Conditions were again quiet; the only event of note was the sighting of a German observation balloon in the morning, but this soon flew back deeper behind the German lines.
L.Cpl. Josias Bailey (see 29th July) was promoted (Acting) Corporal.
CQMS Andrew Hermiston
(see 16th October) was evacuated
to England from 25th General Hospital at Hardelot; he was suffering
from impetigo and scabies. On arrival in England he would be admitted to Wharncliffe
War Hospital in Sheffield.
Pte. Clifford Midwood
(see 1st September), who
had been in England since being wounded on the Somme in July, was posted back
to France, although it is not clear whether he re-joined 10DWR or another of the
‘Dukes’ battalions.
Capt. James
Christopher Bull (see 11th
October) appeared before a Medical Board convened at Reading War Hospital.
The Board found that:
“He was admitted into hospital in France 22.9.16; the
disease proved to be paratyphoid B. Admitted here 13.10.16, convalescent.
Two negative bacteriological examinations of faeces and
urine have been made.
Condition good, but patient feels weak.
We recommend this officer for six weeks’ leave.”
 |
Capt. James Christopher Bull
Image by kind permission of Scott Flaving
|
Lt. Cecil Edward
Merryweather (see 3rd
October), serving with 11DWR, was
formally transferred to 1st Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery,
for home service, on order of a medical board; he had applied for such transfer
on 12th September.
Pte. Patrick Sweeney
(see 22nd October),
serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was yet again in trouble, as he had been on
many previous occasions; he was found to be “drunk and creating a disturbance
at 9.20pm”. Three days later he would be formally charged and sentenced to two
day’s detention.
There was extensive coverage in the weekly editions of the
local press of the men killed and wounded in the recent actions at Le Sars
From the Craven Herald:
EARBY - TWO LADS AMONG THE KILLED
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Oates, 46, Victoria Road, Earby,
received the sad news last week of the death of their son, Pte. Wilfred Lawson Oates (see 6th October), West Riding
Regiment, who was killed in action in France on the 4th inst., the day
following his 22nd birthday. Deceased had been at the Front about six months
and prior to joining the Army was employed as a warehouseman at Messrs. A. J.
Birley's Victoria Mill. Several letters of condolence have been received by the
bereaved parents from Earby Comrades in the same Battalion, including Ptes. James Walker (see 6th October), H. Snell (I am currently unable to identify this man), Edgar Shuttleworth (see 6th
October), and L. Hill (Pte. Leslie
Norman Hill, see 6th October). The last-mentioned wrote:-
"Your son was in the act of bombing the enemy out of a sap, and did his
duty until the last. I am sure he has the praise of all by his devotion to his
work. We all liked him and all miss him. The parcel you sent him was divided
amongst his comrades, which, I feel sure, would be in accordance with your
wish, rather than that it should be sent back. Please accept my own and my
comrades' greatest sympathy in your loss." Pte. Oates was a young man of
exemplary conduct, and took a deep interest in the Temperance movement both
before and since he joined the Army. |
| Pte. Wilfred Lawson Oates |
HELLIFIELD - PRIVATE JOSEPH PRESTON KILLED
Official news has been received of the death in action of
Pte. Joseph Edward Preston (see 22nd October), of the
Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Pte. Preston was 23 years old, and before
joining the Forces, shortly after the outbreak of the war, he was engaged as a
porter at Hellifield Station. He resided with Mr. C. Walkington, of Midland
Terrace, Hellifield, and his parents live at Caton. |
| Pte. Joseph Preston |
CROSSHILLS - PRIVATE F. G. CARLTON REPORTED MISSING
Mrs. Carlton, of Mill Street, Junction, has received
information that her son, Private Frederick
G. Carlton (see 24th
October), of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, has been missing since the
5th October. A letter received from the Records Office, York, on Tuesday of
this week, states:- "I regret to inform you that a report has this day
been received from the War Office to the effect that Private Frederick G.
Carlton, of the West Riding Regiment, was posted as missing after the engagement
in France on the 5th October. Should he subsequently rejoin, or any other
information be received concerning him, such information will be at once
communicated to you."
