The 4th Battalion (Bn) was committed to several British sectors and took part in several assaults on the German front line, but during the Spring of 1918 it was purely rear guard actions in the face of successive German attacks. Select the links below to learn more about the 4th Bn involvement in each of these sectors and battles.
Ypres Salient (Belgium)
21 Apr 1915 - 10 Aug 1916
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Apr - 4 May 1915
Less than a week after their departure from Newcastle, the Bn are tasked, at very short notice, with a frontal assault on the German lines near the village of St Julien.
24 - 25 May 1915
After a heavy artillery bombardment and gas attack the Germans breach the front line near Turco Farm, to the north east of Ypres. The 4th Bn, at rest near Brielen, are called forward to support the 4th Divn between Turco Farm and the St Jean - Wieltje road.
Sanctuary Wood
11 - 19 Jun 1915
On the 10th of Jun the Northumberland Bde replaced the 7th Bde in the Sanctuary Wood trenches. On the 16th they gave fire support to the 9th Bde during an attack on Bellewarde.
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21 Jun - 12 Jul 1915
Tour in a relatively quiet sector below the Messines Ridge.
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16 Jul - 31st Dec 1915
The 50th (Northumbrian) Divn, including the 4th Bn, occupy trenches to the east of the town of Armentieres.
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1 Jan - 5 Feb 1916 7 - 14 Mar 1916
The 50th (Northumbrian) Divn man trenches in and around this notorious landmark, the 4th Bn taking its turn in the line.
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9 Feb - 3 Mar 1916
The 50th (Northumbrian) Divn man trenches in and around this notorious landmark, the 4th Bn taking its turn in the line.
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9 - 24 Mar 1916
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28 - 29 Mar 1916
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3 Apr - Aug 1916
The Somme (France)
11 Aug 1916 - 8 Apr 1917
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15 - 22 Sep 1916
First set piece battle involving the 4th Bn. Assault on German trenches on the western edge of the infamous High Wood.
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25 - 28 Sep 1916
4th Bn held in reserve by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, but provided working parties by day and night.
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1 - 18 Oct 1916
4th Bn held in reserve at Millencourt and spent most of the time training.
12 - 19 Nov 1916
The 4th Bn support attacks made by the 149th Bde on Gird Trench and Hook Sap.
Oct 1916 - Mar 1917
Arras (France)
9 Apr 1917 - 17 Oct 1917
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9 - 14 Apr 1917
4th Battalion move to the front line south east of the town of Arras
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23 - 24 Apr 1917
4th Battalion move to the front line near Wancourt Tower, south east of Arras
Front line near Cherisy
Incomplete
Jul 1917
Passchendaele (Belgium)
18 Oct 1917 - 22 Feb 1918
Second Battle of Passchendaele
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26 Oct - 10 Nov 1917
Frontal assault on enemy positions by the 4th, 5th and 7th Bns
The Somme (France)
23 Feb 1918 - 3 Apr 1918
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21 - 23 Mar 1918
Defensive action by 50th (Northumbrian) Divn in the face of a major German Spring offensive on the Somme
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24 - 25 Mar 1918 Continuing defensive action by 50th (Northumbrian) Divn in the face of a major German Spring offensive on the Somme
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26 - 27 Mar 1918 Continuing defensive action by 50th (Northumbrian) Divn in the face of a major German Spring offensive on the Somme
The Lys (France)
4 Apr - 26 Apr 1918
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9 - 15 Apr 1918
Defensive actions by 50th (Northumbrian) Divn in the face of the second German Spring offensive launched in the River Lys area. The 4th Bns' role was to help defend the bridges over the River Lys in the small town of Estaires. After 24 hours of fighting the 4th, along with its sister Bns, was forced out of the town by the enemy. In the days that followed the whole Divn, sadly depleted in numbers, continued to fight but steadily withdrew to the northwest, until the enemy advance ran out of steam.
The Aisne (France)
27 Apr 1918 -
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27 May - 6 Jun 1918 (German offensive)
The 4th Bn was decimated during the third and final German Spring offensive, with the majority of the men either killed or captured when their positions were overrun.
2 Jun 1918
Three composite battalions were formed out of all the fit men left in the 50th Division
Hocquincourt, Huppy
5 Jul 1918
All the battalions of the 50th Division are reduced to training cadre strength, with all surplus personnel transferred to the Base. The 50th Divn is the reconstituted with completely different battalions.
Rouxmesnil, Harfleur and Fecamp
15 Aug 1918
Cadre Bn joined the 118th Bde, 39th Divn as a Training Cadre on 16th Aug 1918. Disbanded 10th November 1918