Saturday 1st April 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The day was bright and sunny and aeroplanes on both sides were particularly active. There were casualties among the airmen on both sides. About 9.30am British anti-aircraft guns appeared to hit a German aircraft which was then observed coming to earth some distance in rear of the German lines. At 3.25pm a French Aeroplane was brought down by the German anti-aircraft guns; it fell immediately behind the Battalion HQ trench. The pilot was immediately found to have been killed and the observer died a few minutes later.

There were further exchanges of rifle grenades and trench mortars, with the British effort aided by the fact that two additional trench mortar batteries had been formed within the division at this time to supplement the two which already existed and it was considered that, “quick and decisive retaliation keeps the enemy well in hand”.  There were also exchanges of fire from artillery on both sides. The War Diary makes no mention of any casualties, but one man, Pte. Matthew Teasdale (see 11^th September 1915), was officially recorded as having been killed in action on this date; he is buried alongside 10DWR casualties from earlier actions (see 23^rd March) at the former French military cemetery at Tranchee de Mecknes, near Aix Noulette.

The War Diary reported that, “No Mans Land is pitted with shell holes, in the bottom of which, in several cases there is barbed wire. These form particularly nasty traps”.

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 8^th March), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company, but was now with 9^th Battalion, was admitted to 50^th Field Ambulance having been reported as suffering from scabies; the diagnosis may have arisen as a result of the fact that the men of the Battalion had that day bathed at Armentieres.

A payment of £4 3s 3d, being the amount due on his army pay, was authorised to Emma Iredale, mother of Pte. Harry Iredale who had been killed in February (see 25^th February).

Pte. Harry Iredale

Friday 31st March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

On a beautiful day conditions in the line remained quiet, other than for some limited artillery activity. There was however, “a scheme to intimidate the enemy” which would involve the firing of aerial torpedoes, trench mortars and rifle grenades in considerable quantity “at a time they (the Germans) usually fire numerous grenades in and around Bully Craters”. The Trench Mortar Battery recorded the role they played in the exercise as: “Fired 9 rounds (3 per no.1, 2 and 3 guns) at 5.10am in accordance with infantry scheme to intimidate Fritz and quell early morning frightfulness”. However it was also noted that the Germans had sent some heavy shells (twelve in the morning and two more in mid-afternoon) into the pit-head area around Coron Fosse 10, where the Battalion had previously been billeted. Whilst staying there the Battalion had been warned about possible exposure to German artillery fire, but their stays had, in fact, proved uneventful (see 18^th March).

Pte. Alfred Newey (see 10^th March) was accidentally wounded whilst in the front line trenches. The circumstances were described in statements given by A/Cpl. Arnold Freeman (see 9^th February) and Pte. Leonard Stanley Mitchell (see below). Cpl. Freeman stated that, “I was sitting in a dug out opposite the steps. I saw Pte. Newey climbing the steps. The butt end of his rifle caught one of the stakes. He threw his left hand out to save himself and at the same time his rifle went off”. Pte. Mitchell gave a similar report, “I was sitting at the bottom of the steps in a dug out when Pte. Newey was climbing the steps of the dug out. He stumbled and his rifle butt caught one of the stakes. He threw his left arm out to save himself and at the same time the rifle exploded. The next thing I saw was that he had blown his finger off”. Pte. Newey would be admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 9^th Casualty Clearing Station to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport. The middle finger of his left hand would be amputated.

In the official report on the incident, dated 4^th April and signed by Col. Bartholomew, it would be stated that Pte. Newey had suffered, “gunshot wound of second finger of left hand; probably will lose this finger” and it would be found that, “Pte. Newey was to blame. I do not think the rifle would have gone off under the circumstances had the safety catch been lowered. The case appears to me very suspicious”. In the event it would be determined that Newey’s wounds were ‘accidentally self-inflicted’.

 

Pte. Leonard Stanley Mitchell was a 22 year-old textile worker from Huddersfield; he was an original member of the Battalion.

L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 22^nd March) was released from hospital having been treated for ten days for scabies and granted ten days’ leave to England.

Pte. Thomas McDonald (see 21^st March), who had been at 3^rd General Hospital at Le Treport since having been wounded ten days previously, was evacuated to England travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe; the details of his treatment are unknown.

69^th Brigade War Diary recorded casualties for the Brigade for the month of March:

Killed                                     13 (including 2 officers; one of whom was Lt. Wilson, MO of 10DWR)

Accidentally killed              0
Died of wounds                   3 (including 1 officer of 11^th West Yorks)
Wounded                            79 (including 3 officers; 2 of whom were from 10DWR)
Accidentally wounded       4
Missing                                 0

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                     7 (including Lt. Wilson)
Accidentally killed               0
Died of wounds                   1
Wounded                            36 (including Lt. Bolland and Lt. Phillips)
Accidentally wounded        2
Missing                                  0

It should be noted that these casualty figures take no account of the deaths of Ptes . Ambler and Halliday (see 25^th and 28^th March), both of whom died of wounds some time after having been wounded and evacuated for treatment.

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France were now:

Killed                                     25

Accidentally killed                4
Died of wounds                     3
Wounded                           133
Accidentally wounded       39
Missing                                    3

 

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald published the letter written recently by Pte. Irvine Clark (see 16^th March), and also carried news of two other of Tunstill’s original recruits, L.Cpl. Wilson Pritchard (see 2^nd January) and Pte. John Beckwith (see 21^st March).

AUSTWICK

On Leave

Lance Corporal W. Pritchard, of the 41^st Division Cycle Corps, stationed at Aldershot, has been on a week’s leave before leaving for France.

MARTON

Wounded Soldiers

Privates J. Beckwith and W. Goode, who have both been wounded in action in France, are now in hospital in England and are progressing favourably. Private Beckwith speaks highly of his treatment in a Staffordshire hospital, while Private Goode was entertained to tea at Buckingham Palace along with a large number of wounded soldiers.

BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND

AT THE FRONT

Private Irvine Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Clark, of the Post Office, Bolton-by-Bowland, who joined the Army under Captain Tunstill and is attached to the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s, writes an interesting letter home from the trenches under date of March 16^th. He says:

“I received the parcel and letter safely; it came in very handy as we were just behind the firing line in some French huts, and were having short rations. I did fairly enjoy the pastry. We have been having a pretty rough time just lately; we are on a different part of the line and hardly any British Tommies have been here before. We have just had two days in the trenches – one in reserve and the other in the firing line. Twenty four hours is quite long enough in the front line at once, here. In the day time we dare not stir nor show the least sign of ourselves, or the Germans would shell us out of it. One Company of ours gave themselves away and suffered for it; one platoon alone had one killed and 17 wounded; our doctor was also killed after he attended to some of the latter. It is shelling all day long. The trenches are only thirty yards apart; although I am calling them trenches they are only shell holes and ditches. There were six of us in one shell hole during the night time; we dug holes to get into in the day time and some of the chaps had to sit on a dead German all day, and to make matters worse for us it started snowing early in the night.

While we were going, we had to cross over about 250 yards of open ground covered with shell holes; not one yard had been missed by the shells. Talk about mud! Well, a lot of the lads got stuck and had to leave their jack boots behind them and walk in stocking feet; some lost their rifles and equipment, and it was a proper mix-up; they were crawling into the trenches at all times of night. Setting out we had a rougher time than going in; men were sinking up to their waist in mud; the Germans were throwing lights up; we thought they would spot us, and send a few whizz-bangs, but we came through all right.

Six of us had to go back some distance and pull a man out who was nearly overhead in mud, and we had a job I can tell you. When we arrives at our billets at six o’clock next morning we were all about dead beat. Our clothes were covered with mud from head to foot, and we have done nothing but scrape and clean them since we came out. We were all glad when we marched away from that part of the line last Monday. We are now billeted in a pretty little town, but I think we move back to the line again in a few days’ time.

It is the mining district about here, and we have been to one of the mines to a bath house this morning, and a fine place it was too. We are doing a lot of shifting about, and we never know what minute we shall be told to pack up and be off. We may be going to the place where the heavy fighting was last September. The ‘Zeps’ seem to have their own way with you, but their airmen get scared here. A Fokker was brought down here yesterday. I was talking this morning to a lad from Bradley who played cricket against us at Bolton”.

 

 

Thursday 30th March 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

The morning was fine, with “much aeroplane activity” reported. Advance parties departed to take over trench stores in the morning and the remainder of the Battalion began their relief at 7pm. On this occasion Tunstill’s Company remained in support trenches while the other three companies occupied the front line. All reliefs were completed, without casualties, by 11pm.

Pte. Johnny Smith (see 8^th January) was admitted to 4^th Stationery Hospital at Arques, suffering from pyrexia (high temperature).

Pte. Johnny Smith

Pte. Edmund Peacock (see 4^th February) who had been invalided back to England having been wounded in November 1915,  embarked for France where he would not re-join 10DWR but would instead be posted to 9^th Battalion.

Wednesday 29th March 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

Again a quiet day, with working parties found. Orders were received that the Battalion would, next day, relieve 9^th Yorkshires in the front line positions which they had vacated on 25^th March.

J.B. Priestley wrote home to his family, with news of a recent bout of illness which he had suffered (a number of Tunstill’s Company had suffered from similar bouts of illness, and doubtless similar treatment regime; for example, Pte. Tom Darwin, for whom see 28^th March): “Though I’ve not said anything to you, I’ve been unwell for some time; I’ve kept going to see the doctor, & he’s kept giving me odd pills & excusing me from duty. Finally, last week, he sent me to hospital. I was at the Field Ambulance for four days, in bed all the time, pulse and temperature taken twice at day etc. etc. Then they moved me on to the Divisional Rest Section; a large Hospital-cum-Convalescent Home, where I am at the present moment. This is the first day I’ve been allowed to get up, & I’m feeling much better. I’ve had no letters or parcels forwarded from my regiment yet, so if you’ve sent anything, you’ll know why I haven’t replied”.

Pte. J.B. Priestley

Pte. Albert Bateson (see 9^th March), who had been wounded three weeks previously, was evacuated to England; the details of his treatment in England are unknown.

L.Sgt. Cyril Edward Agar, serving with 9^th Yorkshires, was admitted to Scarborough Military Hospital whilst home on leave from France; the nature of his illness is not known but he would remain in hospital for the next six weeks. Cyril Edward Agar was born 15^th March 1890, the seventh of twelve children of Thomas and Charlotte Agar; his father was a grocer and corn dealer in Scarborough. Cyril had been working as a clerk (most likely in the family business) before enlisting on 11^th November 1914. He had been posted to 9^th Yorkshires and had been successively promoted Lance Corporal (January 1915), Corporal (April 1915) and Lance Sergeant (October 1915). He would subsequently be commissioned and join 10DWR as one of the officers of ‘A’ Company.

Cyril Edward Agar, pictured later in the war, in his officer's uniform.
Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton.

Tuesday 28th March 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

Another fine day, with working parties again provided for the Royal Engineers.

