Thursday 31st August 1916

Front line trenches east of Ploegsteert Wood

With the change in the wind direction, the gas attack and trench raids which had originally been planned for 24 hours earlier were now to be carried out. All ranks in the front line had their gas helmets checked and adjusted before 1.30am. The Battalion was under strict orders that the bays in which the gas cylinders were placed were to be vacated once the release began and all men were to wear their gas helmets until ordered to remove them by a suitably-trained officer or NCO (at which point they were still to be kept in the ‘alert position’). The actual raids were to be undertaken by men from 9^th Yorkshires who were brought up from the reserve trenches near Creslow Farm. Starting at 1.30 am, gas, interspersed with smoke, was released from cylinders placed in bays along the British lines. After twenty minutes the release of gas was stopped and the raiding parties went out towards the German lines, their movements covered by 10DWR, supported by Stokes mortars firing against positions near Factory Farm and by a continuation of the artillery bombardment which had accompanied the gas attack.

The gas attack did not achieve its desired results. The raiding parties failed to obtain any useful information “owing to gas hanging about and enemy machine gun fire” and also because “the enemy’s wire, which is exceptionally strong, had apparently remained undamaged by our artillery fire”. The response of the Germans was noted; “A noticeable feature of the gas attack was the entire absence of any noise or commotion in the enemy line. No Strombus Horns, bugles or bells of any kind were heard. On the other hand a number of red Very lights were sent up by the enemy”. The red Very lights were the signals from the Germans for a supportive bombardment from their artillery. However, “His (ie. the Germans) artillery fire in retaliation to ours was almost ineffective. He succeeded only in doing damage to the actual front line trenches, the repairing of which has been carried out today. His machine gun and rifle fire was spasmodic. It is thought that a certain number of his guns on our right became temporarily jammed from the effects of our gas”. 

There were a number of casualties, including ‘self-inflicted’ casualties from the gas, which had drifted over the Battalion’s own positions. Pte. John Thompson (see 6^th June) was killed in action and would be buried at Berks Cemetery Extension, west of Ploegsteert Wood. A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King died of gas posioning before he could be evacuated for further treatment and would also be buried at Berks Cemetery Extension. He was a 31 year-old ironstone miner from Loftus; he was married with two children and had been an original member of the Battalion. According to a report from the Dover Express, news of his death was passed to his widow by a comrade (unnamed), “From the letter of a comrade to the widow it appears that he gave his life for the men in his charge. It became necessary for them to put on their gas helmets and he, noticing that some of the fellows were having a bit of trouble in putting them on, instead of putting hs own on properly, simply threw it over his head, and then assisted the rest of the men to get ready and while he was doing this the gas came over and, some finding its way under his helmet, began to choke him. Going to the dressing station everything possible was done for him and the doctor expected him to recover, but, having been suffering from his throat recently, that made matters worse and he died very peacefully. The men of his Platoon sent a message to the widow expressing their deep regret and saying they realised what a good friend had been taken from them. The writer of the letter said his Paltoon idolised Sergeant King and thought him the finest Sergeant in the Regiment. He was a staunch and true friend and one of the best fellows that the writer had met”. Pte. Frederick Blackwell (see 17^th July) was wounded and evacuated to 1^st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, at Bailleul, where he would die later in the day; he would be buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.

The eleven men wounded were as follows: Pte. John Beckwith (see 22^nd July); he suffered facial wounds and would be evacuated to 1^st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, at Bailleul. On 3^rd September he would be evacuated by no.31 Ambulance Train to hospital in Boulogne (details unknown). He would subsequently (date and details unknown) re-join the Battalion. Pte. Spencer Buckley (see 17^th July); the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown, but he would be evacuated to England on 8^th September. Pte Edward Burnside (see 10^th July); the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown, but he would subsequently be transferred to 12^th West Yorks. Pte. James Bentley Crosland (see 17^th July); he was suffering from the effects of gas and would be admitted via 1^st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to 14^th General Hospital at Wimereux. Pte. John William Dean (see 17^th July) was also suffering from gas poisoning and was also admitted to 1^st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station but he was then transferred to 25^th General Hospital at Hardelot. Pte. John Edward Griffiths; he was gassed and would be evacuated to England. The full details of his wounds and treatment are unknown but whilst in England he would spend some time in the care of Sussex 54 Voluntary Aid Detachment at ‘Beechlands’, Chailey, Sussex. Having recovered, he would be transferred to the Durham Light Infantry. He was a 31 year-old labourer from Bradford and was married with two children; he had joined the Battalion at some point in 1916 (date and details unknown). Pte. Whittaker Hird; the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown, but he would soon re-join the Battalion. He was a 34 year-old wool warehouseman from Wilsden, Bradford and was married with two children; he had been an original member of the Battalion. Pte. Edmund Jones; he suffered severe wounds to his face and neck, which also resulted in paralysis of the muscles in his left shoulder. He would be evacuated to 13^th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, from where a telegram would be sent to his wife, reporting him dangerously ill. He was a 23 year-old dyers’ labourer (for Messrs. Ackroyd and Grandage), originally from Hulme but had been living in Bradford. He was married but had no children and had been an original member of the Battalion. Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 17^th June); he suffered damage to his eyes; he was admitted to 2^nd Casualty Clearing Station and would then be transferred to 13^th Stationary Hospital at Etaples. Pte. Jacob Osborne; the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown, but he would subsequently be transferred via 8DWR to 2^nd/4^thDWR. He was a 22 year-old farm labourer, originally from Norfolk but had enlisted in Skipton; he had joined the Battalion at some point in 1916 (date and details unknown). Pte. Eastwood Wilkinson (see 25^th May); he suffered wounds to his right hand and would be admitted to 2^nd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Outreau before being evacuated to England on 4^th September. On arrival in England he would be admitted to East Leeds War Hospital.

A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King

Images by kind permission of Clair Almond

The remainder of the day, which remained fine and dry, passed off without incident.

A written statement was given by a Major (name unknown) in the RAMC regarding Lt. Cecil Edward Merryweather (see 17^th July) who had been wounded on 5^th July, and subsequently treated in England and had been on leave for the previous month. It was now stated that Merryweather, “has been attending at this hospital (name not stated) under me since July 1916. He is suffering from neurasthenia and weakness in right thigh. He is improving, but says he does not sleep well”.

Following the findings of an Army Medical Board, Pte. Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 14^th August), was permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness. He had enlisted almost two years earlier but had been taken ill within three months and had spent much of the intervening period in hospital.

James Bell enlisted (aged 40 years and 8 months) in the Royal Engineers; he was the elder brother of Pte. Robert William Bell (see 15th June) who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits. James had previously served in both 3^rd and 6^th Battalions DWR, rising to the rank of Colour Sergeant.

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

Killed                                     1 officer and 31 other ranks

Accidentally killed               0

Died of wounds                   1 officer and 5 other ranks

Wounded                            12 officers and 208 other ranks

Accidentally wounded       6 other ranks

Missing                                15 other ranks

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                     5 other ranks

Accidentally killed              0

Died of wounds                  2 other ranks

Wounded                           23 other ranks

Accidentally wounded      2 other ranks

Missing                                6 other ranks

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

Killed                                       97

Accidentally killed                  4

Died of wounds                       6

Wounded                             492

Accidentally wounded         45

Missing                                   74