Monday 2nd October 1916

Support trenches east of Pozieres at Gourlay Trench

The day dawned wet and misty and fierce fighting continued around Eaucourt l’Abbaye but this objective would not be taken by 47^th Division until early afternoon on 3^rd. In front of Le Sars, 69^th Brigade was ordered into the line to relieve 70^th. Consequently, at 3.45 pm the Battalion moved off from Gourlay Trench to proceed to the front line to relieve 8^th KOYLI. ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies were to take up positions in the old German front line (OG1) (the Flers Line), astride the main road south of Le Sars; ‘B’ Company was positioned at Destremont Farm and Trench, just in rear, and ‘D’ Company and HQ in 26^th Avenue, to the South-East.

Handcarts for the Lewis Guns were to be left at the Chateau in Contalmaison before guides were met just east of Martinpuich. Each man carried two sandbags and 170 rounds of ammunition, wore his waterproof sheet and carried his greatcoat rolled on his back. ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ also took with them 200 bombs per Company. However conditions were very difficult for movement and the trenches very congested; so much so that the relief was not completed until just before daybreak on 3^rd. The frontline and communication trenches were found to be in very poor condition, being mired in mud. To the right of the Battalion, 8^th Yorks. relieved 11^th Sherwood Foresters who had occupied Flers Line and Flers Support.  Left of the Battalion the front was held by the Canadian Corps. 

Ptes. Newton Dobson, Arthur Lumb, Harry Read and Herbert Sloane joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. Newton Dobson was a 20 year-old woolcomber from Bradford. Arthur Lumb was a 24 year-old woodworker from Mytholmroyd; he had originally attested in August 1915 and had trained with 11DWR until August 1916 when he was transferred to 3DWR and then, a month later, posted to France. Harry Read was a woolcomber from Bradford; he had originally attested in November 1915 but, despite claiming to be almost 20, had been found to be underage and had been transferred to the Army Reserve. He had been called up in January 1916 and had trained with 11DWR and 3DWR before being posted to France on 17^th September. Herbert Sloane was a 20 year-old hoist driver from Shipley. He had originally attested in November 1915 and had got married in May 1916 while in training with 3DWR.

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 26^th September) departed for England on seven days’ leave to England; it is unclear whether the other three officers who had retired to the transport lines with Bolton a week earlier also went on leave, but there is no sign that any of them participated in the actions of the following days.

 

Lt. Dick Bolton

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Albert Bradley (see 6^th June) reported sick, suffering from diarrohea; he would be treated locally for a week before returning to duty.

Major Lewis Ernest Buchanan (see 18^th August) former 2IC of the Battalion, who had previously been declared unfit for general service and instructed to resign his commission, having lodged an appeal against that decision, appeared beore a medical board assembled in Londonderry (Buchanan had been back at his family home in nearby Omagh). Having considered his case the board found him fit for light duties and he was ordered to report to 15^th Training Reserve Battalion, based at Brocton Camp. He would remain in England on light duties for the remainder of the war.

Pte. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 6^th August), 1^st Battalion, West Yorkshires, was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

E.E. Ison, pictured after being commissioned with DWR

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton