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Coverage

This is a summary of the battalion's entire history.

History

In April 1915, the Territorial Force formed the 85th Provisional Battalion. It consisted of home-service and medically unfit men from the 4th and 5th Somerset Light Infantry, 4th Dorsets and 4th Wiltshire Regiment. The battalion also seems to have been referred to, possibly unofficially, as the “South Western Brigade Battalion”.

By 1 January 1917 the battalion had moved, after period at Sandown Park and Seaton Delaval, to Whitstable. It was here transferred to the Somerset Light Infantry and renamed as the 11th Battalion. On 12 October 1917 it moved to Herne Bay and on 12 March 1918 went to Wrentham.

The battalion embarked for France on 6 May 1918 under command of Lieutenant Colonel H. S. Woodhouse. The word “Service” was added to its title and the battalion was placed under orders of 177th Brigade, in the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. At this time the battalion consisted of B (medical) Category troops and was not considered for front line duty. Indeed, 59th Division was in the process of being rebuilt, so high were losses it had suffered in fighting against the German spring offensive in France. The battalion was first employed in digging trenches, but the need for men on the Western Front was such that it was converted into a fighting battalion and called upon to hold a reserve line sector south of Arras.

Between 27 April 1918 and 16 July 1918, it was entitled "Garrison Guar"' Battalion, rather than "Service".

About the middle of August, the war began in earnest for the 11th Somersets when it took over a sector of front line east of St Venant and Robecq. The enemy was beginning a withdrawal in this area and over the next days the battalion was in pursuit, going through Epinette and Lestrem. It was relieved for rest on 6 September.

On 13 September the battalion moved into the front line once more, this time north east of Laventie. Nine days later, it was relieved and moved to billets at Bout Deville. Training recommenced and continued until towards the end of the month. On 16 September, a new commander (Lieutenant Colonel W. A. Gilliat) arrived.

The next period of front line duty began on 3 October, when the battalion moved to the line at Bois Grenier. Patrols went out, finding the enemy holding the position strongly. An attempt by several battalions to advance and clear a wood was met with heavy resistance and caused casualties. On 10 October the battalion was relieved for rest and moved back to Croix du Rome.

Six days later the battalion began a series of moves that took it to the crossing of the River Escaut (Scheldt) and the seizing of key bridgeheads. In this move, the battalion was among the first British troops to enter Lille after four years of German occupation. A patrol of troops of the 11th Somerset crossed the river by raft, under fore, near Templeuve. On the far bank the enemy was in considerable strength and determined to hold out. In the ensuing fighting, a shell exploded in a barn being used as shelter by C Company, causing the death of nine men with another nine wounded. Further patrols probed across the river, bringing back prisoners, captured guns and useful information. The battalion was relieved on 26 October and moved to billets at Hulans.

Returning to action on 30 October, the battalion was in the area of Esquelmes. A raiding party crossed the river here at night and killed the garrison of a troublesome German machine gun post at Cabaret Lietard. Further patrols went out over the next days. The battalion returned to Hulans on 5 November 1918, and as it turned out they had fought their last.

On 9 November they moved back to Toufflers and were in billets at Trieu de Wasmes when the Armistice came into effect.

Some units of the Division moved after a few days to Dunkirk to assist with a dispersal camp, through which coal miners were prioritised for early demobilisation. The 11th Somersets moved to Seclin, south of Lille, where they remained for some weeks. Divisional HQ was located at Vaudricourt Chateau from 6 December 1918 and then at Le Beau Marais near Calais from 8 March 1919. Several more moves followed for the battalion as it proceeded to Les Attacques, near Calais, where it gradually reduced in size as men returned to England. The final cadre of the battalion crossed the Channel in mid June. By July 1919 the Division was down to a small set of cadres and on 1 September 1919 the history of the 59th Division came to an end.