Rest and training continued.
Pte. Bob Harrison
(see 19th January) who had
been appointed unpaid Lance Corporal in January, was now confirmed in his rank,
with pay.
Pte. Harry Smith (12240)
was appointed Acting Lance Corporal. He had been an original member of the
Battalion, having enlisted in September 1914, aged 19, in Bradford, where he
had been working as a labourer.
Cpl. John William
Wardman (see 30th April)
reported sick, suffering initially from an undiagnosed high temperature
(pyrexia – NYD), which would later be attributed to influenza. He would be
admitted via 69th Field Ambulance to 23rd Division Rest
Station.
Pte. Edward Anderson
(see 6th July) was
admitted via 69th Field Ambulance to 23rd Division Rest
Station, suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to his
penis; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after six days.
2Lt. Bob Perks (see 14th July) wrote home to
his Mother, with news of recent events (I
am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob
Perks’ letter):
My Dear Mother
Pte. Walter Charlesworth
(see 11th July) who had
been wounded five days’ previously, was evacuated to England from 5th
General Hospital in Rouen; on arrival in England he would be admitted to St.
John’s Hospital in Southport.
Pte. John Henshall (see 11th July) who had been wounded five days’ previously, was evacuated to England; on arrival in England he would be admitted to Edinburgh War Hospital.
Pte. William Postill
Taylor (see 10th July)
who had been in hospital at Rouen, being treated for shell shock, was evacuated
to England onboard the Hospital Ship Carisbroke
Castle; on arrival in England he would be transferred to hospital in
Liverpool.
I don’t see as long as I don’t mention my regiment etc. why
I should not tell you what I can about our week in the push just as the
newspaper correspondents may.
On July 3rd then we bivouaced for the third time
without coats or anything but waterproof sheets. This time it was in a wood which had been in
the English support line. Early on the
morning of July 5th, we (our Company) were suddenly called up and sent to
reinforce a Battalion in our brigade which had been bombed back. In valuating what we did I want you to
remember we had had no breakfast and got no rations til 4pm and then not much.
Our C & D Coys were up before us on our right and had hefty bombing
fights. Our A Coy about noon reinforced
them and us.
In the trenches we took over a length of communication
trench down which the other regiment had been driven back a short way, the
barrier was held by No 6 (not 5) under myself and soon we organised bombing and
blocking parties and these, also under me (I have lost my modesty), proceeded
up to a junction where, by the dead and the stuff left behind, the other
regiment had obviously been driven out.
We proceeded a little way up each branch but had to come back owing to
our own shells. I lost one man sniped
and one by shells, but met with no real opposition. Behind me, Merryweather and others were hit
by shells but not seriously.
While waiting for our guns to lift we saw a most
extraordinary sight on our right. About
40 Bosche with hands up and white flag came across No Man’s Land and gave
themselves up in spite of the fact that someone turned a machine gun on them.
About 6pm, before we were ready and when the men were most
of them turning to a meal which had just arrived, the guns lifted and the
people on our left were seen going over.
I yelled to B Coy to collect bombs and follow and jumped over the
barricade, ran down the trench and met 3 Bosche round the corner. Praise be, they were as surprised as I
was. I fired twice and they ran like
hares. Had they known it, I was alone at
the moment but almost at once people arrived with bombs which we threw after
them and proceeded. After this my
recollections are by no means complete as we were more or less mad for a
bit. I fired 10 shots and only remember
4. However I had enough sense to be very
careful to leave blocking parties to guard side trenches and dug outs from
which we might be taken in the rear. It
was an absolute rout – the Bosche was surprised I think as well as demoralised. It was really great fun at the time, even the
murderous business of chucking bombs into dug outs full of cowering
Bosche. Owing to its being so easy, we
went too far or at least farther than we were meant to and came under our own
guns. It was silly to stay and go on
losing men there where no reinforcements would come to ward off a counter so we
started back. Then the Bosche started
shelling heavily too. Coming back I came
upon Carpenter badly hit and quite dead.
The reaction after our effort was very great and the
concussion of a heavy bombardment by both sides at once nearly drove us mad, so
it was a worn out and thankful party that bivouacked in the wood again. Still we were triumphant, for our lowest estimate
put B Coys prisoners at 49 and had the Bosche but known it, he could have
scuppered his captors easily. Owing to
the disorganised start and the numbers left as blocking parties etc. only about
9 of us took the 49. In fact there were signs of treachery when he realised
it. As a result, one man was shot, one
knocked over, many seriously threatened and the whole made to double back by
having rapid fire across their rear.
