Friday 13th July 1917

Micmac Camp, between Dickebusch and Ouderdom.

Another fine day, which was spent in final preparations for a return to the trenches. Overnight, 13^th-14^th, the Battalion moved into support trenches in the left sector of the Divisional front near Observatory Ridge, a few hundred yards north of their former positions around Hill 60 and the Caterpillar.  They relieved two companies of 8Yorks. and two companies of 9Yorks.. Battalion HQ and one Company were positioned in Hedge Street Tunells about I.24.d.5.1; one Company in Canada dugouts about I.30.a.9.4; one Company at Rudkin House Tunnels about I.24.a.0.1; and one Company in Metropolitan Left about I.29.a.8.2. The trenches here were in a very poor state, being, in fact, a series of isolated posts rather than formal defences.

Pte. George Mitchell (see 10^th April) was permanently transferred to L Signals Battalion, Royal Engineers, with which unit he had been serving for the previous three months; he was immediately re-appointed Lance Corporal.

Temp. Major. Hugh William Lester MC (see 19^th June), who had been on temporary attachment to 69^th Brigade HQ, was posted to duty with 23^rd Division. He was appointed Staff Officer 3^rd grade, but he did revert to his previous rank of Captain on ceasing to be 2IC of the Battalion.

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museuem

L.Cpl. James Barker (12288) (see 20^th December 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 1916 was posted back to France from Northern Command Depot at Ripon; he would join 2DWR.

L.Cpl. Herbert Thornton (see 29^th July 1916), who had been severely wounded in the chest and leg on the Somme in July 1916, was formally discharged from the Army on account of his wounds, with the award of the Silver War Badge; he was assessed as having suffered a 40% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 16s. per week.

L.Cpl. Herbert Thornton

The surviving personal effects of Pte. Richard Field (see 9^th June), who had been killed in May, were despatched to his widow, Minnie; they consisted of “wallet, cigarette case, scissors, note book, numerals, letters and photos”.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried news of the award of the Military Medal to Sgt. William Edward Gibson (see 11^th June),

A SETTLE SOLDIER’S GALLANTRY

Sergeant W.E. Gibson, whose wife and family live at Craven Cottages, Settle, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, has now been awarded the Military Medal for the following good work. He is in the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment: “On the night of 11^th – 12^th June, 1917 at Jackson’s Dump, near Hill 60, this NCO was in charge of a limber bringing back captured machine guns, when two motor lorries, loaded with ammunition, which were in the Dump, were struck by a shell and commenced to explode. Cut off by the burning lorries from taking his limber away, heedless of the danger, this NCO, with great gallantry first brought his mules into safety and then ensured the safety of the material in his charge, remaining by the limber till daylight. Prior to the attack on Hill 60, this NCO displayed daily conspicuous coolness, good judgement and gallantry in guiding all convoys under his charge through heavy enemy barrages without casualties”.

Sgt. William Edward Gibson, MM MSM (far right)

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

There was also reference to some confusion over plans for the presentation of the Military Medal to Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 29^th June)

RECOGNITION OF LOCAL HEROES: A MISUNDERSTANDING

Some little misunderstanding seems to have arisen in regard to the proposed public presentation of the Military Medal to Pte. J.W. Atkinson, referred to in last week’s Craven Herald. The position appears to be as follows: The Urban District Council had arranged a public gathering for the presentation of the Military Medal won by Sergeant Webster of the 1^st/6^th West Riding Regiment, and naturally thought it would be more suitable to have a gathering for the joint presentation of the two medals. The Council were also of the opinion that from the public point of view it would be more convenient to have the ceremony some evening in front of the Town Hall. It seems, however, that the presentation of the medal to Pte. Atkinson has been entrusted to Lieut. S.H. Walton, commanding officer of the local detachment of Volunteers, and that it has been suggested to have this presentation on a Sunday afternoon. There the matter remains at present, and it is simply a matter now for an amicable arrangement between the two parties.