Tuesday 26th September 1916

Bivouacs in and around Shelter Wood

The good weather continued and there was continued shelling by the British, but very little from the Germans. Orders were received that the Battalion would relieve a Battalion of 70^th Brigade, moving forward to support positions in Peake Wood. Prior to departing, four officers, Lt. Dick Bolton (see 6^th September) and 2Lts. David Evans (see 21^st August), Godfrey Isaacs (see 2^nd September) and Frederick Millward (see 30^th July), were ordered to return to the transport lines. Advance parties moved off around 3pm and ‘A’ Company took the lead in the main relief, moving off at 6 p.m., and maintaining a distance of 200 yards between platoons, followed, at ten minute intervals by ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies. Behind them followed the Battalion’s cookers and water carts which would be established in Peake Wood. The men marched off carrying full packs and wearing their steel helmets.

Lt. Dick Bolton

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. and acting adjutant, Hugh William Lester (see 10^th July), was formally confirmed in his role on a temporary basis and promoted Temporary Lieutenant whilst so employed, with seniority and pay from 14^th July.

In a letter home to his wife, Brig. Genl. T.S. Lambert (see passim) commented on the improved weather and also shared his observations on the current state of affairs:

“We are moving again but only in a small way. Of course we have been there before several times. It has changed a bit but is now not quite so near the front line as it once was though Boche daily puts some heavy stuff into it still. Col. Walker that I wrote about (see 24^th September) was killed there only the other day. It has changed a bit since we last occupied it but is not an uncomfortable spot. Now it is fine again I am hoping the good weather will continue. The push still continues as you will have seen in the papers and we have done well yesterday and today further South, as have the French. I do not think we have much love left for our enemies in this part of the world and the longer we go on the more I hope we shall manage to rid ourselves of.”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me to reproduce the letters here).

Brig. Genl. T.S. Lambert

Image by kind permission of Juliet Lambert

Pte. Thomas Angus McAndrew (see 2^nd May) was posted back to England. At some point in the previous few weeks (the precise date is unknown), he had been wounded in a shell explosion, suffering a fractured ankle and some symptoms of neurasthenia (shellshock). He had been treated at 23^rd General Hospital at Etaples and on returning to England would receive further treatment at both St. George’s Hospital, Stockport and Harewood House, Disley.

Official notice of the award of the DSO to 2Lt. Bob Perks (see 24^th September) was published in the London Gazette:

“His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the appointments of the undermentioned Officers to be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order, in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the field:
Temp. 2nd Lt. Robert Clement Perks, W. Rid. R.
For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When leading a bombing party, he was wounded in the face and rendered insensible. On recovering, he again took part in the attack. While throwing bombs he was again twice wounded, in the hand and foot, but continued to lead his men till rendered unconscious by a fourth wound in the face.”

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudosn for her generosity in allowing me to reproduce the letters here).

2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Enquiries continued regarding 2Lt Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 22^nd September) who was officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the attack on Munster Alley. A statement was taken, at no.10 General Hospital, Rouen, from Pte. A. Dean. He reported, “I was with the machine gun at Horseshoe Trench near Contalmaison (sic. this was actually 5^th July). Mr. Richards led the Company over the parapet and on the tiop of the German parapet he was shot by machine gun fire. I saw him shot. We were about 200 yards behind, and when I got in the trench I saw his body”.

Pte. Angus Dean had been commended for his work in maintaining communications during the actions around Munster Alley (see 30^th July); he later served with both 8DWR and 2/5DWR.

2Lt. R.H.W. Brinsley-Richards

Having completed his cadet training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Herbert Middleton Hands (known as ‘Bob’) completed a form stating his preference as to Regiment he would prefer to be gazetted; he gave the Worcesters as his first preference, with the West Ridings as second choice. He would, in fact, be posted firstly to 2DWR and latterly to 10DWR. Bob Hands was 18 years old and the eldest child of Herbert and Helen Hands; his father was the managing director of a South American trading company and the family lived in Kenilworth.