Sunday 19th November 1916

Brigade Reserve, west of Zillebeke Bund

Another quiet day. The weather became somewhat milder, with a little rain; small working parties were again provided for the Royal Engineers.

Pte. Richard Marsden (see 17^th June) was admitted to hospital (cause not stated) but would return to duty two days later.

L. Sgt. John Bargh (see 21^st October), who had recently applied for a temporary commission while serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, received instructions to join, on 30^th November, 2^nd Royal Field Artillery Officer Cadet School at Exeter to begin his officer training.

Pte. Albert Saville (see 20^th October) who had been injured in September and had since been treated in hospital in England was now posted to 3DWR at North Shields and immediately attached to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at nearby Gateshead.

At home in Huddersfield, Mary Ann Collings, wife of Pte. James Collings (see 9^th March), gave birth to the couple’s third child, a son who would be named William.

Saturday 18th November 1916

Brigade Reserve, west of Zillebeke Bund

Another cold, frosty and quiet day, with small working parties again provided for the Royal Engineers.

Acting Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 30^th July) departed to England on a one-week leave.

Pte. Harold Schofield Hanson (see 14^th November) who had been treated at no.8 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux having been wounded four days earlier, was evacuated to England for further treatment. He travelled onboard the hospital ship ‘Western Australia’ and on arrival in England was admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

Ptes. Richard Butler (see 21^st October), Thomas Delaney (see 8^th November) and Thomas Robinson (16490) MM (see 30^th September) were posted back to France; they were originally due to join 8DWR, but would instead be re-posted and re-join 10DWR on 6^th December. Also posted to France as part of the same draft was Pte. Walter Appleby; he would also join 10DWR. He was a 20 year-old tinsmith’s labourer from Keighley. He had joined 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion in July 1913 and had been posted to France in November 1914, joining 2DWR. He had been evacuated to England in January 1915, suffering from frostbitten feet, and had remained in England until June 1915 when he had been posted to 2DWR. He had then been wounded (details unknown) on 1^st July 1916 and had been evacuated to England, being treated in hospital before being posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion. It seems likely that Pte. Arthur Mitchell was also among this draft. He had originally served with 9DWR and had been wounded on the Somme in July 1916 and evacuated to England. He was 25 years old and had worked as woollen piecer; he had married Martha Hannah Ashworth shortly before he had been first posted to France in July 1915 and she was pregnant with their first child. 

Pte. Thomas Robinson, seated.

Image by kind permission of Gary Robinson

Pte. Walter Appleby

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Having the previous day been passed fit for light duty Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 17^th November) reported for duty with 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Bertie Constantine (see 26^th October), who was in England having been wounded on 29^th July, was posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead.

The War Office wrote to Capt. William Norman Town (see 22^nd October), who was currently on three months sick leave, asking that he supply them with confirmation of his current address, in preparation for his next Medical Board which was due to be held in the New Year.

A payment of £4 11s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Cyril Clarkson Hoyle (see 29^th July), who had been killed in the actions around Munster Alley in July. The payment would go to his father, John.

The War Office wrote to Messrs. Martineau & Reid, solicitors, acting for the family of the late Lt. Harry Harris (see 9^th November) who had been killed at Le Sars, to confirm that all Harris’ effects had now been sent to his father, Samuel Harris, 5 Hatton Gardens, London.

Friday 17th November 1916

Brigade Reserve, west of Zillebeke Bund

The weather became much colder and frosty, but the day was quiet, with small working parties provided for the Royal Engineers.

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 1^st November) was discharged from hospital in Wimereux and posted to 1^st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne.

Pte. Louis Feather (see 23^rd October) was discharged from 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.


Pte. William Henry Thornton (see 7^th October), serving at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, was posted to the Depot at Alnwick.

Having been examined the previous day by his own doctor Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 16^th November) who was currently on sick leave, appeared before a Medical Board at Caxton Hall, London. The Board concurred with the private medical report and declared Pereira fit for light duty at home, with a further review of his case scheduled for two months time.

