Saturday 19th May 1917

Trenches in the Hill 60 sub-sector, opposite the Caterpillar

The weather again became very warm. There was heavy shelling throughout the day by both sides. The Battalion War Diary reported simply that, “Much work was done during this tour to improve the trenches and large ammunition, bomb, rations and water stores were formed in view of impending offensive. Owing to enemy retaliation for our heavy bombardments, the Battalion suffered casualties”. 

Although no specific mention is made in the Battalion War Diary, the first of these casualties were incurred on the first day, with two men killed. Pte. Richard Field (see 11^th January), who had only been with the Battalion for four months, and Pte. Thomas Kay (see 7^th May) were both buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. Among those wounded was Pte. Joseph Barnes (see 7^th April); he suffered relatively minor injuries to his eyes and was evacuated via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill and 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek, and from there, on 21^st, onboard No.5 Ambulance Train, to 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. He would stay only a day in hospital before being transferred to 1^st Convalescent Depot, also at Boulogne. Pte. Walter Pedley (see 16^th January) suffered shrapnel wounds to his head, right arm and left leg and was admitted via 4^th London Field Ambulance at Brandhoek and 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek, before being transferred, on 24^th, onboard No.2 Ambulance Train, to 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne. Pte. Ernest Needham (see 5^th February) suffered relatively minor facial wounds; he was treated at 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill before being transferred, on 20^th, to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe; he would return to light duty with the battalion on 26^th. Pte. Henry Marshall (see 8^th April) was also wounded by a shell concussion but was treated locally and remained with the battalion. The Divisional Trench Mortar Battery fired 26 rounds in total, “in retaliation for 3 heavy trench mortars and 2 rifle grenades”.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 18^th May), who, the previous day, had been awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1, having been absent without leave, was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from pyrexia NYD (raised temperature; not yet diagnosed).

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill (see 19^th May) who had been in charge of 69^th Brigade School on secondment from 10DWR was transferred to become second-in-command, 11^th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. 

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill

Pte. John William Dean (see 5^th March) who had suffered gas poisoning in August 1916, was discharged from a Convalescent Hospital in Blackpool and given ten days leave before reporting for duty with 3DWR at North Shields on 29^th May.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News reported news of the wounding of Pte. Gilbert Bell (see 24^th April) who had originally served with 10DWR but had been posted to 9DWR after suffering shellshock on the Somme in July 1916.

“Mrs. A. Bell, of 76 Chip Hill, Bogthorn, Keighley, has been notified by the Infantry Record Office, that her son, Private Gilbert Bell, of the West Riding Regiment, was wounded on April 25^th. He joined the forces at the commencement of hostilities, and had been at the front a considerable period”.