Sunday 10th June 1917

Front line trenches (“the Blue Line and the Black Line”) in Battle Wood I.35.d.35.0. to I.35.d.95.50

The day began misty but soon became fine and hot once again. 

As the Battalion continued to hold the new front and support lines three men were killed in action. One of the men killed was Cpl. Dennis Bradbury (see 23^rd March). Pte. George Ingle (see 29^th July 1916) would write to Cpl. Bradbury’s family, “May we, the boys who were with him, offer you our deepest sympathy in your loss. He died nobly. Hearing a wounded man call, he at once went to assist, and I am sorry, very sorry, to say he was killed instantly. Surely no man could do more than this. We buried him near the spot, and will do our utmost to make him a cross (a proper one) when next we go that way. As I live near you (Ilkley), we had many talks of home and promised to see each other if we got back safely. He died bravely and nobly, doing his duty, helping his comrade. May this comfort all of you, his relatives at home. It reminds one of “Greater love hath no man than this.” Anything I can tell you, or do, ask me. Someday, perhaps, I may see you. Please accept our deepest sympathy in your loss. May God give you strength to bear it bravely”. Pte. Charles Arthur Stott (see 16^th January) was killed whilst acting as a stretcher bearer; news of his death would be passed to his family by his fellow stretcher bearer and Skipton resident, Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 26^th May) and also by 2Lt. John Robert Dickinson (see 7th June). Dickinson wrote to Stott’s widow, telling her, “I am very sorry to have to inform you of the death of your husband, who was killed in action on June 10th after having done three days’ magnificent work as a stretcher-bearer. He was killed instantaneously while carrying a stretcher away. I am very sorry to have lost him, as I have never had a more willing and conscientious worker, and although he was not over strong he did not let it stand in his way, but worked untiringly. Please accept the deepest sympathy from the N.C.O.s and men of his platoon, and also from his fellow stretcher-bearers”. (It should be noted that in all official records, Stott is recorded as having been killed on 7^th June, however, Dickinson’s letter clearly indicates that he had actually survived the first day of the assault and had been killed three days later). The third man killed was Pte. Joe William Woodhouse (see 23^rd February). Although they may originally have been buried by their colleagues, all three men now have no known grave and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Pte. Charles Arthur Stott

Among those wounded was Pte. Reuben Smith (see 2^nd March), who, along with his brother Pte. Johnny Smith (see 1^st June), had been among the original members of Tunstill’s Company. He was evacuated to 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings. Also wounded was Pte. Greenwood Speak (see 19^th December 1916); he suffered a number of wounds, including a fractured right arm; the details of his initial treatment are unknown. Pte. William Norman Whitehead (see 19^th December 1916) was severely wounded, but the details of his injuries and treatment are unknown.

Pte. Reuben Smith

From 2pm men of 12^th DLI began their relief of 10DWR, but the relief was not finally completed until about 4.15am on 11^th. Having been relieved the Battalion marched a few miles behind the line to Zillebeke Bund. 2Lt. Bob Perks DSO (see 8^th June) recalled how, “a weary company with its two officers – by then its only ones – struggled back again through shell fire and are looking forward to a well-earned rest, if only a short one”.

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to allow me to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence).

2Lt. Godfrey Isaacs (see 7^th June) who had been slightly wounded but remained at duty on 7^th June, now reported sick; it was said that “He had managed to carry on for a day or two but he became very jumpy and anxious and was suffering the symptoms of concussion”. He was sent to hospital in France (details unknown) for a period of rest and further investigations.

Three men were admitted to 12^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, suffering from neurasthenia; they were Ptes. Percy France (see below), Isaac Raisman (see 9^th July 1916) and Edwin Wright (see 13^th May). Next day all three would be transferred to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques.

Percy France was a 21 year-old yarn packer from Huddersfield; in the abence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when he had joined the Battalion.  

2Lt. George Patrick Doggett (see 7^th June), who had had his right leg amputated as a result of wounds suffered on 7^th June, was evacuated to England for further treatment. He travelled from Calais to Dover onboard the hospital ship Stad Antwerp and on arrival would be admitted to Carnarvon Hospital, Bryanston Square, London.

L.Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 7^th June), who had suffered wounds to his left leg on 7^th June, was evacuated to England from 8^th Red Cross Hospital at Paris-Plage, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Pieter de Corninck.

Pte. Herbert Farrand Hogley (see 7^th June), who had suffered a relatively minor wound to his right hand on 7^th June, was evacuated from 55^th General Hospital at Wimereux to England, onboard the hospital ship St. Patrick.

Having spent the previous week at 70th Field Ambulance, Pte. Joe Arthur Bentley (see 4^th June) was discharged and returned to duty.

Ptes. Frank Jowett (see 31^st May) and Joseph Renshaw (see 26^th March) were posted back to France from 3DWR at North Shields; both were originally to have joined 8DWR, but would instead be re-posted to 1^st/6^thDWR.