At 20^th General Hospital at Camiers, Pte. Arthur Halliday (see 20^th March) died of wounds; it has not been established exactly when he had been wounded but his wounds had resulted in the amputation of one of his legs. He was a 24 year-old labourer from Halifax.  A matron at the hospital would write, on the following day, to Pte. Halliday’s aunt, “Your nephew passed away at 9.30 last evening. He was quite conscious up to the end. I told him that his people were coming to see him and he said, “They’ll have to come soon for I can’t live long now”. He did not suffer so much towards the end but he was so sick and that worried him”. Pte. Halliday’s father had made the journey to France, but, having been held up by snow in the Midlands, had not reached the hospital by the time his son died. According to a subsequent newspaper report Pte. Halliday, “was not a strong youth but Army life hardened him, and, up to his injury, he had become strong and much better than ever before. He was a quiet lad, respected by all who knew him”. He would be buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.

LSgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 23^rd December 1915) was promoted Acting Sergeant.

Pte. James Broadbent (see 7th October 1915) was posted to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. A month after arriving in France (in October 1915) he had begun to suffer problems arising from an old fracture to his right hand resulting; it would later be reported that, “Since injury 16 years ago he used his left hand chiefly in his work. Since admission to the Army right hand has been painful and gradually lost strength. One month after arrival in France he was left off using his rifle because of powerlessness of right hand and has not used his hand much since then”.

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 24^th March), one of Tunstill’s fellow officers with ‘A’ Company, departed on one weeks’ leave to England.

Lt. Col. Hugh John Bartholomew, commanding 10DWR (see 26^th January), completed a formal report on the competence of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson who had now been with the Battalion for three months (see 27^th December 1915). Bartholomew expressed grave concerns about Dawson’s competence: “I do not consider 2/Lieut. Dawson is fitted for command of a platoon in the field. He does not possess the habit of command, and has no grip on his men. He is, moreover, very short sighted. This officer might be more suitably employed in the A.S.C., in the ranks of which he served for six months prior to receiving a commission in this Battalion.” The report was forwarded to 69^th Brigade HQ, with confirmation that “This report has been communicated to the officer in question”.

Pte. Herbert Ridley (see 20^th March) who had spent eight days at 4^th General Hospital at Camiers after being wounded was evacuated to England onboard the hospital ship St. David; on arrival in England he would be admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow, Bucks.

Trooper Claude Darwin, who had spent the last ten days in Sohag Hospital, suffering from nephritis, (see 5^th March) was transferred to Assuit Hospital, Egypt. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who was currently at the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, awaiting posting, after having been treated for ‘debility’ whilst serving with 10DWR (see 14^th February).

Monday 27th March 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

A dull day, with more working parties provided for the Royal Engineers.

The Battalion was inspected by General Sir James Babington, commanding 23^rd Division. The inspection included also the presentation of the gallantry awards earned in the action on 9^th March. Capt. Tunstill wrote to his wife, Geraldine, about the events and encouraging here to spread the news as widely as possible, which she did by forwarding her husband’s letter to the Craven Herald;

“The General is having a special parade today to give Lieut. G. Heale (one of the officers, 10^th West Ridings) (see 9^th March) the Military Cross, and Kayley Earnshaw (see 23^rd March) the D.C.M. We are so delighted about Kayley, do tell everyone in Malhamdale about it, and how well he deserves it too. He is the first of my men to win the D.C.M. although there are many others who have earned it again and again. It is really wonderful to see that he is always so cheerful and happy, all through the greatest hardships and privations, under very trying conditions, and I feel more proud of my company each day. Kayley's fellow Dalesmen will be as proud of him as we all are, and will wish both him and the rest of us a safe return home“.

When Earnshaw himself wrote home he was understated and modest about his achievement,

“We have had a general inspection. The General shook hands with me and told me I was getting the D.C.M. sometime in the future; so my chest is beginning to expand already. I wish they would get the job over with, but judging by the papers it looks like a lot of married men are having to come out yet. I received a congratulatory message from the Colonel yesterday to say I have been awarded the medal. You will no doubt want to know what for. Well, I suppose it was for digging a gun out that had been blown up by a shell, and getting it into working order again, and bandaging wounded under heavy shell fire. I am not very good at describing things, but we had rather a warm time."

Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw, pictured wearing his DCM ribbon
By kind permission of Sue Lugton

Lt. G.R.C. Heale, MC

Pte. Farrand Kayley (see 14^th March), brother of Tunstill’s recruits James and Job Kayley (see 14^th January), joined 1^st/6^th Battalion West Ridings as a transport driver.

Sunday 26th March 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

In fine weather the Battalion provided working parties, which may have included the provision of 200 rounds of ammunition for the Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, as recorded in their War Diary, but otherwise the day was quiet. News was received that the Battalion would be inspected next day by Genl. Sir James Babington, commanding 23^rd Division.

Pte. Edwin Dracup (see 3^rd December 1915) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from trench foot; he would re-join the Battalion three days later.

Three new subalterns joined the Battalion. 2Lt. Hugh William Lester had been living and working in Hong Kong before the war and whilst there he had served as a private in a Scouts Company of the Hong King Volunteers. He had returned to England and applied for a commission in May 1915; his posting to 10DWR was his first experience of active service; he was 31 years old.  2Lt. Isidore David Marks, who had turned twenty just a few days before reporting for duty, had spent more than three years in the OTC at King Edward’s School in Birmingham. He had applied for a commission in June 1915 and this was his first posting. The third new arrival was 2Lt. Charles Douglas Storrs, who was also just twenty years of age. He had been educated at Oundle School, where he also served in the OTC. He had served as Scout Officer with 9^th Dukes from March to July 1915 and had also “superintended the physical training” of the Battalion. When the Battalion went on active service, Storrs had remained in England and been posted to 11^th Dukes, again supervising their physical training. In December 1915 he had applied for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps; this application was still under consideration when Storrs had left England on 23^rd March. However, the following day orders had been issued for him to report, on 27^th March, to the Commandant, RFC School of Instruction at Reading; his departure for active service meant that this order could not be out into effect.

Saturday 25th March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The day was reported as “beautifully clear, but very cold”. The Battalion was relieved by 9^th Yorkshires, with the relief getting underway at 7pm and completed by midnight. The Battalion returned to their former billets at Coron Fosse 10.

Pte. Harry Ambler (see 23^rd March), who had suffered shrapnel wounds to the chest and a compound fracture to his left arm two days previously, died of his wounds at 58^th (West Riding) Casualty Clearing Station at Lillers; he would be buried at Lillers Communal Cemetery. A chaplain at the Casualty Clearing Station would write to Pte. Ambler’s widow; “I very much regret that I have to write to tell you of the death of Pte. Harry Ambler. He was brought into the West Riding Casualty Clearing Station. He was suffering from wounds in the chest and arm. Everything possible was done for him but he died as a result of his wounds at 11.45 am, March 25^th. He is to be buried this afternoon at Lille Cemetery with the other English soldiers who died and are at rest. His grave will be marked with a wooden cross on which his name and regiment will be printed. All his personal effects will be sent to you. I will take his funeral and pray that God will comfort you. With sincerest sympathy. D.C. Woodhouse, Chaplain”.

At home in Sunderland, Edith Dyer, wife of Pte. Cuthbert Dyer (see 11^th September 1915) gave birth to the couple’s second child; the boy would be named William.

Friday 24th March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

Overnight 23^rd-24^th, there was heavy snowfall and the day was very quiet and both sides suspended any action; “there was practically nothing doing”. The Trench Mortar Battery reported simply, “no firing”.

The Brigade War Diary acknowledged that, “The weather is causing considerable damage to our trenches. Work is proceeding very slowly due to lack of revetting material”.

L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) (see 7^th October 1915) and Pte. James Loxam (see below) departed on one weeks’ leave to England. James Loxam had been an original member of the battalion, having enlisted in September 1914. He was a 36 year-old dyer’s labourer from Bradford and was married, with two children.

Pte. Owen Shaw was posted to France and would join 10DWR. He was a 26 year-old coal miner from Cradley Heath, Staffs. He had been called up in February and had been posted to 3DWR.

Pte. John William Parker (14747) (see 17^th February), who had been in hospital for five weeks after having been evacuated to England suffering from epilepsy, was discharged from the British Military Hospital, Brockenhurst. He was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his illness; he was awarded an Army pension (details unknown).

Pte. Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 15^th March) signed and dated an autograph book kept by a member of the nursing staff at West Ham Red Cross Hospital, Basingstoke; it is not known how much longer he stayed at the hospital, where he was being treated for TB. 

L. Cpl. Philip Howard Morris (see 14^th November 1915), serving in France with 21^st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was posted back to England to begin his officer training with no.1 Officer Cadet Battalion at Denham, Bucks. He would later be commissioned and serve as an officer with Tunstill’s Company. 

Cpl. Vincent Edwards was released from Beadford War Hospital, Bristol, and awarded ten days’ leave, after spending six weeks being treated for jaundice and the effects of having received shrapnel splinters in his eye and nose. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Vincent Edwards was born on 19^th February 1890 in Acton, the youngest of nine children of Thomas James and Matilda Arabella Edwards. His father was a dealer in ‘house furnishings’ and, having attended Scarborough College, Vincent had joined the family business, working alongside a number of his brothers. On the outbreak of war he had enlisted, on 15^th September 1914, with 19^th Royal Fusiliers. He had been promoted Lance Corporal in May 1915 and Corporal in August and went to France with his Battalion in November 1915. He had been wounded on 5^th February 1916 and returned to England nine days later to be admitted to hospital.

Thursday 23rd March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

There were further, considerable exchanges of fire from rifle grenades and trench mortars, causing serious casualties in the Battalion. Four men were killed outright and one officer and three other ranks wounded. The four men killed would be buried alongside Pte. Ernest Varley (see 20^th March) at Tranchee de Mecknes, near Aix Noulette. These were Ptes. Harry Briggs (16040) (see below); James Frainey (see below); William Haste (see 7^th October 1915); and William Henry Jowett. Jowett had been photographed in the trenches near Bois Grenier along Lt. Dick Bolton in January (see 11^th January). The wounded men were evacuated via one of the field ambulance units and then onboard No. 22 Ambulance Train. One of the wounded men, Cpl. Harry Wain (see below), died at 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station and would be buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery. The officer wounded was Lt. Leonard Norman Phillips (see 27^th August 1915). The other two wounded men were Pte. Harry Ambler (see 7^th October 1915); he suffered shrapnel wounds to the chest and a compound fracture to his left arm and would be evacuated to 58^th (West Riding) Casualty Clearing Station at Lillers. Pte. Robert Wilson Irving (see 16^th January) was reported as having been “knocked down by a shell burst”; he would be treated locally in the first instance for a recurrence of the shellshock which had seen him spend four months in hospital following a similar incident in September 1915. Harry Briggs was a 34 year-old married man with two children; he was from Sowerby Bridge, where he had worked as a wire trimmer at Sterne Mill. Lt. Phillips would write to Pte. Briggs’ widow, “It is with the greatest regret that I have to inform you of the death of Pte. Briggs which took place on March 23^rd. He was with one of the sentry groups in the front line when a German rifle grenade fell amongst us, killing four and wounding three others. I would have written at once but I was one of the wounded, and, being in hospital, I have not been able to get your address until today. Pte. Briggs was always ready to do his duty cheerfully and well. I feel that I have lost a good man and the Army a brave soldier. Extending you sincerest sympathy”. She would also receive a letter from the Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfred Leveson Henderson (see 17^th January); “I am writing to express my deep sympathy with you in the loss of your husband. He was killed last Thursday, March 23^rd. A German rifle grenade burst in our fire trenches, wounding an officer and killing your husband and three others. We buried them at night in a soldier’s cemetery behind the trenches. A cross will be put up to mark your husband’s grave. Both the officers and men join with me in expressing deep sympathy. Believe me, I know how great is your loss. It will be some comfort for you to know that your sorrow is shared by so many others. In the bitterness of your sorrow you must have mingled feelings of pride at the splendour of the sacrifice he has made. We may feel sure that he has pleased God. God bless and strengthen you in your sorrow”. James Frainey was 34 years old and originally from County Mayo; he had been living and working (as a builder’s labourer) in Sowerby Bridge prior to enlisting in May 1915. Harry Wain was a 28 year-old coal miner from Heckmondwike and had been a n original member of the Battalion; he was married with four children.

J.B. Priestley, writing many years later, was much less enthusiastic about the effects of the British retaliatory fire, “Up in the line, what we did mind, what soon began to get us down, were the Minenwerfers, the big trench-mortars; and at Souchez we always appeared to have the Minenwerfer specialists against us. Often we asked for their attention; not us, the ordinary infantry who had to stay in the front line, but the Brigade, the Division, the Corps and the Army. What happened all too often was that our own specialists would rush their Stokes guns up into the support trenches, blast away for quarter of an hour, and then hurry off with their infernal things to where their transport was waiting. Pampered and heartless fellows – that is how we regarded them – lunatic experts who had to interfere, off they went to some back area, to roofs and beds and estaminets, beer and wine, chips and eggs; while we poor devils, left behind in holes in the ground, now had to face the anger of the Boches they had been strafing. The Minenwerfer teams got to work on us. Up and then down came those monstrous canisters of high explosive, making hell’s own din when they landed, blasting or burying us. If there was any infantryman who was not afraid of those things, who was not made uneasy by any rumours they would shortly be arriving, I never met him. Perhaps because they were such short-range affairs’ perhaps because if you were on the alert, looking and listening hard, you could just dodge them, perhaps because they made such a hellish row, they frightened us more than bullets, bombs, shells of all calibres. And in around Souchez we crouched below a nest of them”.

Lt. Leonard Norman Phillips had joined the Army on the outbreak of war and had become one of the original officers of ‘D’ Company. He was born in 1886 and was the only surviving child of Rev. Owen Phillips and his wife, Edith. Phillips had followed his father’s calling and, after attending Haileybury School, had been ordained in 1912.

 

Five of the Battalion casualties lie together at Tranchee de Mecknes Cemetery

Pte. Thomas Warburton (see 22^nd January) was injured while on duty. According to the official account, Warburton, at around 11.15pm, “was one of the sentry groups, he went to his dug out for his ground sheet and coming up the steps from his dug out on his return he stepped on a cartridge case. This was the cause of his fall to the bottom of the steps where his rifle exploded and cut his little finger on his right hand”. Further detail as added in statements from two other members of ‘’D’ Company. L.Cpl. George Peacock (see 21st March) stated that, “about 11pm it was my duty to relieve the guard in one of the saps in the firing line. I came to the dugout where Pte. Warburton was sleeping and warned him that it was time for him to go on guard with Pte. Beatty. As he was climbing the steps from the dugout the accident occurred but I am unable to state the exact cause”. Pte. James Beatty (see 11^th September 1915) stated that, “Pte. Warburton and I were warned for sap guard together. I got out of the dugout and was standing in the communication trench and was calling to Pte. Warburton as he came up the steps. Suddenly his rifle went off and narrowly missed hitting me. I asked him whether he had forgotten to put on the safety catch and he replied that he had put it on when he had come out of the sap the previous time at 9pm. He was alone on the steps of the dugout when the accident happened. The time was about 11.15pm”. Warburton’s injuries were minor; “right hand little finger has slight gunshot wound and palm of hand near fingers is blackened with powder”. However, he was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station. He would be discharged two days later and immediately placed under arrest awaiting trial by Field General Court Martial due to the self-inflicted nature of his wound.

L.Cpl. George Peacock

Image by kind permission of 'Menofworth'

Pte. James Broadbent (see 7^th October 1915) was posted to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples; he had been suffering from problems with his right hand. It would subsequently be stated that, “Since injuring his wrist 16 years ago he has used his left hand chiefly in his work. Since admission to the Army his right hand has been painful and gradually lost strength. One month after arrival in France (October 1915) left off using rifle because of powerlessness in right hand; has not used hand much since then”.

Having received confirmation of the award of the DCM to Sgt Kayley Earnshaw (see 9^th March), Capt. Tunstill, was able to write to Kayley’s wife to offer his congratulations. His pleasure was all the greater because he had known Earnshaw in civilian life, when Kayley worked as a gardener for Tunstill’s friend Dudley Illingworth at Hanlith Hall; “I write to tell you how glad and proud I am that your husband has won the D.C.M. None deserves it more, and no one is more proud than I am that he has won it. I believe it will be the first D.C.M. ever brought to Malhamdale, and Malhamdale ought and will be proud and grateful to the brave man who has done the Dale this honour.”

Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw
Image by kind permission of Sue Lugton.

The War Office wrote to Charles Frederick Wolfe offering him appointment as, “Transport Officer to a Unit in one of the New Armies. Your duties would comprise the care of animals and vehicles belonging to the Unit … you will be granted a temporary Commission as Lieutenant and receive the pay and allowances of that rank. You would first be required to pass a medical examination by an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps”.  He would, in due course, become Transport Officer to 10^th Battalion. Wolfe was a 47 year-old married man who had spent many years in South Africa before returning to the UK in 1912; he was a self-employed horse breeder.