Mrs. Carlton has also received the following letter from one
of the chums of her son:- "Dear Mrs. Carlton, - I am very sorry that it
falls to my lot to be the bearer of evil tidings. I am in the same platoon as
your son Fred was in. We have been in plenty of scrapping lately. The other day
we made a raid on a German trench. We had several casualties, killed, wounded
and missing. Your son, Fred, I am sorry to say, was among those missing. None
of the lads saw him after we went over, so we cannot say whether he was taken
prisoner of war, or whether he was killed or not. We, his mates, send you all
our deepest sympathy, and we hope that you, like we are doing, will hope for
the best and hope that he is safe. We are all sorry to lose him for he was a
good lad, and wherever he may be we must trust in God and hope for the best,
and may God's will be done. I have a Bible which Fred picked up out here, and
he used to read it very often. I will look after it and if ever I am spared to
get home on leave I will let you have it. I live in Keighley and am drummer in
the West Riding Regiment. I remain, with deepest sympathy, yours sincerely,
(signed) Drummer George William Fletcher
(see 24th October)."
Private Carlton joined the Duke of Wellington's on the 29th
of February last and was trained at Brockton Camp, Staffs. He went out to
France with his Battalion about three months ago. He was thirty years of age,
his birthday having occurred whilst he was out in France. Previous to
enlistment he was employed as a grease extractor for Messrs. Wm. Davy and Co.,
Sutton Mills. He was very actively connected with the Eastburn Primitive
Methodist Church and Sunday School and had been a Sunday School teacher for
many years. He was a lad of sterling character and was held in high by all who
knew him.
 |
| Pte. Frederick G. Carlton |
COWLING - MEMORIAL SERVICE
At the United Methodist Church on Sunday morning a memorial
service was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Penrose (pastor) for the late Sergeant John Hartley (see 22nd October), who was killed in action as reported
in our issue last week. The spacious church was nearly filled by a sympathetic
congregation. Mrs. Rennie Fort contributed Mendelssohn's 'O rest in the Lord',
the choir gave Dr. Parry's anthem 'The Lord is my Shepherd', and Miss Whitaker
played the Dead March in 'Saul' on the organ. Mr. Jas. Bradley was the
conductor. |
| Sgt. John Hartley |
ANOTHER SETTLE SOLDIER DIES FOR HIS COUNTRY
Official information has been received by Mr. Joseph Bell of
Settle, that his son, Private Robert
William Bell (see 6th
October), had been killed in action on 5th October last. The deceased
joined what is locally termed 'Tunstill's men' in September 1914, crossing to
France in August 1915, since when he never had leave. He was aged 30, and prior
to the war worked as a joiner and cabinetmaker with his father.
 |
| Pte. Robert William Bell |
ADDINGHAM - THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL WAGGITT
Mr. and Mrs. Waggitt have received the following letter from
E. Merrall (see 4th October), respecting their son, Lance-Corpl. W. Waggitt (see 20th October):- "It is with deepest regret that
I have to tell you of the death of your valiant son, Will, who has been my
greatest chum since he joined this Battalion. We always went about together and
both got stripes together after the July turn on this front. He was a
magnificent soldier and well above the usual standard, smart and hardworking
and fearless, also a leader whom the biggest coward could have followed. The
morning of the fourth we were informed that our Platoon had to take a Boche
position by going up a trench and bombing our way forward. Straight from our
lines, Will leading, we came to the first barricade. Taking a shovel he cut
through, the second one likewise and the third. Will spotted the Germans and in
his jolly way passed it down to us, "They are waiting for us." Bombs
were thrown and the Germans let us have it, bombing us from the sides. One of
the bombs dropped in the trench and killed the second man and badly wounded
Will. He was assisted back nearly to our lines by Corp. R. Harrison (see 4th
October), another of Will's class of British blood. Bob was wounded along
with many more. The Company stretcher-bearers went to Will to look to his
wounds, but he refused them saying, "I will not last long, look to the
others, they need it more than me." His last words with a smile on his
face were "Cheer oh, lads, the best of luck, I am going." With these
words of encouragement he passed into the arms of his Maker with a clear
conscience. The remainder of the Platoon are lost without him, and I wish you
to please accept our deepest sympathy in your loss." |
| L.Cpl. Edwin Merrall |
 |
| L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt |
HELLIFIELD - PRIVATE C. RALPH KILLED IN ACTION
Information was received on Friday morning by Miss Ralph, of
Haw Grove, Hellifield, that her brother, Private Chris. Ralph (see 22nd
October), had been killed in action on the Western Front on October 6th.
