Monday 22nd May 1916

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

At 12.15am news of the German assault further south reached the Battalion in a message from 69^th Brigade HQ: “Situation *** Enemy attacked VIMY RIDGE today; British Counter attacked; situation still undecided *** Heavy shelling but not attacked CALONNE and SOUCHEZ section. All ranks in trenches to be warned to keep a good lookout. Message ends”. In fact the situation would remain quieter through the day, although there was a continuation of artillery duels.

During the morning orders were received for the Battalion to relieve 11^th West Yorks in the front line. ‘D’, ‘C’ and ‘A’ Companies were to be in the front line (from left to right), with ‘B’ in close support. The relief began at 3.30pm and was complete by 8pm. Despite German shelling the Battalion suffered only one casualty, with one man slightly injured by shrapnel. Regular artillery exchanges continued throughout the night. The Brigade War Diary noted that, “Work on trenches continued, but work on wire hampered by nervy state of enemy, who threw up innumerable “Very” lights throughout the night and fired at our working parties”. Much work had been done over the previous few days to try to improve the state of the British wire, and this would continue over the following days.

Prior to departure for the front line, Cpl. Wilfred Blackburn (see 14th March) had written home to his family:- "Thanks for parcel. Besides being beneficial to us in a practical sense, one feels we are remembered sometimes that the giving of ourselves is not forgotten. Lately, death has been exceedingly close, far too close to feel indifferent. Yesterday, and for many days previously, bombardments have been little short of terrifying. Houses go up like feathers, and soldiers and civilians are dug constantly from the debris. I don't know what to think of an advance for my eye, of course, is very limited in its sight and the object in hand so vast a poor soldier cannot see much of things in general. Today we leave for the trenches, having been out for five days."

Cpl. Wilfred Blackburn

The recent increase in the intensity of shelling also meant that the Advanced Dressing Station at Bully Grenay (see 19^th May) was re-located to a new house with better cellars; this now provided three cellars with accommodation for 24 lying cases. It was also reported that the experiment with the new one-wheeled stretchers had been “found to be useful, reducing time of carrying from RAP to ADS from 2 ½ hours to 1 ½ hours in spite of two narrow galleries to pass through, where stretcher has to be taken off carrier and carried shoulder high”. 

Lt. Genl. Henry Wilson, commanding IV Corps, signed an order in the case of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 20^th May), who had been reported as being unfit to continue as a platoon officer. Following a request by Maj. Genl. Babington that Dawson be appointed to an administrative post, Wilson’s report concluded, “I cannot see what qualifications this officer has and I am not prepared to recommend him for any employment which requires technical military knowledge. As he is not fit to command a platoon in the field, I recommend that he be sent home, for such employment as he may be considered suitable there”.

Pte. James Barker (12288) (see 11^th April), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was reported ‘absent off pass from 12.45’; he would not report back until 9.45pm on the 24^th March and would be admonished but suffer no further punishment.

Pte. John Beckwith (see 31^st March) who had been wounded in March and had been treated in hospital in Staffordshire before returning to the Regimental Depot at Halifax was reported absent without leave.