That night was cold and my rest was spoilt also by my seeing
the wounded and the trenches in nightmares.
Next day we went back a bit to another bivouac but no sooner was I there
than I was sent back on a reconnaissance job and did not get in till 1am. By this point the strain of not only of
carrying on but of our guns which crowded the place out - almost wheel to wheel
for miles – deafened you and literally shook you day and night as well brought
me to such nerves that a horse sounding on the road made me jump.
However, I had an absolutely perfect sleep for 4 hours and
then at 5am we were off back again. We
occupied miserable trenches with no room to lie down, with rain and with the
bully and biscuits only for two nights and three days and then moved into
slightly better quarters in holes by the side of a sunken road, where we were
still shelled occasionally.
All this time we had been lent to another Brigade as
support. They started from the trenches
I have said we took on July 5th and took Contalmaison, but it is not
quite clear why they came back. Now on
July 10th we found ourselves returned to our old Brigade who had
taken the village with great éclat.
(Vide the Press.) On the evening
of the 10th we went up to a trench in support of them and there met
the heaviest shelling of my life. It was
the barrage accompanying a Bosch Counter attack. Being his own trench once, the Bosche had the
range absolutely and the trench was full as we were relieving. The result I remember now as a nightmare.
Everyone must have been hit by a stone at least. I was.
Many were buried alive, some twice, some were dug out, some not; only
about 5 per cent of the wounded could be attended to, and the dead, and, I fear
in the dark the badly wounded, were often trodden on. At first I was busy running up and down for
my Coy commander but in the middle of it he was hit and I had to take command.
Then I got a message to proceed to Contalmaison which we did
without much incident. Also we stayed
there and came away without much incident.
I was awfully bucked to find a horse waiting for me on the way back and
that night and the next day being very tired, I sat on it very successfully, if
I did not ride it. Now another Captain
has arrived and is in command though I have since had to do many things for
him, such as write accounts of this operation.
I should like this little dispatch to go the rounds but if
it could not be lost, it would form a useful souvenir. At present I am in a tent and quite rested
and I think we are all about ready to go back though we don’t mind seeing the
other divisions which have gone through here to the battle. There was a time when should have wanted to
go first but when we came back we frankly had had enough. I am v. glad to have been in the push, very,
but although keen on beating the German, and ending the war and eager to do
well again, we are anxious to get a rest first, and hope to return to the
Bosche fleeing in the open.
And you know I believe I shall. How far back we shall push him I don’t know,
but I am confident he is dead beat and the whole line will go back. We can keep it up. There are still divisions of ours who haven’t
seen fighting for months. The prisoners
haven’t had a rest for months. Our lot
some of them came here for a rest from Verdun
poor beggars. And the Russians!
I have had lots of letters and parcels from you but really
it has been hard work to keep pace with the congratulatory messages from
Generals and Parades we had for them to tell us. Also I have been trying to deal with the dead
and missing mens’ effects.
I have had 3 parcels I think including v. bon sausages and
magazines which although nearly all have to be left behind, were awfully useful
just when wanted for taking my mind and some of the mens’ off the war. Thanks
for Teddy’s photo and 2 Halifax papers.
M. (Bob’s younger
brother, Martin) mooted the idea of taking Joy to London when I was with
him. I think it excellent especially
after exams.
No unfortunately I was not in charge of No 5 at first. I had to take another platoon though I soon
had No 5 as well and eventually all this Coy.
I went back to sigs (the signal section)
for a bit but as only so many officers had to go into action, the sigs officer
was washed out and but for the request of Carpenter, I should have been left
behind. I shall try not to go back to
sigs. The less shifting now the
better. A pencil is just about necessary and
envelopes.
I have had PCs from Bolland (Lt. Leslie Guy Stewart Bolland,
see 21st March) to say he has another month with the probability
of another operation. A letter from
Merryweather (still in France) (Lt. Cecil Edward Merryweather, see 13th
July) who says contrary to expectations, there is no shrapnel in his wound
so that he will be back soon. Little
Redington (2Lt. John Redington, see 6th July) had left the show with
a strained inside or something. He is
weak from an appendicitis operation I believe.
Love to all
Bob
Brig. Genl. T.S. Lambert, commanding 69th
Brigade, wrote letters home to his wife and eldest son describing the actions
of the Brigade during the capture of Contalmaison (see 10th July) and in the previous action around
Horseshoe Trench (see 5th July);
they clearly show his pride and admiration in the efforts of the men under his
command.
(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing
me to reproduce the letters here).
My dearest Geraldine
I wish I could tell you more fully of all our doings and of
the work of this Brigade. I know how much it would interest you all. Someday
perhaps I may be able to tell you the whole story. I truly believe that few
more gallant and successful things have been done by the British Army, for an
assault over 1200 to 1500 yards of open country through shell holes, wire and
trenches to capture a village filled with machine guns and men, through the
midst of bursting High Explosives and Shrapnel, was a task rarely attempted and
genuinely believed to be almost impossible. But everything is possible to my
brave Yorkshiremen and I know how the tale will stir you when you hear it. The
capture of the village was of urgent necessity for the Army. What pressure I
had to resist to try it prematurely I can say perhaps better than others but I
was given strength to resist and to carry out my own plans and none could have
been better supported by all ranks than I was. There is luck in war. Some are
lucky; some unlucky. I do not know that I have always been among the former.
This time perhaps I was, but I think the success was chiefly due to the
splendid work done by my battalions and my staff and by our gunners and others
who did so much to assist us. The 8th and 9th Yorks were
the chief heroes for it was they who had to cross and do the actual assault.
How they managed it is a tale worth hearing. The 11th West Yorks had
the equally difficult task of assaulting and holding a line on the left so as
to wheel to their left and protect that flank and had also to find my reserves
which were pushed right up as soon after the assault as I could let them. The
10th West Riding had spent the previous 48 hours in the trenches
fighting incessantly, but they gallantly answered my call and went through the
enemy’s barrages of artillery fire, in spite of their own exhaustion, to spend
the next 36 hours hard at work consolidating the position gained and providing
reinforcements for the firing line. They were all splendid. From afar off
others – some of them high staff officers – witnessed the work and will speak
of it as magnificent. The glamour of it all may perhaps die away in the later
successes of others to which it formed the forerunner and example. Nothing can
take away from us our own satisfaction and the knowledge that but for our
efforts the British Army could not be where it now is – through the German
second lines and smashing up all powers of effective defence. I think none of
us will forget these days. Things were not looking at their best 48 hours
before. Repeated efforts had exhausted many of our troops. My own brigade had
but two battalions who had had any rest at all and they but little. After the
battle we remained to consolidate the position for 24 hours and were then
relieved. That the men held their heads up and that fatigue was momentarily
forgotten I need not tell you. Wherever we went we received praise and
congratulations and they are pleasant things. We are having a few days rest now
to recover our strength and to fill up our ranks again, but I believe in the
Brigade and its future. I believe that none has done more gallantly or more
nobly and I believe that when our turn comes again, as it soon will, those
German devils will recognise us as different from other men and though they
will fight like cats as they always have done against us, they will once again
and more than once learn what it is to greet a true Yorkshireman in the open.
Goodbye dearest and God bless you and the boys. Perhaps dear my thoughts run
away with me sometimes but you and I can write freely to one another after all
we have gone through.
Ever yours affectionately
Tom
Letter from T.S. Lambert to his eldest son, Ted
We have had a very strenuous time since I last wrote to you.
We had a stiff fight on the 5th when we ultimately captured
Horseshoe Trench and a lot of prisoners. Then my brigade was relieved by two
others but things did not go very well and we were soon called back again. We
made our great effort – an attack in the open by daylight across 1200 to 1500
yards of ground on the village of Contalmaison. It is a form of attack which
was thought to be almost impracticable in the face of modern guns and machine
guns and rifle fire. But my gallant Yorkshiremen went straight for it in open
order as I asked them and in spite of machine guns which played on them and an
awful shell fire they got right through, surmounted the German trench and
barbed wire and fairly hunted the Germans out of the village, killing and
capturing large numbers. Of course it was an awful ordeal but we were well
backed up by our guns and I had posted machine guns etc. at useful spots
beforehand. During the night there were many counterattacks but we succeeded in
holding on to what we had gained and since then others have been able to carry
on more successfully. After 24 hours there my brigade was relieved and found
itself the heroes of the day, receiving congratulations from everyone. But they
deserved it for no troops in the world could have done more or been more
successful. You will have seen parts of the story perhaps in the papers but
they give little idea of what we all went through. Some day perhaps I can tell
you stirring tales of it all. We captured a lot of German machine guns and
brought out 8 and 2 others from Horseshoe Trench though we left many more I
believe in the village.
We have just had some photos taken to celebrate the
occasion! I could only get an amateur to do it, so I do not know what the
success will be, but I hope they will be good enough to remind us all of these
days and to be a record of the honour of the Regiments who fought here under
me. I had a lot of work to do of course and had no time to do more than
scribble a postcard until long after it was all over, but I have sent mother a
short story of it all and I hope she will let you know something of what
happened. I am proud of my Yorkshiremen, Ted, and Yorkshire may be proud of
them too, for no more gallant fight was ever made. Now we are at rest for a
bit, cleaning up and refilling our ranks though happily our casualties were
luckily more in wounded than in killed. How long we shall be here of course I
do not know. No doubt we shall soon be in the thick of it again but for the
present it is nice enough to be clear of all the shells and the horror and the
strain of it all.
With best love
Ever your affectionate
Dad
Brig. Genl. Lambert’s account of events between 4th
and 11th July were also to be published more widely (though, it
should be noted with some, though surprisingly inconsistent, censorship of
units and locations). The following extracts are taken from press clippings
preserved in an album kept by Geraldine Tunstill. Unfortunately the name of the
newspaper and the precise date of publication are not preserved
(I am
greatly indebted to Henry Bolton for his kind permission in allowing me to
reproduce items from the album).
OFFICER’S WARM PRAISE
OF HIS YORKSHIREMEN
The following letter
has been received by a Wakefield clergyman from an officer in France:
G. (presumably Geraldine, wife of
Brig. Genl. Lambert) will have told you something of our doings I expect
and of the story of Horseshoe Trench and Contalmaison. She cannot have told you
fully of the glorious work of my gallant Yorkshiremen! We had hard fighting on
5th July, and everyone was congratulating us on the results when we
were again pushed into the fight to capture Contalmaison. It was strongly-held
village which blocked the way for the Army. Others had tried to take it, and it
proved a hard nut! I managed with some difficulty to get time to prepare
things. Our guns gave me splendid help, and the brigade did more than I could
ever have expected, if that were possible.
We had to advance over the open for 1,200 to 1,500 yards;
but the men went though without hesitation in the midst of shells and machine
gun fire. They had to finish over barbed wire and a trench under machine gun
fire; but the Boches could not face the bayonet or the sight of our men getting
near. There was stiff fight in the village, where we destroyed all opposition.
How many we killed I do not know, but they were not a few! We took several
hundreds of prisoners and took away eight machine guns. We could have found and
taken out more, but they are heavy things – some of them are to be sent as
trophies to Yorkshire.
My Yorkshiremen were truly splendid! Nothing could have been
finer than their advance, and everyone who saw it, even from a distance, says so.
We captured the village and consolidated our position there during the night,
in spite of counter-attacks next day, and shell fire by day and night. Since
our effort the German second line has been broken, and though progress may not
yet be very rapid, the Germans are in an uncomfortable place already, and soon
will be in a worse one, as we all hope. They are devils to fight, but when they
do give in they beg for mercy as pitifully as a kicked puppy! Of course it is a
long way yet to Berlin; but if our ammunition supply is kept up, and our men
are all as good as mine, we shall see no long winter campaign, in my opinion.
PART OF YORKSHIRE
TROOPS IN THE GREAT PUSH
The Lord Mayor of Bradford (Mr. Thomas Howarth) has received
from the Brigadier General the following account of the operations of Yorkshire
troops in the recent fighting:
4th July
The day was spent in somewhat complicated operations,
chiefly consisting of bomb attacks by the –th and –th, but progress was slow.
The enemy fought with skill and determination, constantly counter-attacking.
The trenches were much damaged and full of debris, the dead still lying in them
everywhere. Shell fire and rifle and machine gun fire were continuous.
Difficulty was found in conveying messages, water, food, ammunition and other
stores to the places where they were required, very few men being available as
guides in the maze of broken ground. Large proportions of the area were a mass
of shell craters, through which passages had to be cut or trodden by successive
carrying parties.
5th July
At 4am an attack was made by –th and –th but the success was
nullified by a heavy counter attack by the enemy, which drove our advanced
posts back to their original line. Up to midday little advance had been made.