The sad news was conveyed in letters from two Hellifield comrades in the same
Company.
Pte. T. Bownass (see 20th October) wrote:-
"It is with the deepest regret that I have to tell you of the death of
your brother, Kit, which occurred whilst we were in action on the 6th inst. He
was at the time acting as guide to the party who relieved us in the front line
on that date, and was killed instantly by a shell bursting in the trench they
were proceeding along. He was well liked by all the lads of the platoon, as he
always had a cheery word and looked on the bright side of things, and we all
miss him badly. The lads wish me to tender you their deepest sympathy in your
great loss, and trust that God will sustain and comfort you in your dark and
lonely hours."
Pte. Harley Bentham
(see 20th October), in a
letter says:- "I have been asked by some of the lads to write and tell you
how sorry we are and how we sympathise with you in your great loss. Kit was a
fine chap and a good soldier, and I am sure we all liked him. Our Battalion had
been in the line four days and were being relieved that night. Kit had volunteered
to act as guide to the men who were to relieve us, and he was leading them up
the communication trench when a shell burst right on the parapet close to your
brother and hit him. Death would be instantaneous; he would not suffer any
pain. He has been buried close to the place where he fell. He often used to
talk of you, and look forward to your letters coming. I ask you to accept the
sympathy of myself and his pals from Long Preston and district."
Pte. Ralph, who was 30 years old, was the eldest son of the
late Mr. John Ralph, of Main Road, Hellifield. He enlisted with Captain
Tunstill's men in the Duke of Wellington's in September 1914 and went to the
Front the following August. Before joining the Forces he was in the employ of
the Midland Railway as a goods shunter. He was of a bright disposition, and was
formerly a member of the Church choir and Sunday School.
 |
| Pte. Kit Ralph |
 |
| Pte. Harley Bentham |
The Clitheroe Times
THE SECOND BLOW
Mrs Isherwood, Foulscales Farm, Newton, has, as reported
last week, received official intimation that her son, Pte. Edwin Isherwood (see 20th
October), of Capt. Tunstill’s Company of the Duke of Wellington’s W.R.
Regt. Has been killed in action. Another brother, Walter, died from fever early
in the war, and a third, licensee of the Moorcock Inn, is with the forces.
 |
| Pte. Edwin Isherwood |
FORMERLY OF SABDEN
As reported last week Private Joseph Bell (see 20th
October) of the Australian Expeditionary Force, eldest son of Mr. Sam Bell,
Sabden, has made the great sacrifice. Private Bell, who was 26 years of age,
formerly resided in the village and was a scholar at the Council School. He
left Sabden to go to Grindleton, but five years ago emigrated to Australia, and
when he heard his country’s call joined the Australians. News of his death has
been received by his uncle, Mr. John Maudsley of Grindleton. His youngest
brother, Driver George Bell, of the RFA, enlisted two years ago at the age of
15, and has been in Mespotamia for 18 months.
Ilkley Gazette
The Late Corporal Leslie Seymour Perks
Mr. and Mrs. James Perks of Bolton Bridge Road, Ilkley, have
received a communication from the War Office this week stating that their elder
son, Corporal Leslie Seymour Perks (see 20th October), West
Riding Regiment, was killed in action on October 8th. In our last
issue we mentioned that news had been received of Corporal Perks’ death, though
no particulars as to howor when it had occurred were then given.
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