Following one months’ hospital treatment for ‘trench foot’, Pte. Patrick Conley (see 25^th February) was discharged and posted to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route to a return to active service.

Pte. George William Fletcher (see 8^th March) was discharged from 4^th Stationery Hospital at Arques and would re-join the Battalion.

L.Cpl Fred Helliwell Baume (see 12^th March), serving with 18^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was posted to England to begin officer training; he would later join 10DWR.

Wednesday 22nd March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

On a dull day it was reported that “everything on both sides was unusually quiet”. The Trench Mortar Battery reported no firing.

L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 25^th September 1915) was admitted to 70th Field Ambulance Unit suffering from scabies.

Pte. Thomas Campbell (see 1^st July 1915), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of bronchitis. It was stated that, “In June 1909 at Bradford he had an attack of pleurisy. He recovered from this and, with the exception of slight colds, he was in fairly good health until a year ago. He was then at Farnham under canvas until December 1914. There his chest troubled him owing to the cold and wet. His chest symptoms have got gradually worse until now he has chronic bronchitis. He becomes breathless on slightest exertion. Condition almost certainly aggravated by alcoholism”. It was accepted that his illness was “Not caused, but aggravated by, exposure to damp and cold while on military service” and as such he would be awarded an Army pension and the Silver War Badge.

Tuesday 21st March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The day was dull and overcast which made observation very difficult. However, the regular exchange of rifle grenades and trench mortars continued and a series of explosions resulted in eight men being wounded. Lt. Leslie Guy Stewart Bolland of ‘B’ Company, who had been awarded the Military Cross in November 1915 (see 10^th December 1915) was also wounded.

Pte. John Holmes (see 6^th October 1915); he suffered wounds to both legs and would be evacuated to 20^th General Hospital at Camiers.

Pte. Tom Horsfall; the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown but he would be evacuated to England suffering from shellshock. He had been an original member of the Battalion, having enlisted in Bradford in September 1914, aged 31; he was from Manningham, Bradford and had been working as a dyer’s labourer for Messrs. Aykroyd and Grandage Ltd.

Pte. David Hume; the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown. He would subsequently (date and details unknown) be attached to 296^th Railway Company, Royal Engineers. He had been an original member of the Battalion and was 19 years old and originally from Selkirk.

Pte. Thomas McDonald; he suffered wounds to his neck and would be evacuated to 3^rd General Hospital at Le Treport. He was a 29 year-old textile worker from Bradford and had been an original member of the Battalion.

Pte. Willie Parkin (see 27^th October 1915); he suffered a fracture to the middle finger of his left hand. The details of his treatment in France are unknown.

Priestley 12398

Pte. Albert Edward Ruddiman; the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown. He was 27 years old had been a pre-war regular soldier, serving in India with 1DWR; in the absence of a surviving service record the date and circumstances of his posting to 10DWR are unknown. He would subsequently re-join 1DWR.

Pte. Matthew Woodward (see 22^nd July 1915); he suffered wounds to his left leg, including a fractured fibia and would be evacuated to 26^th General Hospital at Etaples.

The exchanges were again reported by the Trench Mortar Battery: “Fired from left hand gun five rounds at twelve midday by request C.O.8^th Yorks to shut up rifle grenades also to annoy Hun. Fired from left hand gun 1 round at 3.30pm silencing hostile grenades and catapult bombs. Fired from right hand gun 2 rounds at 4pm to register on Boche trenches opposite supposed mine”. Concerns had been raised about this ‘supposed mine’ the previous day and it had been investigated by 23^rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers; their OC now reported that, “he is unable to detect sounds of mining”.

Leslie Guy Stewart Bolland never re-joined 10DWR and the course of his career through the remainder of the war has not been established in any detail. However, it is known that he would be posted to 8DWR and would remain with the West Riding Regiment until 1^st June 1918, although in what capacity and with which Battalion is unknown. He was then granted a probationary commission with the Indian Army which he held for the next eighteen months, rising to the rank of Captain and serving with 1^st/8^th Rajputs. He relinquished his commission with effect from 10^th October 1919. He then spent some time living and working in Siam (he applied for his campaign medals in 1922, giving his address as c/o the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, Chiengmai) before returning to England from Penang in May 1927. He married Winifred F. Knight in Sussex in 1931 and in the following January the couple travelled to Lisbon; the ship’s register records that Bolland’s future intended permanent residence was to be Nigeria (his occupation was given as “Inspector”) whilst his wife’s was to be England. However, the couple returned to England together in March 1932 and their only child, a son, Thomas Geoffrey Stewart Bolland, was born on 4^th October 1932. In 1939, on the outbreak of war, Bolland was granted, aged 42, an emergency commission as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Regiment of Artillery; the details of his war service are unknown.

Bolland’s story was to have a tragic end, as recorded in a report in the Mid Sussex Times, 6^th July 1955; the cutting was kept by Bolland’s fellow 10DWR officer Dick Bolton (see 14^th March), who had clearly remained in contact with him (Bolland’s name also appears in an address book kept by Dick Bolton).

P.C. Pleaded

“Don’t do it!”

But Man Shot Himself

After an urgent message had been flashed to police at Haywards Heath a police car raced to Birchgrove Road, Horsted Keynes. As it drew up to a small car parked in the lane, a man stepped out onto the grass verge.

The tragic events which followed were described by P.C. Roy Nicholson, of Haywards Heath, to the East Sussex Coroner, Dr. A.C. Sommerville, at an inquest at Cuckfield Hospital, on Monday on Major Leslie Guy Stewart Bolland, a 58-year-old commercial traveller, of Samphire Cottage, Hastings Road, Battle.

