Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts ? a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.

Neuve Chapelle (10-12 March 1915) was the first planned offensive battle by the BEF in France and achieved limited tactical success but not the expected breakthrough. It highlighted the problem of delay in execution that allowed the defending Germans to regroup, often consequent on small incidents and errors. Having stabilised the situation following the German sweep into France and the counter attack that eventually established static trench warfare on the western front, there was significant pressure on Britain to take a share of the burden from the French (who had without question had born the brunt of the fighting). Although the battle was effectively over by 12th March, the official battle nomenclature included actions in other sectors up to 22 April 1915 including the significant actions at St Eloi and at Hill 60 (Ypres).

Detail :

NORMAN DONALDSON LIEUTENANT, 45TH BRIGADE, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY Norman Donaldson is the subject of a bronze sculpture by the acclaimed artist Hamo Thorneycroft which sold at auction in 2000. It is signed and dated on the side 'Hamo Thorneycroft sc 1915' and on the front 'Lieut. Norman Donaldson, Royal Field Artil.' and inscribed on the reverse 'One who fell in Flanders 10 March 1915'. The sculpture was 15 inches high and on a marble base. The price is unknown. Hamo Thorneycroft was the creator of many remarkable sculptures, not least that of Alfred the Great in Winchester and Oliver Cromwell at Westminster. Quite why he created the sculpture of Norman Donaldson we so not know. Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts - a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack. 45th Brigade RFA consisted of 18 x 18 pounder quick firing guns which distinguished itself at Neuve Chapelle by rapidly switching its guns to deal with a part of the German front line that had escaped the opening barrage of 6" howitzers, and was holding up the attack on the left flank. Farndale in his History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery says that all of the Forward Observation Officers of 45 Brigade RFA were killed or wounded. The Forward Observation Officer (FOO) was responsible for directing the gunfire on observed targets and was often positioned in forward and exposed positions. It is quite possible, given the Germans were caught unawares by the ferocity and depth of the British artillery bombardment on 10th March, and the relative absence of counter battery work by the Germans that Norman Donaldson was one of the FOO casualties that day.

Masonic :

Initiated into Ubique Lodge No. 1789, but resigned November 1909. Joined Charterhouse Deo Dante 18th February 1903.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley