1916

The South African Brigade sail to Alexandria, Egypt to get involved in the campaign against the Senussi.

The main action of the 4th SAI is in the reoccupation of Sollum. In order to reach Sollum, the forces have to march from Bag Bag to Sollum over miles of desert and lack of water becomes a serious issue when they reach the well-named Thirsty Hill.

The 4th SAI are released from quarantine. After a wonderful send-off in Marseille, they take the train to the Western Front at Armentières. After a period of training at Le Bizet near Armentières, the entire brigade moves south to the Somme area and start to get familiar with the terrain.

The South African Infantry Brigade’s first introduction to fighting on the Western Front was to be a baptism of fire.

The 4th SAI firstly lost their C.O., Lt. Col. F.A. Jones, at Bernafay Wood with Donald taking brief command before handing over to D.M. MacLeod. Then, at Delville Wood, MacLeod is wounded and Donald takes command again.

The full story of Delville Wood is complicated and I cannot do it justice here. For the purpose of this study, I can do no better than simply to repeat Donald’s personal diary for the period covering the South African Brigade’s operation at Trônes, Bernafay and Delville Woods. 

This section of Donald’s personal diary was published in The Springbok in September 1933 and is included in the package of Donald’s memoirs downloadable from the archives of the University of Witwatersrand.

Donald’s header notes on the entry in The Springbok say :-

This personal diary was written before, during and immediately after the Delville days. It has been tucked away in a drawer unlooked at and forgotten for seventeen years. Obviously, it is a very inadequate record and misses many of the more important scenes and incidents. Probably because of the time of stress only the nearest event of the moment was jotted down. On reading it through it has occurred to the writer that it may bring back memories of those eventful days to some of us who took part in them and may also be of interest to others.

The 4th SAI (along with the whole South African Infantry Brigade) spend time in rest and recuperation after Delville Wood.

They then spent time in the front lines west of Vimy supplying working parties before returning to Camblain-l’Abbé

The 4th SAI take the opportunity at Camblain L’Abbé to all have baths and foot inspections.

They then move to billets in Estrée-Cauchy (known to the troops as “Extra cushy”) for more training and then on to Carency to supply work parties for the front line.

Then 1 week in the front line trenches in the Carency sector near Vimy.

Finally more warfare training at Ambrines.

The first few days of the month are spent training for the upcoming return to the Somme area.

On the 12th, Donald commands the 4th SAI in the action at the Butte de Warlencourt. The ultimate objective of the South African Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier H.T. Lukin is to take the Butte de Warlencourt, but the first objectives are to take the two German held Snag and Tail trenches  that join at the German stronghold known as The Nose.

The 4th SAI supply work parties near Arras and spend time in recovery and training.

Further training near Arras.

Donald goes on leave on the 7th.

While he is away the regiment spends time in the front line north of St. Laurent Blangy. It is wet, cold and miserable. The enemy’s artillery are continually blowing holes in the walls of the trenches and work parties are in constant action repairing them. The men’s feet are also suffering due to the persistent bad state of the trenches.

There are 3 “J” subsectors. So the four SAI regiments take turns in each subsector and then have a period in reserve in billets in Arras.

Donald returns at some point in December in time to sign the battalion’s war diaries for December 1916.