“As I got out of the car”, said P.C. Nicholson, “the man stared at me fixedly. Smiling, he drew out a revolver with his right hand. He said ‘Oh, no!’, and raised the revolver towards his head”. The officer pleaded with him, “Don’t do it!”. But by this time Bolland had placed the barrel in his mouth, pointed it upwards and pulled the trigger. “The gun fired”, said the officer, “and the man collapsed, bleeding copiously”.

The revolver, a Colt .45, contained six rounds, one of which had just been discharged. By the man’s side lay an empty whisky bottle, an empty sherry bottle, a water siphon, a metal tankard and a glass. He had with him three letters in blue envelopes, one addressed to his son, one to his wife, and other containing his will.

The dead man’s son, Mr. Thomas Geoffrey Stewart Bolland, said he was on his way to meet his mother from the Continent about mid-day on Thursday. He found the house empty, the garage doors open and the car missing. Although for the past year his father, a former Indian Army officer, had been unable to work because of a pain in his right shoulder, he had not mentioned any financial worries or suggested taking his life.

HANDED MOTORIST A NOTE

Mr. Cecil Leslie Ruming, a salesman motorist, of Montgomery Street, Hove, said he saw Bolland standing in the middle of the lane and thought he wanted help. “You know how things are, old man. You’ve been in the Army I suppose”, Bolland said to witness, handing him a folded note, addressed to the nearest police station. Thinking his behaviour rather odd, Mr. Ruming said, he stopped further along the road, read the note and immediately telephoned Uckfield police.

Evidence of interviewing Bolland the day before his death was given by Det. Constable Robert Pert, of Battle. Bolland, he said, had been unable to give a satisfactory explanation about a typewriter which he had sold for £10 and which had since been found to have been stolen at Canterbury in January 1954. Deceased had told him he bought the machine from a man in a public house for £5. “He appeared very calm and composed”, added the officer, who had told Bolland further enquiries would be made.

Dr. T.M. Pritchard of Haywards Heath, who was called to the scene, said death was caused by destruction of the brain from a bullet wound. Recording a verdict of “Suicide”, the Coroner said Bolland’s action was doubtless due to worry about the typewriter. 

Pte. George Edward Western (see 11^th March) was reported by Cpl. Ernest Nussey (see below) and L.Cpl. George Peacock (see 25^th September 1915) for being ‘improperly dressed on fatigue; ie being without smoke helmet’; on the orders of Capt. James Christopher Bull MC (see 11^th March) he would be confined to barracks for three days.

Ernest Nussey was an original member of the Battalion; he was 30 years old and from Earby and had worked as a ‘beamer’ at Coates Mill, Barnoldswick.  

Pte. John Beckwith (see 20^th March) who had been wounded the previous day was evacuated to England en route to hospital in Staffordshire. 

Beckwith and the other wounded men would have been evacuated according to the plans reported by 69^th Field Ambulance:

“Medical arrangements. Four regimental aid posts: no.1 (on right) in Headquarters Trench, communication with fire trenches only by night across open; no.2 in Arras Road Trench; no.3 in Cooker Alley; no.4 in Couronne d’Aix Alley. 69 Field Ambulance posts at Dump (1 NCO, 8 men); at House (1 NCO, 6 men, Ford ambulance car at night); at Cave, 2 men and 2 wheeled stretchers; at Aix Noulette, 2 officers, 30 NCOs and men, 2 Daimler ambulance cars and 1 Ford (day only); good cellar accommodation at Aix Noulette for 300 wounded. Evacuation from no.1 and no.2 Regimental Aid Posts via Arras Road Trench – Dump – House – Cave (carry 2 hours); wheeled stretchers from Cave to ADS 15 mins in daytime; by night by Ford car from House to ADS. Evacuation from no.3 Regimental Aid Post to House by Cooker Alley – Angres Alley. From n0.4 Regimental Aid Post bynight only to House across open; from House as already described; wounded by day from no.4 to left sector Field Ambulance.”

Plan from 69th Field Ambulance War Diary

Monday 20th March 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

‘Stand to’ for this tour was set for 4.30am and 6.15pm and special attention was required at all times as the proximity of the enemy lines meant the Battalion was exposed to a constant threat from rifle grenades. Indeed, it was noted that, “the chief feature of the warfare at this period was the incessant duel carried out between the trench mortars and the rifle grenades in the opposing lines”.  The day soon became “very hot and muggy”.

In the afternoon a rifle grenade was fired into one of the bays manned by ‘A’ Company. The explosion wounded three men and killed Pte. Ernest Varley.  Varley was a 34 year-old former regular soldier who was originally from Armley, near Leeds, but had been working as a window cleaner in Keighley when war broke out. By the outbreak of war both Ernest’s parents were dead. He was one of the Keighley contingent who had been added to Tunstill’s original recruits. He was buried at what had originally been a French military cemetery named Tranchee de Mecknes, near Aix Noulette.  There was then an intensification of German artillery fire, beginning around dusk and continuing for around fifteen minutes before being quelled by retaliatory fire from the British artillery. There were further casualties from another detonation of a rifle grenade overnight, with three more men (not from ‘A’ Company) wounded. These exchanges were commented on in the Diary of the Brigade Trench Mortar Battery: “Fired from left hand gun ten rounds at 3pm by request C.O. 8^th Yorkshires to silence hostile rifle grenades and whizz bangs – obtained silence. From 7pm to 7.30 pm Germans strafed our trenches with light stuff, possibly in retaliation for our afternoon shoot”. One of the men wounded during the day was Pte. John Beckwith (see 22^nd May 1915). Also wounded was Pte. Herbert Ridley (see 2^nd November 1915) who suffered injuries to his right side and hip; he would be evacuated to 4^th General Hospital at Camiers. Pte. Matthew Woodward (see 22^nd July 1915) suffered wounds to his left leg, including a fractured fibia; he would be evacuated to 26^th General Hospital at Etaples. Pte. George Albert Wright suffered wounds to his left shoulder; he would be evacuated via 100^th Field Ambulance and 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station to 4^th General Hospital at Camiers. He was an original member of the Battalion having enlisted aged 36 and working as a ‘silk boiler’ in Bradford; he was married with two children.

