he ordered a withdrawal back to the established British trenches. They withdrew in sections, each trying to provide covering fire to the others, but as they were receiving intense machine gun fire on three sides, the platoons were withered away. 'A' Company, on the right flank, finally withdrew to the Foresters old trench system at about 1100hrs Captain Arden received orders to gather what was left from his Company survivors, (about 20 men, highly likely to have included Bow), plus remnants of the Sherwood Foresters and launched another attack against the re-occupied Orchard in order to push back the enemy. This he did, re-capturing the Orchard once again. He held his position until late afternoon, then with no further support, had to fall back once again to the Foresters trenches.

Darkness and heavy rain arrived and at about 2100hrs, orders came for a night attack and planning began. The Devons came up in support of the Battalion and by 2300hrs, the two Battalions lay out in the pouring rain, awaiting the order to advance, but it never came. The attack was cancelled and the survivors of the Battalion retired into reserve.

Neuve Chapelle did not achieve a huge success for the British. The new front line around Neuve Chapelle became the new trench systems that had been created by the 1st Battalion and the Foresters, with the little right flank salient created by Captain Arden and 'A' company in their gallant defence of the Orchard and out buildings, became widely known as "The Duck's Bill". The losses to the Regiment were severe - on 10 March, 26 Officers and 870 men went into battle, on 13 March, only seven Officers and 450 men were mustered. Many senior Regimental Officers had been killed or wounded, including Colonel Wodehouse, commanding, who had been killed on 12 March. Two D.S.O.'s (Captain Arden and Major Winnington) and six D.C.M.'s were awarded. The cost to the enemy was also severe - 21st Bavarian Reserve Regiments lost 25 Officers and 1,139 men.

Bow's unit moved position in late March, with the 8th Division now holding the line between Rouges Bancs to Bois Grenier. Little fighting took place, apart from occasional shelling and sniping. Sometime in April, whilst performing line holding duties, Bow was shot by a sniper at Bois Grenier. The Kidderminster Shuttle, on 15 May 1915, reported:

Private Walter Bow

It will be remembered that Mr. George Bow of Welch Gate, received a letter of congratulations from King George upon the fact that he had five sons serving in H. M. Forces. One of those sons, Private Walter Bow, 1st Worcesters, has been wounded at Bois Grenier and is now in hospital. He came back with his regiment from Egypt in October. The communication which he sends home telling the fact that he was wounded is in the usual nonchalant style of the soldier, who makes light of things. Writing from the General Hospital in Boulogne, he says:

I am in the pink of condition, with a pain in the lower extremity called the buttocks, where a confounded German had the audacity to shoot me. What do you think of that, the d-----d thing might have hurt me, shooting like he did in the dark. I forgive him this time I get to close quarters, I will give it them hot. It's a very funny sensation when you are shot; it's like having a glass of beer given to you on a summer's day.

I am very comfortable and quite contented. I do not know if I shall have the luck to come to England.'

Although Bow made light of his wound, he was evacuated to England and admitted to Cardiff Hospital. Posted to the 3rd Battalion, they were part of the 7th Brigade and was then serving in the Ypres Salient, around the area of Hooge and Sanctuary Wood. A major offensive was planned to begin on 25 September - the Battle of Loos. An attack was also planned as a subsidiary action around Hooge and Sanctuary Wood . The 7th Brigade was to launch an attack in the middle of the line against Hooge - the 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles leading, the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment in support and the 3rd Battalion in Reserve. The Worcesters had been in the front line trenches between the 19-23 September, under continuous shell fire, preparing and strengthening the trenches for the attack - they then fell back in Reserve.

On 25 September, the British attack commenced all along the line, with a heavy barrage. The central attack on Hooge failed and was driven back with heavy casualties. Just before midnight, the unit took over the front line, which was badly damaged and strewn with the dead. They remained in position, repairing the trenches until the evening of the 27 September, when they were relieved.

On the evening of 29 September, the Germans detonated a mine in Sanctuary Wood, attacking in darkness and heavy rain, storming the British front line. On the evening of 30 September, they were pulled from Reserve and placed into the half dug front line amongst the broken tree stumps of Sanctuary Wood and remained here, continuously fighting, until 8 October.

It was on 2 October, that Bow was shot through the head by a sniper as he was on the top of the trench - he died instantly. On 23 October, a further report in the newspaper, which contained a photo of Bow, also contained the details of a letter written by Sergeant Smith:

'Dear Mrs. Bow - We regret to inform you of the death of your son (11766) W. Bow. After my company relieved his from the trenches I found his small book, with some photos, which I beg to enclose herewith. It was a fortunate thing that I found him. Being a Kidderminster man I recognised him at once, although I only knew your son by sight.

You will be relieved to hear that his death was instantaneous and he died a hero's death whilst doing his duty, fighting for his Kind and country. Your son left England with me for the 3rd Battalion on September 1st, and that was how I got to know him. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your trouble.'

Walter Bow lies in the Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium. He was 24 years old.

Please see Lot 113 for the Medals awarded to his brother.

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