The objective of the brigade was strongly-held by the enemy. During the
afternoon parties of the –th and –th gradually pushed back the enemy on our
right. On the left the –th continued to gain ground slowly by bombing. The –th
who previously had one much work carrying stores etc were now ordered forward
to reinforce and gradually relieve the –th, but the latter remained
continuously in action during the day. After a long day’s heavy fighting, our
artillery fire and the exertions of the infantry began to have their effect. About
5.45 pm over 80 Germans surrendered to the battalion on the right. Almost
simultaneously at 6pm a very gallant assault across the open by the –th
completed the German demoralisation. Over 100 more wounded prisoners and two
machine guns were captured, and the trench occupied. Pushing on patrols and
small parties, a further line of trenches was taken, and from here a good view
of …… could be obtained. Many acts of individual gallantry occurred during the
day. That of an officer may serve as an example (2Lt. Donald Bell, 9th
Yorkshires). Seeing that a German machine gun was still in action and was
enfilading the whole advance of the –th, at 6pm entirely on his own initiative,
followed by a Corporal and a Private, crept towards it and then ran suddenly
across the open. The officer shot the German gunner with his revolver and
destroyed the remainder of the team and gun with bombs. By this action a
critical situation was undoubtedly met. This gallant officer was killed five
days later while performing a similar act. During the 4th and 5th
of July rain fell heavily turning the surrounding country into a quagmire and
making all movement very difficult. The thanks of the Corps and Divisional
Commanders were received as a result of the operations of 5th July.
6th July
The troops were relieved, but the greater part found little
comfort or rest in the sodden ground in front of the lines of our guns which
remained day and night continuously in action.
7th and 8th July
Attacks by other troops went on. Parts of the village were
entered more than once but it was still strongly held by the Germans, whose
hidden machine guns were difficult to locate or deal with. The capture of the
village was a necessity prior to the further operations of the Army. From 7th
July onwards one battalion had already been called into the line again to
support other troops, and during all this time continued to suffer casualties
and much discomfort.
9th July
Ordered to assault and hold a village. Artillery fire was
concentrated on the village and approaches to it. Our infantry was to progress
through the village, and search out and destroy machine guns or German
survivors who did not surrender. The assault had to be preceded by the capture
and consolidation of the line. This duty was allotted to part of the –th. The
village itself was to be assaulted by waves of infantry, and as no other
forming-up place was available this advance had to be carried out in the open
over a considerable distance. Some parts of ……. and its neighbourhood had
already been seized by other troops who gallantly co-operated. The work of the
–th was well done. Several counter-attacks were driven off and in spite of all
opposition the left flank of the main advance was made secure with the help of
trench mortar batteries and machine guns.
The main assault was delivered by the –th and –th. The
enemy’s artillery soon observed the movement. No finer sight had been seen than
the advance of those brave Yorkshiremen in quick time across the open and
bursting shells and all the machine gun fire that the enemy could bring to bear
against them. Some of the trenches were found to be already destroyed. Nearly
all were at an angle which necessitated correction of alignment after starting,
but there was no hesitation. Officers and men fell into their places, and the
long advance went on without a halt. The –th on the left first reached the
enemy’s main trench and bursting through the wire, entered the village. The
sight of the gleaming bayonets was too much for the enemy, who ran in all directions,
only to be shot down by artillery and machine gun fire placed beforehand to
flank the village. Over 100 wounded and unwounded prisoners and two machine
guns were taken.
On the right the –th had perhaps greater difficulties. Here
most of the enemy’s machine guns were located; his barbed wire was found in places
almost intact; a valley arced by fire had to be crossed and a further
unexpected obstacle was found in a line of wire netting behind the German trench.
In spite of all difficulties the gallant –th pushed on and entered the village.
It is hardly possible to describe the hand-to-hand fighting in the confusion of
a captured village. Many of the enemy fought to the last. Others who had been
passed as prisoners in the attack again started firing before they could be
collected and these doubtless paid for their temerity. Eight German officers
and over 160 men surrendered at once, with six machine guns, of which some were
at once turned against the enemy. How many of the enemy were killed it is
difficult to estimate, but that large numbers suffered from our machine gun and
artillery fire when trying to escape
from the village was clearly seen by our artillery observers and others.
During the night the position in the captured village was
consolidated and reinforcements, ammunition etc was sent up. The first to
arrive were two companies of the –th, quickly followed by the –th who, after
their long weary days in the trenches, found a full night’s work to be done in
strengthening the new defences, but the spirit of victory was with us, and fatigue
was for the time forgotten. The thanks of the Army, the Corps and the
Divisional Commanders and the congratulations of their comrades in other units
made all ranks forget the trials and difficulties of the past.
Yorkshire may well be proud of their representatives of the
10th and 11th July. It is hoped that at least some of the
captured machine guns may one day be held in honour at Middlesbrough, Richmond,
Bradford and Halifax, where lie the homes of so many who crossed on that day.
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