It was also reported that there was a concern that the Germans were tunnelling under the left section of the Battalion front and 23^rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers were ordered to investigate.

It is curious that Varley’s headstone and the Commonwealth War Graves records record him as having been aged 28 when he was killed, when he was in fact born in 1882, and thus at least five years older.

Sunday 19th March 1916

Billets at Coron Fosse 10

Advance parties moved forward to the trenches in the morning while the rest of the Battalion began their move from 5.30pm, calling at Bully Grenay to collect 350 pairs of “gumboots” on their way to the line. The relief was duly completed without incident. ‘A’ Company were positioned on the right of the Battalion front, with ‘B’ and ‘D’ north of them and ‘C’ in close support. Quartermaster stores and transport lines were located in Sains-en-Gohelle and all water used in the front line had to be carried in tins, in darkness, over two miles from the town of Bully Grenay. Although the German lines were only some 60 yards away, conditions were generally quiet, with some aeroplane activity overhead. The relieved Battalion, 2^nd Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, had recently commented on conditions in the sector, “the weather was fine and not so very clear, consequently enemy artillery not so troublesome. Their snipers are now more active than on first coming into this line, but they do no harm. Many trenches and parapets reframed and improved. The full supply of SAA boxes and grenades were placed in the line before relief on the 19^th by 10^th West Riding Regt.” 

Pte. Thomas Richardson (see 7^th October 1915) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from bronchitis; he would be discharged to duty after five days.

L.Cpl. Joseph Fieldhouse (see 9^th March), who had been wounded on 9^th March, died of his wounds at 18^th Casualty Clearing Station at Lapugnoy; he would be buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery. His widow would receive letters from Rev. W. Whitehead, a chaplain at the CCS, and from Sister Jean Murray, who would tell her that L.Cpl. Fieldhouse had been “such a good patient and gave himself every chance and was very keen to get home to you”.

Pte. Cecil Stanley Pitblado (see 9^th March), who had been wounded ten days previously, was evacuated to England from 11^th Stationary Hospital in Rouen, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick; on arrival in England he would be admitted to Stoke-upon-Trent War Hospital.

Trooper Claude Darwin, after serving just a week with 5^th AASC (see 12^th March) was again admitted to hospital. He was diagnosed as suffering from nephritis and was sent to hospital in Sohag, Egypt. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who had himself been only recently been discharged from hospital (see 11^th March).

Saturday 18th March 1916

Billets in Bruay

At 11.30am, in good weather, the Battalion formed up in Bruay and began the six-mile move to the pithead known as Coron Fosse 10, at the village of Sains-en-Gohelle, marching via Hallicourt, Barlin and Hersin. En route they passed the 6^th Infantry Brigade and were greatly encouraged by the sound of the Brigade bands. Conditions on arrival were reported as being quiet, with just an occasional sound of artillery fire but orders were issued that, “no man is to quit his billet without permission. As the vicinity is liable to shell fire, no unnecessary movement will take place”.

Pte. William Baxter (see 5^th August 1915) was reported for “absenting himself without leave and drunkenness”. He would be held in confinement until being tried by Field General Court Martial on 20^th March; he would be found guilty and sentenced to 56 days’ Field Punishment no.2 and fined 20s..

Pte. Albert Edward White (see 9^th March), who had been wounded on 9^th March, was evacuated to England; he would be admitted to Merryflats War Hospital, Govan, Glasgow.

A payment of 4s. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Tom Bradley (see 13^th November 1915), who had died of wounds following an accident at the Brigade bomb school in November 1915; the payment would go to his mother, Mary.

Friday 17th March 1916

Billets in Bruay

Orders were received for the Battalion to relieve 2^nd Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry in trenches in the Angres sector, north of Souchez. Advance parties were to take over the trenches on the morning of 19^th, with the main relief commencing from 5.30pm the same day. ‘A’ Company would take up a position on the right of the Battalion front, with ‘B’ and ‘D’ north of them and ‘C’ in close support.

Pte. John William Addison (see 29^th February) was discharged from 22^nd Casualty Clearing Station and re-joined the Battalion.

Sgt. Edward Hunter (see 9^th March), who had been wounded on 9^th March, was evacuated to England from 12^th General Hospital in Rouen, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship St. Andrew. On arrival in England he would be transferred to 3^rd Scottish General Hospital in Glasgow.

L.Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley was released from hospital in France having been treated for the previous three weeks following an accidental laceration to his nose. He re-joined his unit, 2^nd Battalion Royal Berkshires. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Acarnley was the eldest of four sons of John Anthony and Augusta Matilda Acarnley. He was born 28^th March 1884 and had been educated at St Paul’s School, Hackney, before following his father’s profession and working as a railway clerk. He had joined Royal Berkshires on 4^th September 1914 and had served three months in France from February 1915 before being wounded on 9^th May 1915. Following this he had spent almost five months in England, returning to France on 30^th September 1915 and being appointed Lance Corporal on 4^th November. He had suffered his injury on 21^st February 1916.

RSM Thomas Broadley (see 21^st August 1915), serving as a Divisional Sergeant Major in Egypt died from heart disease. He would be buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War memorial Cemetery.