Peter Spelman
Private
1st Battalion - Royal Scots Fusiliers
The dry grasslands of the Veldt and the many small communities which dotted its rolling hills provided endless possibilities for route marches and patrols, which the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers consistently set out upon (1). Expeditions as far as the Swaziland border helped ensure the Boer remained at bay and provided the otherwise sheltered Scotsmen such as Peter Spelman with a look at this unique portion of the world. By the time his tour in 1902 ended, the fresh-looking Dundee native had been decorated with a 3-clasp medal signifying his service, his father who was a military veteran of 21-years, most proud of his son (1). Undoubtedly his return to work as a laborer in Blackness Factory was a bit less exciting, but time spent living with his brother Matthew and close to family was appreciated more after such a period spent away (1). The 34-year-old reservist was no doubt a bit surprised to be pulled from his factory job in 1914 with a war having broken out in Europe (1).
Peter arrived in theatre on October 6th, falling in among the ranks once again of the glengarry clad Royal Scots Fusiliers, though with the 1st Battalion this time. The freshly reinstated veteran would have little time to become acquainted with France, the battalion immediately being put on the move as the British command attempted to cobble together a strategy (2). By the 13th, the weary Scotsmen had trekked all over Northern France, finally arriving in the hamlet of Vielle Chapelle, not horribly far from the Belgian border (2). Peter and his company were subsequently ordered to move in the dark at 3:00 Am to relieve their fellow Scots in the Gordon Highlanders at Rouge Croix (3). From here they moved in the direction of Aubers and Chapigny to provide support for the Lincolnshire Regiment (3). It was a handful of days later on the 18th that the 1st Battalion was finally given an objective of its own, which was to capture a “chateau south of Herlies” (3). Loaded with ammunition and ready for a fight, Peter and his comrades moved to the positions outside of the chateau from where they would launch their assault.
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Chateaus and Trenches
The targeted chateau was picturesque in that it sat in the middle of a lovely wooded area, though now antithetically surrounded by trenches full of Germans (3). The Scots were some “1600 yards” away and would have to cross French countryside with minimal cover (3). The ground sloped downwards and was open except for a small farm at the bottom, with woods on the extreme left, and some ditches running throughout (3). The lads at least were promised artillery support, relying on it to pin their enemy well they moved across the relatively open space (3). The attack would kick off as planned with A Company taking the lead and rushing towards the center with B Company moving on the left (3). The first wave of these bold Scots were immediately met with an onslaught of German rifle and machine gun fire which began diminishing their numbers (3). But the lads were hardy, and they pressed on relentlessly until fighting their way within “500 yards” of the objective, at which point they were restrained by the officers (3). The left flank of the overall assault had been unable to keep up and now the entire 1st Battalion advance was being stopped right under the gaze of the Germans (3). Those in A and B companies paid heavily in men as the lads lied exposed to German small arms fire (3). Those in C and D companies did not fare much better as heavy artillery began showering them with a curtain of shells (3).
The assault was finally once again put on the move with C Company being brought up to the front to support A Company in their drive for the chateau (3). The assault turned chaotic as the Germans held their ground, but the Scots managed to fight within 60 yards of the woods, surrounding the chateau, though unable to secure it (3). By 6;00 PM, darkness had crept in and with progress having stalled, the order was given to fall back (3). For C Company, this would be easier said than done as they endured fire from two sides and had to fight their way through a German trench in order to return to their own lines, though they did so in an organized manner (3). The day ended with the chateau still in German hands and some twenty-two Scots killed and one-hundred wounded (3).
The following days saw the battalion slowly withdraw further into France, taking casualties along the way (2). The unit would finally dig in as the war officially turned into that of trench warfare, the battalion enduring constant casualties as German artillery hit them with high explosive shells (3). Such violent combat proved costly, with Peter being wounded in the lung and subsequently transported to a hospital in Le Touquet. Though no doubt in great pain, he put on a brave face, sending a postcard home to a friend highlighting that he expected to be discharged soon (2). Unfortunately, the reality was much more stark with tetanus setting in as a result of his wound. Such a combination of wound and infection proved deadly with the brave Scotsman passing on November 7th, 1914. His beloved brother would carry on his legacy, joining up and serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers, eventually returning to Dundee, though Peter forever remained in France.
Sources:
(1) Royal Scots Fusiliers, AngloBoerWar.com, https://www.angloboerwar.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=654
(2) Caldwell, Michael, and Gary Thomson. “Peter Spelman.” Roll of Honour, Great War Dundee, www.greatwardundee.com/entry/spelman-peter/.
(3) The National Archives, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, WO 95/1432/1.
(1) Royal Scots Fusiliers, AngloBoerWar.com, https://www.angloboerwar.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=654
(2) Caldwell, Michael, and Gary Thomson. “Peter Spelman.” Roll of Honour, Great War Dundee, www.greatwardundee.com/entry/spelman-peter/.
(3) The National Archives, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, WO 95/1432/1.