Monday 1st October 1917

In Reserve at Canal Bank Dugouts, on the Ypres-Comines canal, opposite Bedford House, but with D Company and one platoon of B Company, attached to 9Yorks in the front line just south of Polygon Wood. Another fine day.

At 4.30am the Germans opened an intense artillery bombardment of the British front line. An hour later a major German counter-attack was launched against 9Yorks and the attached Company of 10DWR. Further German attacks and fierce fighting continued for much of the day but Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne (see 20^th September) was able to establish and maintain a defensive line despite repeated attacks. Both Payne and 2Lt. Edward Kent Waite (see 25^th September), who had only joined the Battalion a week previously, were said to have “behaved with the utmost coolness and intrepidity, though cut off from each other by the heavy barrage, constantly going forward to obtain information, though it was impossible to get this through to Battalion HQ”. Both would subsequently be awarded the Military Cross for their actions and the citations expand on their conduct. For Capt. Payne his conduct was described as, “He was in support with his company, and was cut off- from the front line by an artillery barrage of exceptional intensity. The enemy endeavoured to turn his flank, but he rallied men of a neighbouring unit and secured his position in the most able manner. He showed magnificent courage and energy in most difficult circumstances”. For 2Lt. Waite the citation stated, “When the enemy had enveloped the flank of his company and the whole of the front line was in danger of being turned, he made a reconnaissance under heavy fire, and in the most able manner formed a defensive flank. By his constant encouragement and energy he maintained his line intact under exceptional difficulties”. (For Capt. Payne this would be a second award of the decoration in less than two weeks). By midnight the situation had been stabilised somewhat and, although the left flank of the line (held by 9Yorks) had been pushed back around 150 yards, it was possible for 9Yorks and 10DWR men to be relieved overnight.

In his subsequent report on the actions by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 25^th September) made clear just how ferocious the fighting had been and how heroic the resistance offered by 10DWR and 9Yorks,

“Previously to entering the line on this occasion I had warned all ranks that no matter what they suffered there must be no retirement as this would make it almost impossible for me satisfactorily to deal with the situation. Never, I believe, have troops better understood or better carried out their orders. … The amount of ammunition used was 220 rounds per man, 30 magazines per Lewis Gun and 4 extra boxes of SAA. When finally relieved, practically not a round was left. … Throughout the day the German attacks were delivered with the greatest determination and were accompanied by artillery fire such as has never before been experienced by this Brigade. The attacks were defeated with the loss of some 150 square yards of ground of no great value and at the loss of perhaps a Company. I attribute this mainly to the spirit of heroic endurance displayed by the 9^th Yorkshire Regiment and the Company of 10^th Duke of Wellington’s who were chiefly engaged”.

Two men had been killed in action. They were Ptes. Willie Dracup (see 23^rd February) and William Beswick. Pte. Beswick was 24 years old and from Oldham. He had previously served with 1^st/7^th DWR; it is not known when he had joined 10DWR. Both men were most likely originally buried by their comrades but their graves were lost in subsequent fighting and they are now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. A third man, Pte. Fred Hargreaves (20214) (see 19^th August) was officially reported missing in action. In 1921 his remains would be recovered from the battlefield (identified by his identity disc) and would be re-interred at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Among the wounded was Pte. William John Williamson and the circumstances of his wounding would be explained in a letter to his family written by Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 28^th July); “He got a wound about the size of half-a-crown just over the heart, but we hope he is in good old England now making a speedy recovery. He was a stretcher-bearer along with me, and I am very sorry to lose such a good pal. He was a good willing worker whose one thought on the battlefield was to get his wounded comrades away to a place of safety. He had got over the push safe and sound, but his Company was called into the line again, so he had to go with them.” Atkinson’s hopes of a recovery for his pal proved to be unfounded and Pte. Williamson died whilst under treatment close to the front line. He was buried north-west of the village of Veldhoek and, although the cross marking his grave would be lost in subsequent fighting, his remains were identified in April 1921 and were re-interred at New Irish Farm Cemetery, north of Ypres.

William John Williamson was 29 years old and originally from London, though he had been living in Earby, having moved north with his widowed mother, Mary Elizabeth, and his three brothers and two sisters. He had enlisted in December 1914 while working as a warehouseman at the Earby Co-Operative Society, along with his younger brother, James Stanley Williamson; both had originally served with 1^st/6^th DWR. Exactly when and under what circumstances William John had transferred to 10DWR is unknown, but it is likely that he had been wounded at some point (note the wound stripe in the photograph) and had subsequently been transferred. A third brother, Sydney George Williamson, had enlisted in December 1915, having turned 18, and had been posted to 9^th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He had been officially missing in action since 9^th April 1917 and is now commemorated on the Arras Memorial. On 17^th March 1918 Pte. James Stanley Williamson would die of wounds suffered while serving with 1^st/6^th DWR; he would be buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Mary Elizabeth Williamson had lost three of her four sons in the war and would be awarded a pension of 15s. per week for life. Her fourth son, Frank Robert Williamson, would die in 1924 aged just 24. Mary Elizabeth would continue to live in Earby, along with one of her daughters, and would die in 1944, aged 84.

Pte. William John Williamson

(note the wound stripe on his lower left sleeve)

Pte. James Stanley Williamson

(clearly taken on the same occasion as his brother's photograph)

Pte. Sydney George Williamson

The number of other men wounded is unknown. 

2Lt. George Clifford Sugden (see 26^th September), who had arrived in France five days previously, joined the Battalion.

Pte. Joseph Honeyble (see 20^th September), who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head on 20^th September, died of his wounds at 11^th Stationary Hospital at Rouen; he would be buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

Pte. Ernest Frederick Authers (see 20^th September), who had suffered wounds to his right knee and foot on 20^th September, was posted back to England.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 31^st August) was posted to France to join 1^st/4^th DWR.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

A payment of 17s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George William Cook (see 7^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his father, John.

A payment of £2 10s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Walter Horne (see 12^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his father, Joseph. A parcel of his effects, comprising of “wallet, photos, testament, disc, postcards, cards” would also be sent to his father.

A payment of £2 19s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Albert Sunderland (see 27^th June), who had died on 27^th June, having been severely wounded on 7^th June; the payment would go to his father, Samuel. A parcel containing his personal effects (details unknown) would also be sent home.