Friday 14th July 1916

Molliens-au-Bois

Rest and training continued. Meanwhile, in the early hours of the morning, the British had launched a new phase of their assault on the Somme. What became known as the Battle of Bazentin Ridge was an attempt to advance the British line east of Contalmaison so as to occupy what had been the German second line along the higher ground and involving the so-called ‘horsehoe’ of woods which surmounted the ridge. The first days’ assault had gained considerable ground but was to stall over the coming days.

69^th Brigade was inspected by Maj. Genl. Babington, who congratulated them on their recent successes. Babington told the assembly,

“It was with confidence that I entrusted the capture of Contalmaison to this Brigade. It was not an easy task, in fact it was a difficult operation to carry out – very difficult, but most important, and it was with every confidence that I entrusted it to your care. It is in great measure due to the success of your efforts that the operations which began this morning (what became known as the Battle of Bazentin Ridge) were able to take place. In one area alone, over 2,000 prisoners are reported to have been taken. It was not only important to take the place, but also to hold it, and hesitation at that moment would have proved fatal. You never wavered. Nothing could have been finer. You have proved yourselves men and I have every confidence that if you have to face the same situation again, you will behave equally as well. I hope that it will not be the last time I shall be called upon to offer my sincerest thanks to the 69^th Brigade.”

2Lt. Robert Clement (Bob) Perks (see 10^th July) wrote home to his father (I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ letter), regarding the death of his officer’s servant, Pte. James Field (see 5^th July):

My dear Dad,
We are still out of it, and there is nothing to write about, but I am writing making another request.  I am very busy now on the dreary job of writing to the people of our dead.  One of the first is my servant 13088 Private J. Field.  I was very fond of him and he was awfully good to me, so that I am very anxious that his wife should suffer nothing, especially as she has three children and is about to have another.  I have written to the Mayor of Bradford, but if you know of any other Society or something I ought to write to, you might do it for me.  I have also told her to write to me for assistance and have given her your address in case I am wounded.  One could not keep her permanently of course but I could personally pay a good deal for her to settle things up with or in case of the birth.  She lives at 92 Priestman Street, Manningham, Bradford.
Just received letter from Mother dated July 10^th.  Thanks muchly.  Our letters seem to be delayed both ways.

Love to all

Bob

The Todmorden and District News published an extract from a letter written by L.Cpl. Harry Waller (see 26^th September 1915; it is not known when he had been promoted) who had told his family, “We are clearing the Germans out of trench after trench. We shall soon have him out of his present fortifications and then heigh-ho for Berlin! The way things are going we think all the boys will be home for Christmas.”

L.Cpl. Harry Waller

2Lt. Christopher Snell who had been seriously wounded in the actions around Horseshoe Trench (see 5^th July) died at Guy’s Hospital, London.

2Lt. Christopher Snell

Pte. John Bruce Davidson (see 10^th July), who had been wounded on 10^th July, died in hospital in Rouen; he was buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

Pte. John Bruce Davidson

Pte. Lewis Walton (see 11^th July), who had suffered multiple shrapnel wounds to both legs, was evacuated to England from 5^th General Hospital at Rouen; he travelled onboard the Hospital Ship St George and on arrival would be admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

Cpl. Christopher John Kelly who had been under treatment in England having been wounded in late May (see 1^st June), was admitted to 2^nd Scottish General Hospital, Edinburgh for further medical treatment.

Pte. Booth Dean Hartley who had been sent home, ill, in June (see 21^st June) was formally discharged from the Army, suffering from “dilation of the heart”. He was subsequently awarded the Silver War Badge. Little has been established about what happened to Booth, but it is known that he married Hannah Hawker in 1917 and the couple set up home in Cemetery Road, Earby. Despite his diagnosis Booth Hartley lived to the age of 80; he died in 1969. 

Captain Martin Hammond, younger brother of Lt. Leonard Hammond (see 10^th July) who had been killed in action on 5^th July, was involved in fierce fighting with his Battalion (7^th East Kents, “The Buffs”) in and around Trones Wood; he would subsequently be mentioned in dispatches for his conduct.

The weekly edition of the Ilkley Gazette carried news of the injuries to two of Tunstill’s Company; Ptes. Johnny Smith and Walton Thomas who had been wounded in the actions around Horseshoe Trench (see 5^th July).

Addingham Men Wounded

Private Johnny Smith (19), Duke of Wellington’s, fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Smith, Adelaide Terrace, Addingham, has been wounded. He joined the army in August 1914. He is at the General Hospital, Oxford. Private Smith worked for Mr.W.A. Johnson, confectioner, Ilkley.

Burley Men Wounded

Private Walton Thomas, West Riding Regiment, younger son of Mr. Mason Thomas, secretary to Messrs. Fison & Co, Burley-in-Wharfedale, was wounded on July 5^th and is now in hospital at Nottingham. Private Thomas is an old Bradford Grammar School boy and has been at the front over twelve months.

 

Pte. Johnny Smith