There was an improvement in the weather, which again became
fine and bright. Lt. Col. Robert Raymer
(see 15th May) was taken ill
and admitted to hospital. Maj. Charles
Bathurst (see 7th April) took
temporary command of the Battalion, with Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 4th
May) as second-in-command.
 |
| Lt. Col. Robert Raymer |
 |
Capt. James Christopher Bull
Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum
|
In the evening the Battalion moved up to the
front line, relieving 10th Northumberland Fusiliers in the same positions
that they had held a month earlier (see
14th April) in the front line trenches in the Hill 60
sub-sector, opposite the Caterpillar, south of the railway cutting. The relief was a difficult one as, from 6.15pm
the Germans bombarded the sector, and especially the point known as SP9 (I.28.a.6.4) with guns of calibres up to and
including 21cw. Several dugouts were blown in. The relief finally began but was
delayed owing to the late arrival of the Lewis gun sections and was not finally
completed until 2.30am (19th May). On arrival, two Companies, ‘B’
and ‘D’ went into the front line from the railway cutting south west to
I.34.b.7.8. ‘C’ Company was in close support in the sunken road at I.28.d.3.3
and ‘A’ Company was held in reserve at SP9 (I.28.a.6.4).
Pte. Patrick Sweeney
(see 17th May), who had
been absent without leave for more than 40 hours before returning to duty the
previous day, was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1.
L.Cpl. James Arthur Heap (25th February) was reported by Sgt. Joseph Bona (see 14th May) and Cpl. William Hutchinson (see 26th January) as having been “drunk whilst proceeding to the trenches on the night of 18th/19th”; on the orders of Maj. Bathurst (see above) he was to be reduced to the ranks and to undergo 21 days Field Punishment no.1.
Lt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 28th April) who had been in an officer’s convalescent hospital following an operation to remove his appendix, resumed light duties with 3DWR at North Shields.
L.Cpl. James Arthur Heap (25th February) was reported by Sgt. Joseph Bona (see 14th May) and Cpl. William Hutchinson (see 26th January) as having been “drunk whilst proceeding to the trenches on the night of 18th/19th”; on the orders of Maj. Bathurst (see above) he was to be reduced to the ranks and to undergo 21 days Field Punishment no.1.
Lt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 28th April) who had been in an officer’s convalescent hospital following an operation to remove his appendix, resumed light duties with 3DWR at North Shields.
 |
| Lt. Paul James Sainsbury |
The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried news of Cpl. Fred Swale (see 2nd
May), who had returned to England to begin his officer training.
AUSTWICK
COMMISSION FOR LOCAL SOLDIER
Corporal Fred Swale, younger son of the late Mr. N.S. Swale,
Main Street, has been offered and accepted a commission. He is at present at
home on a month’s leave prior to entering into training. He joined the Duke of
Wellington’s Regiment at Settle in September 1914, and went to France the
following year, where he has been up to the present time. Corporal Swale is one
of few left of Captain Tunstill’s hundred.
 |
| Cpl. Fred Swale |
There was also news in the West Yorkshire Pioneer of Johnny Bradley (see 7th June 1915), younger brother of Pte. Willie Bradley (see 22nd October 1916).
COWLING
WOUNDED SOLDIERS
Pte. Johnny Bradley of the West Riding Regiment has been
wounded whilst fighting with the Army in France. He is at present in the Leeds
General Infirmary, and is suffering from a shrapnel bullet wound in the left
arm. Pte. Bradley, who has two brothers serving in France, enlisted in June
1915 and has visited France on two occasions, in addition to a short spell of
service with the forces in Ireland.
 |
| Pte. Willie Bradley |
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