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The 2nd Battle of Passchendale (3rd Battle of Ypres)

AND ATTACK ON THE HOUTHULST FOREST  (with the 50th Division)

 

Captain Albert Edward Odell, MC and Bar.   1886-1979.

 

    The Division took over the line South of the Houthulst Forest from the 34th Division on 24th October, and attacked with 149 Brigade two days later. The attack was doomed to failure. It was against pill boxes and through mud and water under the worst possible conditions. The brigade lost 38 Officers and 1080 Other ranks in achieving nothing. 150 Brigade took over from 149 Brigade but similarly achieved nothing.

    On 9th November the Division was relieved by the 17th Division, and went into training until they were back into the line near Passchendaele village on 13th December. From then on it was the usual "in and out of the line" during the winter until 20th February 1918 when they left the salient for the last time and went into Army reserve South East of Amiens on the 11th March, and were placed at 12 hours notice to move.

50^th div attack on Houthulst Forest and Passchendale allocated to the 5^th Army

Attack took place at dawn, 7^th NF on left, 5^th NF in centre and 4^th NF on right.

Houthulst Forest was on left flank full of German snipers. Each Battalion had to attack across a treacherous swamp, and each was confronted by a row of unbroken pill-boxes. Each battalion made ground, but was mowed down in heaps by machine guns. Twelve officers of the 7^th NF went over the top that morning and one returned alive, namely Lieut. Affleck. It gives some idea of the spirit of these gallant fellows when I relate that Lieut. Affleck was preparing a further attack on the German pill-boxes with only a handful of men, at the time he was ordered to return.

GOTO DETAILED ACOUNT OF THIS ATTACK ON THE HOUTHULST FOREST

Lieut. Odell, the Brigade Signalling Officer, and his men did wonders in keeping the battalions in touch with B.H.Q. during the battle, and for his great personal gallantry on this occasion he received a Bar to his MC. Q6A Page 157

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Lt Francis Buckley and Lt A. E. Odell rode around in search of a field cashiers office, ending up at Poperinghe, in order to pay Brigade Details.

149^th relieved the 151^st Inf Brig in front line (Brig HQ at St Martins Mill which was an old German Pill-box between Widjendrift and Langemark)

12 Nov 1917

149^th moved from Caribou via St Omer and Watten by train  and marched to Serques, for one months rest and training.     (HQ opened at Serques map R7 a 2.3 sheet 27 a S.E. 1/20,000)

/YPRES

November and December 1917 saw the 50^th Division moved to Ypres,

Bert Odell's tunic.

Note the rosette, sewn into the centre of the MC ribbon.

149^th relieved the 150^th Infantry Brigade on night of 15^th/16^th  -Holding the line in front of Passchendale Village.  (Advance Div HQ at Ypres Ramparts) Each Battalion held the line alternately, four days on, four days in support and four days off, until 3rd January 1918.

Lieut. A.E. Odell awarded Bar to MC in New Years Honours List

“He established and maintained lines 3000 yards in length over the open, close to the Front Line. He remained on duty, 48 hours without rest, in the most exposed place and under most trying weather conditions".                                                                                                                 (London Gazette)

On the 11th february 1918 due to the reduction of the establishment of  a division from twelve to nine battalions (3 per brigade) the following moves took place: 7th NF to the 42nd Division, 9 DLI to the 62nd division, 5 Border to the 66th Division, and internally 5 DLI moved from 150 to 151 brigade.

  Back to Battle of Arras        On to Marne and Lys Battles

  Click here for  7th NFshort history of the Regiment,  see personalities and links to detailed acounts of important actions.

Guy Smith     e mail:    guy@trenchmap.com

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