Pte. George Marks

George Marks, Private, S/8242

9th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 9th (Scottish) Division.

9th Battalion was formed at Fort George in October 1914 and attached to the new 9th Scottish Division of Kitcheners "First New Army". In November 1914 it moved to Aldershot and early in 1915 became the divisional pioneer batt. This was an extra batt, not forming part of a brigade, normally used for such tasks as digging trenches and gun pits, building huts and maintaining roads, although being fully trained as infantry and able to fight in that capacity as required.

The battalion went to France on 10th May 1915 with the Division, and remained there for the rest of the war. According to the medal rolls George Marks disembarked in France on 12th August 1915 so therefore must have served with another batt. in the UK and then been sent to France as a reinforcement. Since the medal rolls only show units with which a man served abroad his previous unit was probably the 3rd Seaforths, the pre-war reserve batt. which spent the war at Cromarty on training and defence duties, or possibly the 10th battalion, formed in October 1914, also at Cromarty and converted into a reserve batt. in April 1915 at Tain.

Approximate order of engagements for the 9th Batt. Seaforths (Pioneers)

(Extracts from "The Seaforth Highlanders" edited by Col. J.M. Sym 1962)

25/9/1915- Battle of Loos. Trench digging. Won praise for linking up newly won trenches under fire, and in taking up arms to repel enemy.

14/7/1916- Battle of the Somme. Hard and continuous fighting around Longueval and Delville wood. Several attacks carried out, much progress made. (See detailed breakdown)

9/4/1917 Battle of Arras. Abandoned tools to repel enemy counter-attack.

1/6/1917 In conjunction with a night attack by another batt. the 9th entrenched a new area under heavy fire, suffering severe casualties.

Oct 1917 Battle of Ypres. (First Passchendaele). Took part in the battle but rain and shell-fire had by this time destroyed the terrain so little progress was made.

11/3/1918 Batt. returned to the line

21/3/1918 Battle of St. Quentin. In Divisional reserve. Enemy attacked at 9am. Heavy fighting.

23/3/1918 Situation critical, patrols report enemy massing for attack. Batt. holding St. Pierre Vaast wood.

24/3/1918 Vast hordes of Germans attack. They were mown down. Batt. suffered heavy casualties. After leaving the wood batt. was observed and subject to heavy machine-gun fire. Batt. fought rearguard action through Rancourt and Combles. Acted as cover for Div. Artillery firing over open sights. Enemy slaughter terrific. Eventually took up position in front of Hardicourt for a prolonged stand. Retreat via Trones Wood, Maricourt and Bray, and on evening of the 25th to Etinhem. At midnight orders to hold line Meaulte-Albert. Stern fighting, ammunition now scarce. Withdraw to railway embankment between Albert-Dernacourt. Severe losses inflicted on enemy.

25/3/1918 Quiet night but heavy shelling at 7am. Then machine-gun fire and infantry attacks all day. Hand to hand combat. Relieved by Australians at nightfall. Marched to Henencourt via Lavieville. Batt. strength on 21/3/1918 was 881. On 27/3/1918 163 answered roll call. Most casualties on railway embankment and from own artillery fire.

9th Batt. Seaforths positions during battle of the Somme
(Extracts from British Battalions on the Somme by Ray Westlake)

1/7/1916 Headquarters at Grove Town. Work carried out around Fricourt, Bernafay Wood, Trones Wood.
6/7/1916 Moved to Bray. Occupied during operations at Longueval and Delville Wood.
17/7/1916 Moved to Bronfay farm.
19/7/1916 To Montauban
20/7/1916 To Bronfay farm.
21/7/1916 To Sandpit Valley.
23/7/1916 Entrained at Mericourt for Hangest-Sur-Somme and from there marched to Pont-Remy.
26/7/1916 Entrained for Dieuval
7/10/1916 Proceeded on motor-buses from Villlers L,Hopital to Lavieville.
8/10/1916 To Albert.
9/10/1916 To Bazentin-le-Grand Wood. Work in area included Cork Alley, Starfish, Rutherford Alley, Prue Trench, Bazentin-Eaucourt l,Abbaye light railway, Pioneer Alley.
27/10/1916 Entrained at Bottom Wood for for Meaulte and from there marched to Millencourt.
28/10/1916 To Rubempre.
29/10/1916 From Talmas by buses to Blangermont.

9th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)

Formed at Fort George, October 1914, as part of K3
3 December 1914 : attached to 9th (Scottish) Division, becoming Pioneer Bn early in 1915.

Divisional Troops
6th (Service) Bn, the Bedfords (joined August 1914, left March 1915)
6th (Service) Bn, the Leicesters (joined August 1914, left April 1915)
3/4th Bn, the Royal West Kents (joined and left June 1917)
9th (Service) Bn (Pioneers), the Seaforth Highlanders (joined December 1914, became Pioneer Bn early 1915)



Synopsis of the history of the division

The Division came into existence of Army Order No.324, issued on 21st August 1914, authorising the formation of the six new Divisions of K1. It was formed of volunteers, under the care of the War Office. Initially without equipment or arms of any kind, the recruits were judged to be ready by May 1915. The 9th Division served on the Western Front throughout the war, and were regarded by many as one of the best fighting Divisions of 1914-18.