Tuesday 22nd May 1917

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

There was much artillery activity, from both sides, again during the day. There was an especially ferocious German bombardment in the early hours during which three men from ‘C’ Company were killed. Ptes. Michael Gallagher (see below), Arthur Gill (see 5th January) and John Smith (13382) (see 29^th July) would all be buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. Pte. Gallagher’s (unnamed) platoon officer would write to his family, “It is my painful duty to inform you that your son was killed by a shell while standing in the trench. As his platoon officer I should like to pay tribute to his unfaling cheerfulness and willingness under all circumstances. He was one of the best lads in my platoon and an example to all and I, as well as his comrades, will miss him sorely. Please accept my deepest sympathy on your bereavement. Your son will be taken back and buried in a quiet little cemetery behind the lines and in due course you will be informed of its locality”. Michael Gallagher had been an original member of the Battalion; he was 23 years old and one of ten children of Anthony and Mary Gallagher. His father was originally from Ireland but the family was settled in Keighley where Michael had worked before the war at a local engineering firm. 

Pte. William Boodle (see 19^th December 1916) wrote to Arthur Gill’s family with details of exactly what happened; “about 2.50 am he had just got into a dugout to have a sleep after being on patrol all night, and he had not been in it an hour when the Germans opened a very heavy bombardment upon us. The first shell knocked the dugout in and buried five of us. We got out all right but suddenly found that your boy was still under, being covered with the remains of the dugout. I at once started to dig him out, and after working for an hour succeeded. I then got him onto a stretcher and saw him out of shellfire, as I was for hospital myself.” According to stretcher bearer Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 4^th August 1916), “Arthur was in a dugout which they knocked in with a shell, and he was very badly wounded and died nearly right away”. 

Among those wounded on the same day, though whether in the same incident is uncertain, was 2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt (see 25^th August 1916). He was evacuated to 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, Lijssenthoek and a telegram despatched to his parents reporting him to be “dangerously wounded, shell wound, head”. Also wounded was Pte. Fred Addy (see 9^th February); he suffered shrapnel wounds to his face and right hand. He was evacuated via 4^th London Field Ambulance at Brandhoek and 17^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek to 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station also at Remy Siding. Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 13^th May), who had only joined the battalion ten days previously, suffered a wound to his left hand and was treated first at 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill, before being transferred, next day, to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek; from there he would be transferred (24^th May), onboard No.2 Ambulance Train, to 32^nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. Pte. Fred Morrell (see 16^th January) suffered shrapnel wounds to his left thigh; he was evacuated via the same route as Pte. Taylor.

2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt

Pte. Leonard Briggs (see 16^th January) reported sick, suffering from ‘myalgia’ and was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe. Pte. Thomas Manuell (see 20^th February) also left the battalion; he was suffering from ‘trench foot’. He was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe.

Overnight 22^nd-23^rd ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies moved into the front line, relieving ‘B’ and ‘D’ who went into close reserve. In the continuing exchanges of shelling the Divisional Trench Mortar Battery reported firing 71 rounds, “in retaliation for heavy trench mortars and rifle grenades”.

After almost five months away from the Battalion, having been taken sick, Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 30^th December 1915) re-joined 8DWR; he had been discharged from hospital on 13^th May and then spent two weeks at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.