Thursday 18th October 1917

Front line trenches west of Polygon Wood. A and B Coys in the front line from J.11.d.7.5. to J.12.a.5.5, with C and D Coys in the Support Line from J.11.c.5.6 to J.11.b.1.5. HQ at The Butte (J.10.a.7.9).

A wet day.

Overnight 17^th/18^th the Germans launched a major raid against the British line which was beaten off with considerable casualties; 18 men were killed in action and many more wounded. The majority of these men, though most likely buried by their comrades in the aftermath of the fighting, now have no known grave and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. In just five cases their remains were subsequently identified, exhumed and re-interred. The men killed were:

CSM Joseph Bona (see 5^th September).

Sgt. James Scott (14445) (see 20^th September); he had been recommended for the Military Medal for his conduct on 20^th September.

Sgt. Norman Wilson, aged 21 and from Halifax had been an original member of the Battalion. In October 1920 his remains, identified by his paybook, would be recovered from an unmarked grave east of Polygon Wood and re-interred at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Cpl. Joseph Smith (12748) (see 20^th September); he had been recommended for the Military Medal for his conduct on 20^th September.

L.Cpl. Christopher Smith Birch (see 3^rd August). An (unnamed) officer would write to Pte. Birch’s mother, telling them, “Through your son’s bravery and cheerful spirits he set a very fine example and won the esteemed respect of both officers and men of this Battalion. On their behalf and myself I tender to you madam, in this your sad hour of bereavement, our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your son, which is keenly felt by the whole Battalion”. In 1923 Pte. Birch’s remains, identified by his identity disc, would be recovered from an unmarked grave east of Polygon Wood and re-interred at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

L.Cpl. Alfred Exley (see 12^th August).

Pte. James Herbert Armstrong (see 5^th July).

Pte. Arthur Frederick Boulton was a 27 year-old labourer from Huddersfield; he was killed while acting as a stretcher bearer. He had originally served with 8DWR before suffering a wound to his right foot in October 1915; the date and circumstances of his joining 10DWR are unknown.

Pte. Ernest Bradley (see 5^th October). In 1923 his remains, identified by his identity disc, would be recovered from an unmarked grave east of Polygon Wood and re-interred at Tyne Cot Cemetery. As he had only been with 10DWR for less than two weeks, his identity disc still stated him to be serving with 16^th Cheshires.

Pte. Arthur Cawley (see 5^th October).

Pte. John Driver (see 20^th September). An (unnamed officer) would write to Pte. Driver’s widow, Mabel, “It is with a feeling of deepest regret that I have to advise you of the death of your husband which was caused by the explosion of a shell, death being instantaneous. Your husband, by his bravery and devotion to duty, won the esteem, respect and admiration of all. I tender to you, in your sad hour of bereavement, the condolences and heartfelt sympathy of both officers and me, by whom the loss of your husband is most keenly fel”. In October 1920 Pte. Driver’s remains, identified by his identity disc and paybook, would be recovered from an unmarked grave east of Polygon Wood and re-interred at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Pte. Joseph William Henley (see 31^st December 1914). His younger brother, George, had been killed in action on 11^th April while serving with 10^th Yorkshires.

Pte. Norman Holmes (see 16^th January). The circumstances of his death would be described in a letter to Pte. Holmes’ mother from 2Lt. Edward Kent Waite (see 1^st October), "It is with sincere regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband who was killed in action a few days ago.  He was a good man and his death is a severe loss to us.  A shell fell near him and killed him instantaneously.  He was buried in a shellhole and the position of the grave has been notified to the authorities.  I offer you the sympathies of the whole platoon and of myself in your sad bereavement."

Pte. William James Horne (see 8^th September 1917).

Pte. George King (16475) (see 12th February).

Pte. Henry Leech (see 5^th October). In October 1920 his remains, identified by his identity disc, would be recovered from an unmarked grave east of Polygon Wood and re-interred at Tyne Cot Cemetery. As he had only been with 10DWR for less than two weeks, his identity disc still stated him to be serving with 17^th Cheshires.

Pte. Frank Ernest Walton (see 15^th September).

Pte. Henry Percival Widdop (see 16^th January).

The number of men wounded is unknown, but a number have been identified. Capt. Herbert Sparling (see 5^th October) suffered severe wounds to his left leg. He was evacuated to one of the local Casualty Clearing Stations where his leg would be amputated at the knee joint. Also among those wounded was L.Sgt. Albert Bradley (see 27^th August); he was buried by a shell explosion and suffered severe head injuries. He was evacuated to 17^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings. Pte. Sydney Drake (see 20^th September) suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm; he was evacuated to 11^th Casualty Clearing Station, before being transferred, onboard no.24 Ambulance Train, to hospital at Camiers (details unknown). Pte. John William Camps (see 5^th October) suffered severe wounds to his left leg. Pte. Will Lee (see 16^th January) was also wounded (details unknown) and would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to hospital at Camiers (details unknown). Pte. Robert McCall (see 5^th October) was also severely wounded, suffering major chest wounds; the details of their treatment are unknown. Pte. Robert Frank Smith (25829) (see 5^th October) suffered a shrapnel wound to his left thigh; he would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 37^th Casualty Clearing Station to 22^nd General Hospital at Camiers.

Pte. Frank Easterby (see 3^rd June) was appointed Lance Corporal.

Ptes. Willie Cowgill (see 13^th October) and David Doughty Glossop (see 4^th August) both re-joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, where they had been for the previous week, following their discharge from hospital.

Pte. Walter Smith (18428) (see 29^th July) also joined the Battalion; he had been posted to France in July but had remained at Etaples in the interim.

Sgt. Walter Appleby (see 20^th September), who had been severely wounded a month previously, was evacuated to England from hospital in Rouen; he would be taken by no.31 Ambulance Train from Rouen to Le Havre and from there to England onboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle. The details of his hospital treatment in England are unknown.

Sgt. Walter Appleby

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

A payment of £12 5s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. James William Brennan (see 7^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his sister-in-law, Harriet, who was guardian to his three children.