MISCELLANEOUS 1389
The Great War Memorial Plaque to Company Sergeant Major W. H. Penney, Royal West Kent Regiment, who was posthumously awarded a D.C.M. for his gallant conduct during one of the most epic actions of the 1914 campaign, when his battalion successfully defended its isolated trench against overwhelming odds for six consecutive days
MEMORIAL PLAQUE (William Henry Penney) in card envelope, extremely fine
£160-200
D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1915: ‘For gallant conduct and ability in the handling of his men in the trenches from 23rd to 28th October 1914, especially in dealing with the enemy’s attempt at an outflanking movement.’
William Henry Penney was born in Greenwich, Kent on 29 July 1874. He initially volunteered for service with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment on 17 July 1894, being discharged on his transfer to the Regular Army. He attested for service with the Royal West Kent Regiment at Woolwich on 8 August 1895; posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, qualifying for the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, and the King’s South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. Transferring to the 1st Battalion on his return to England in 1902, he was advanced Company Sergeant Major and, following the outbreak of the Great War, landed with the 1st Battalion at Le Havre on 15 August 1914.
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallant conduct and ability during one of the most epic actions of the 1914 campaign, when his Battalion successfully defended its isolated trench against overwhelming odds for six consecutive days, 23 to 29 October 1914, during which it lost 13 of its 15 officers and over 450 men, being brought out of action by two junior subalterns, both of whom were afterwards awarded the D.S.O. Captain E. T. Moulton-Barrett who was then in command of “B” Company afterwards wrote an account of the action at Nueve Chappell, his entry for 27 October including the following reference: ‘Great credit is due to Company Sergeant-Major Penney on this day for the cool manner in which he behaved, walking about smoking a cigarette and directing the fire of his men calmly and collectively. His action proved a great steadier in the men in this critical situation, since at the time there was a gap of at least 400 yards on the left of our line of trenches’. In addition to the award of the D.C.M., Penney had earlier been Mentioned in Sir John French’s ‘Mons-Aisne’ Despatch of 8 October 1914, for ‘gallant and distinguished services in the Field’ (London Gazette 19 October 1914).
Penney was killed in action on 28 October 1914; ‘The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1914-1919’, by C. T. Atkinson described the circumstances as follows: ‘A and D Companies were hastily rushed forward to stem the German advance, but there was great confusion, and A and D were not strong enough to stem the rush... Lieutenant Gore was killed making a stand on the La Bassee Road, as was CSM Penney also’. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
The action at Neuve Chapelle, 23 - 29 October 1914
‘The 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, took up new positions to the south-south-west of Neuve Chapelle, on the night of the 22nd and 23rd October 1914, being assigned a a 400 yard length of trench which extended eastward from Port Arthur(the road junction between the Rue de Bois and the main road from La Bassee). To the front, turnip fields and ploughed land stretched for about 400 yards to the hamlet of Ligny le Petit, while to the left front and more opposite Neuve Chapelle itself, was the Bois de Biez, which, unlike the second battle the following March, still afforded good cover to any attacking force. Continuous shelling of the trenches, particularly the 6" Howitzers caused much damage to the parapets, seriously diminishing the protection they afforded against shrapnel, and giving opportunities to the German snipers and machine gunners. On the evening of the 26th, the Germans attacked the trenches occupied by 'D' Company but were repulsed with heavy losses at the point of the bayonet. The following day, the 27th, a German breakthrough on the battalion left, pushed back the Wiltshires, and early in the afternoon, the left of RWK front trenches came under fire from their left flank and rear. 'D' Company, now in reserve, but only 80 strong, with supports from 'A' Company, succeeded in holding back the enemy until 5pm, when a counter-attack by 9th Bhopals pushed forward until it joined the left of the flung back RWK line, sweeping the Germans back across the Port Arthur-Neuve Chapelle road. On its left, other Indian units continued the line, which now formed a semi-circle to the west of Neuve Chapelle. The following day, an attack was made to recover the village, and whilst a magnificent charge by the 47th Sikhs, the 20th and 21st Companies, Bombay Sappers and Miners, at first carried the village at the point of the bayonet, the supporting troops, including the Bhopals failed to protect their flanks, and without support, the gallant Indians were compelled to retire with heavy loss. At the same time as the counter-attack was made against the Indians, the enemy made a strong attack against 'B' and 'C' Companies RWK front. Supported by heavy shelling and machine gun fire, the Germans advanced by rushes, only to be brought to a standstill about 100 yards from our trenches. However, further to the left, the Bhopals had given way under the strength of the German counter attack to recover the village, and recoiled in disorder across the La Bassee-Estaires road, in rear of the front trenches of the RWK. 'A' and 'D' Companies RWK were hastily pushed forward to counter the German advance, but were greatly outnumbered, and not strong enough to stem the rush. Much reduced by the fighting of the last few days, they had no time to take up a defensive position before the Bhopals with the Germans at their heels were upon them, both RWK companies being carried away by the melee. The Bhopals had lost all their oficers, and had no-one in command. About 300 to 400 Germans pressed on after the Bhopals, reaching the trench where RWK Battalion Headquarters had been established. The situation was most critical, and it looked as if the companies in the firing line could not possibly retain their position. However, nothing could have surpassed the steadiness with which 'B' and 'C' Companies stuck to their fire trenches, even with the enemy right in their rear and with shots coming into them from behind. Attacked from the front, they never wavered, and kept the Germans at bay. Had this determined stand failed, the left flank of 14th Brigade would have been exposed, and the whole line along the Rue de Bois would have been at risk. By dusk, the attacks on 'B' and 'C' Companies had died down, and Lieutenant Moulton-Barrett, the senior officer in the firing line was able to send out patrols to find out what had happened in the rear of our trenches. Shortly afterwards, he was wounded, and command of the battalion evolved to Lieutenant H. B. White, who, along with 2nd Lieutenant J. R. Russell, remained the only effective RWK officers. Undaunted, these two officers set about organising the defences. Lt White threw back his left flank, evacuating the trenches which 'B' Company had tenatiously held throughout the day, and placed the company almost at right angles to the old line. 'B' Company, despite its arduous day, had to dig for the greater part of the night, during which, the remnants of 'A' and 'D' Companies were brought up and assisted in entrenching. By morning, the new trenches had been dug and made secure. 'C' Company were still in the old firing line, with 'B' flung back to the left along the new line, with 'A' and 'D' Companies being in support. The total strength of the battalion was estimated at between 300 and 400, commanded by the two subalterns. Fortunately, the 29th October proved to be a quiet day, and shortly after midnight on the 30th, the remnants of the battalion were relieved by the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, and marched off to billets at Merville.’
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