Monday 15th May 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

On another cold, dull day the War Diary reported “a considerable increase in the use of rifle grenades is noticed to be used by the enemy”. This calm and measured comment belied the effect such weapons could have on the men. The proximity of the front lines meant that these short-range weapons were especially difficult to defend against. The cumulative effect of this constant exposure to danger can be seen in J.B Priestley’s letter to his family, “Our trenches around here are very close to the Germans and in consequence, every form of death and destruction abounds. Rifle grenades, trench mortars (minnenwerfers or “sausages” – bombs bigger than a Rugby football), aerial torpedoes, are sent over into our trenches at regular intevals, and underneath there are mines ready to be blown at any minute … I’ve had some very narrow escapes from them this last day or two, and since I got wounded, they’ve made me rather nervy. The part of the line we hold now is absolute ‘hell’; the French said it was the worst part of their line, not counting Verdun at the present time”.


Pte. William Knox (see 15^th January) also again wrote to his wife, Ethel (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“… Well Dear we are in the trenches again once more. Came in on Friday night. We had a nasty day Saturday as it rained nearly all day long and with the ground being very chalky you may guess what it is like. Just like a lot of whitewash. And it is a very hot place too as we are only about forty five yards away from the Boshes front line trench and we have to be as quiet as possible or else we get a few rifle grenades over. I am a bomber now and have got a very good job. There are four of us picked out of our Company and all we have to do is stay in our dugout until the Boshes attacks our sap. So if he keeps quiet we shall have nothing to do but sleep. But the worst of it is we cannot get anything warm to eat or drink as we dare not have a fire. And we are only allowed one pint of water per man per day as we have to fetch it in stone bottles and it is six miles to go for it. So you can tell what it will be like when the weather is right hot. I have not tasted a drop of tea since Friday morning and it is Sunday afternoon now. And I don’t expect I shall get any until Thursday when we are relieved. … I have just had my dinner; Bully Beef and bread. So don’t you think I shall have enjoyed it? How I long for a good substantial meal like I used to have, Yorkshire Pudding etc. But we will have to put up with it. We must think ourselves very lucky to get a decent bit of bread. You said in your letter that you had some marmalade to send me. For God’s sake don’t for we are all tired of seeing it. We have nothing else this last two months now for tea. It was all jam once on a time but now it is all marmalade. (A week previously, at Divisional level it had been noted that, “marmalade has now been issued for a long time and is not eaten by the troops”).

PS … I think we are in the trenches for seven days, out for seven and likewise again, making a month altogether. I will let you know what that powder is like as I am going to have a chat hunt".

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 11^th May), writing many years later, also recalled the dangers of this sector, “Recollections of this front are of the constant firing of rifle grenades, trench mortars, including the variety known as “rum jars”, and artillery by the enemy, with very little response from our side. Of the extremely long communication trenches, which were not improved by the cavalry working parties, which were supposed to lay an even duckboard floor in them.”

The Battalion finally received its new, if temporary, second-in-command, following the departure, some three months earlier, of Major Buchanan. In the interim the post had been held by T/Maj. Robert Harwar Gill (see 16th March), who now reverted to the rank of Captain. (Temporary) Major Christopher Galbraith Buckle (known as ‘Garry’) was the son of Brigadier General Christopher Reginald Buckle, and himself had nine years’ experience in the regular army. He had spent the first months of the war on secondment with the Colonial Office in West Africa but had returned in June 1915 and had been wounded, and awarded the Military Cross, at Vermelles in August, while serving with 1^st Northants. He had more recently served with 2^nd Northants, along with Lt. Col. Hayne (see 20^th April) and was temporarily transferred to 10DWR, presumably on Hayne’s request.

Capt. Robert Harwar Gill

(Temporary) Major Christopher Galbraith Buckle

Pte. Tom Lister Ellison was admitted to 69th Field Ambulance at Fosse 10 having suffered a sprained right ankle; he would be discharged to duty two days later. He had joined the Battalion while in training in England after enlisting in Keighley on 22^nd January 1915. He had joined up aged 26 and had been working as a warp twister. He was from Sutton-in-Craven and was married with two daughters.

Pte. John Whitham (see 3^rd May) was discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. Lawrence Tindill, serving with 1^st/5^th Yorkshires was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Lawrence Tindill (born 11^th July 1893 at Milford Junction, Yorks.) was one of five children of Robert and Annie Tindill. His father, who had died in 1909, had been a railway station master and Lawrence himself worked as a railway clerk. He was also a member of the Territorial Army before the war and had been called up on 8^th September 1914 and had been in France with his Battalion since 18^th April 1915.

It was confirmed that the DSO was to be awarded to Capt. Thomas Lewis Ingram (see 10^th September 1915), RAMC, attd. 1^st Shropshire Light Infantry for his conduct in recent actions; he was the elder brother of Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 7th December 1915), one of the officers of Tunstill’s Company. The subsequent citation detailed Ingram’s actions: “He collected and attended to the wounded under very heavy fire, and set a splendid example. Since the commencement of the war he has been conspicuous on all occasions for his personal bravery”.

A payment of £3 4s. 9d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances for the late Pte. Harry Ambler (see 5th April), who had died of wounds on 25^th March; the payment would go to his widow, Louisa. She would also receive a package of her late husband’s personal effects (details unknown).