In transit between Albert and Longpre
At 2am ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies, who had arrived at Longpre at
8am the previous morning were finally joined by ‘C’, ‘D’ and HQ. Given the
chaotic nature of the journey, plans were hastily changed and the men were
taken direct, by motor bus, the fifteen miles from Longpre to Yvrench. The remainder
of the day was spent resting at Yvrench. Orders were received for the Battalion
to move again next day, to Poperinghe.
Following ten days treatment for shellshock, Sgt. John William Wardman (see 3rd October) re-joined
the Battalion.
In the quieter conditions now prevailing Brig. Genl. T.S.
Lambert (see passim), commanding 69th Brigade, found time to reflect
upon recent events and what might be learned from them. His thoughts were
preserved in the Brigade War Diary:
A Coroner’s inquest was held to
consider the events surrounding the death of Adelaide Benson. She was the
sister of the late Pte. Fred Benson
(see 13th October), and
had gone missing from home on 8th October. The inquest was held on
what would have been Adelaide’s twenty-ninth birthday. The Coroner’s jury were
unanimous in their verdict; "Suicide by drowning, whilst temporarily
insane, brought about by grief at the loss of her brother in the
war." The jury expressed their
sympathy with Mrs. Benson, and, along with the witnesses, granted her their
fees, together with a subscription from the Coroner. Ann Benson, widowed twelve
years earlier, had lost her only two children, within three months of each
other.
 |
| Pte. Fred Benson |
News began to arrive in Craven of
the losses at Le Sars. Two letters were received by the parents of Sgt. John Hartley (see 10th October); one was from Hartley’s platoon
commander 2Lt. Philip Morris (see 10th October) and the
other from Hartley’s close friend, CSM Billy
Oldfield (see 10th October):
"Dear Mrs. Hartley,
I believe Q.M.S. Frank Stephenson (see 10th October) has already written to you informing
you of the death in action of your son, but as his platoon commander, I should
also like to assure you and your family of my deepest sympathy in your sorrow.
He died a gallant death in an attack on the German trenches, and we were able
to recover his body two days later and bury him on the field. In the short time
I have been with the platoon I have found him to be a very good N.C.O., always
cheerful and willing, and the Army has lost a good Officer, as I understand he
was awaiting a commission. Once again let me assure you of my sympathy.
In deepest sorrow, I am, yours sincerely, PHILIP A. MORRIS,
Second Lieutenant."
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hartley and Minnie
It almost breaks my heart to have to convey to you the sad
news of the death in action of your son, John. In the first place we had to
report him as missing, but his body has now been found. He fell along with many
others of our Company in a charge we made on the enemy lines on the evening of
October 4th, 1916, and really it was a wonder how some of us did get back. His
body was found alongside that of Mr. Harris, our company commander. It feels
cruel to me to have to write this but I should consider I had failed in my
promise to one of the best of friends had I not done so. I saw him a minute before
we went over the top of the trench, and he said, "Write and give my love
to all at home if anything happens to me." I replied, "All right,
John, cheerio." That was the last I saw of him. He fell leading his men,
for his body was found on the German parapet, death being instantaneous, being
shot through the head with a bullet. His cousin, Second Lieutenant Snowden (son
of Mr. Keighley Snowdon, the novelist) was wounded in the same affair. I can
imagine what a sad blow it will be to you, and I repeat, it makes my heart ache
to be the bearer of such sad news, but it is my duty.
As a friend I found him to be one of the best, always true
to his promise, never failing in his duties. He was very popular, both amongst
Officers, N.C.O.s, and men, and we all mourned deeply the loss of so popular
and efficient an N.C.O. We managed to get his body buried decently as possible
under the circumstances, and his personal effects will be forwarded on to you
in due course. I trust God will sustain and strengthen you in this sad loss of
your only son and brother. I trust you will find some consolation in knowing he
died a hero's death, fighting for the glorious cause of Freedom. His last
thoughts were of home.
Yours in deepest sympathy, WILLIAM OLDFIELD, C.S.M."
 |
| Sgt. John Hartley |
 |
CSM Billy Oldfield, MM
Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton
|
The Keighley News reported the
death of Pte. Herbert Rooke (see 6th October), news of which
had arrived at his home in a letter from Cpl. Leslie Seymour Perks, who had himself been killed within days of
writing the letter (see 8th
October).
Private Herbert Rooke of 42 Thwaites Lane, Keighley and of
the West Riding Regiment, has been killed in action. Corporal L.S. Perks in a
letter to Mrs. Rooke says: “It is with much regret that I write to inform you
of your husband’s death. He was killed on the night of October 4, during an
advance on the German trenches. Death was instantaneous. He was buried on the
following day by his comrades, who put a cross to mark the spot. Please accept
my sincerest sympathies.” A married man with three children, Private Rooke
enlisted in September 1914 in “Kitchener’s Army” and went to France twelve
months ago. He formerly worked in the combing room of Messrs. R. Clough &
Sons, Grove Mills.
 |
| Pte. Herbert Rooke |
The Halifax Courier carried a report concerning 2Lt. Fred Baume (see 7th October), who had been wounded at Le Sars:
HALIFAX WEEKLY COURIER
Mr. David Baume, Cleveley Gardens, Mytholmroyd, attendance
officer under the Hebden Bridge and District Elementary Sub-Committee, has this
week received a message from his son, Sec-Lt. Fred Baume, stating that he is in
hospital at Oxford, suffering from a gunshot wound in the thigh. He adds that
it is not serious and warns his family not to worry about him. Sec-Lt. Baume is
a well known local teacher and cricketer. When war broke out he was a
schoolteacher at Paddock, Huddersfield. He joined the Royal Fusiliers and after
some months at the Front he was recalled and sent into training as a cadet.
Later he was given a commission as Sec-Lt. and had only been out with the West
Riding Regt. for a very short time when he received his wound.
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