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira

A payment of £4 8s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur William Bailey (see 29^th July), who had been killed in the actions around Munster Alley in July. The payment would go to his father, William George Bailey.

An extract from a letter received in Addingham was published in the weekly edition of the Craven Herald, which included mention of two of Tunstill’s Company:

“Mr. Flint has received further letters in acknowledgment of parcels. J.G. Waggitt, 2nd Canadian Division, writes:- "We are having very bad weather here just now. I saw some of the Addingham boys just before my brother (L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt, see 3^rd November) was killed, but they are not round here now. I had a little talk with Reuben Smith (see 3^rd November) just a few days before he was wounded; he was with my brother at the time. We don't get much news these days."

Thursday 16th November 1916

Brigade Reserve, west of Zillebeke Bund

Over the next few days, which were largely foggy, the Battalion enjoyed a quiet period, with just small parties, of around twenty men, being despatched each night as working parties to assist the Royal Engineers.

Plans began to be developed for the proposed raid to be conducted by a party from the Battalion on 20^th November (see 13^th November). An artillery scheme was put in place and “for the instruction of the raiding party the O.C. Canadian Tunnelling Company has kindly arranged for materials to be available for practice and explanation in Ypres during the next two days”.

After spending two weeks at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples following a period in hospital, Ptes. Ernest Ashness (see 30^th October) and Harold Best (see 30^th October) re-joined the Battalion.

After spending two months in hospital Pte. Samuel Garside Hardy (see 14^th September) was admitted posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route to a return to active service.

Dr. R. Richmond of 35 High Street, Wimbledon certified that he had examined Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 18^th October) who was currently on sick leave. He reported that Pereira “has lost most of his neurasthenia symptoms with which he invalided home. I consider that he is now fit for light duty”.

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira

Just one day after having been found absent from parade, Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 15^th November), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, again failed to appear on parade (this time at 7.15am). He received a further sentence of five days confined to barracks.

Wednesday 15th November 1916

Front line trenches south of Sanctuary Wood

The Battalion was relieved by 11^th West Yorks. and moved into Brigade Reserve west of Zillebeke Bund (I.15.d.1.2. to I.21.b.1.2),.

L.Sgt. John Thomas Matthews (see 1^st August) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

The parents of 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 14^th November), learnt of their son’s promotion and despatched a congratulatory telegram. Receipt of the telegram may actually have given Perks himself first news of the announcement in the London Gazette, as he suggested in the letter he wrote to his parents in reply;

10th attd 3rd D of W Rgt.

47 Lindisfarne Terrace
North Shields
Northumberland

15/11/16

My Dear Dad

Thanks very much for telegram from you and Mother.  I have been watching the Gazette but missed it this morning and was greeted with it when I went into the mess before lunch (drinks all round).  I have already put up the extra pip by the process of taking them off one tunic and adding them to the other with the aid of my billittee lady. I reckon at a shilling a day, £3.14.0 back pay is now due to me.  Isn’t it ripping old Redington (see 14^th November) getting it too?

Thanks awfully for your letter which also arrived this morning.  How awfully nice you would be to me about the bicycle but I really don’t think it is worth it at present as I am quite near my work at the mess.  The lady of the billet by the way is extremely keen on looking after me and insists on looking upon me as an invalid.  As she has a boy about 14 she knows what’s what too.

The munitions people write me a very polite note to say that a “Committee of the Departmental Panel of Experts” have considered it and conclude it would spoil another bit of the works.  I don’t believe it but I suppose I must be satisfied and they end by saying the Controller of Munitions Institutions desires me to thank you for putting the matter forward.

Please tell Mother the other letter she sent was from Merryweather (see 13^th November) who has transferred to the Artillery.  He gives me a detailed account of his girl and says she “doesn’t appear to object to my taking a cousinly interest” but I am not to blame him if I get my ears boxed!  No mention if he objects!

Love to both

Bob.  
Lieut.

Perks’, apparently hurried, calculation of the pay he would be due seems to be slightly out; promotion from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant would entitle him to an additional 1s. per day, and this, backdated to the date of the award, 23^rd August, would give him 84s due or £4 4s. 0d. (he appears to have miscalculated by 10 days).

I have no explanation for the reference to the “munitions people”, but it would appear that Perks had made a suggestion of some nature which had been considered but not acted upon.

Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

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

A further Army Medical Board was convened at Caxton Hall Hospital, London to examine the case of Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 12^th October) who had been in England for the previous three months for treatment to boils to his neck which had originated on active service in August.The Board found that, “This officer has been free from any further attacks of boils, but is still much below par and suffering from a rash on the lower extremities, about which he is consulting a specialist”. He was declared unfit for any service for a further month, on the expiry of which he was to be re-examined.

2Lt. Arthur Poynder Garratt (see 9^th October), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was promoted Lieutenant; he would shortly be posted to join 10DWR.

2Lt. Charles Crowther Hart (see 17^th October), now serving with 3DWR at North Shields, having been wounded on the Somme in July, appeared before a MedicalBoard at Tynemouth. The Board found that, “he has much improved but is out of condition. Wounds are healed and he has no pain.” He was deemed to be still fit only for home service.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 6^th November), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was once more in trouble, having only just completed a seven day period confined to barracks. He was now found to have been absent from parade at 2pm and sentenced to a further five days confined to barracks.

A payment of £3 13s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harry Towell (see 5^th July), who had been killed in action on 5^th July. The payment would go to his father, Frederick.

Tuesday 14th November 1916

Front line trenches south of Sanctuary Wood

The weather became colder, but conditions remained generally quiet. However, a number of men were wounded by German shelling. Pte. Frank Oddy Waddington (see 6^th June) died of his wounds and was buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. As was the case with L.Cpl. Hemp (see 13^th November), the War Diary makes no mention of his wounding or death.

Pte. Harold Schofield Hanson (see 6^th October) was also wounded, suffering shrapnel wounds to his right arm; he was treated locally in the first instance and then evacuated to no.8 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. Pte. Leonard Nicholl (see 17^th October) had been with the Battalion for less than a month; he suffered a compound fracture to his right arm; the details of his immediate treatment are unknown.

Pte. George Andrew Bridge was appointed Lance Corporal. He was an original member of the Battalion; he was a 24 year-old weaver, originally from Ramsbottom but had been living in Earby when he enlisted.

Pte. Ronald Jeckell (see 17^th June) was appointed Lance Corporal.

Pte. Arnold Robson (see 9^th November) was re-admitted to hospital (details unknown); he would be discharged and return to duty one week later.

2Lt. Charles Archibald Milford (see 13^th November), who had been admitted the previous day, suffering from influenza, was now transferred from No.10 Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek, to No.11 Casualty Clearing Station at Varennes.

There were promotions from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant for two of the Battalion officers. 2Lt. Frank Redington (see 6^th October) was granted seniority and pay with effect from 6^th July (following the first series of actions around Contalmaison). 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 23^rd October), had been wounded on the Somme in July and was now serving with 3DWR at North Shields while recovering from his injuries; he was granted seniority and pay from 23^rd August (on that date there had been a number of promotions within the Battalion following recent losses in action).

Lt. Bob Perks

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

The same edition of the London Gazette in which news of the promotions appeared, also carried the citation for the award of the Military Cross to 2Lt. Maurice Tribe (see15^th October).

“For conspicuous gallantry. When five men of a machine gun team had been buried by a shell, he dug them out in the open under heavy fire. Had he waited for a lull in the shell fire, the lives of these men would certainly have been lost”.

Tribe had earned his award on 20^th September near Pozieres but had since been severely injured at Le Sars and was currently in hospital in England.

Pte. James Duncan Foster (see 17^th July), having spent a month at 25^th General Hospital at Hardelot, being treated for scabies, was posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route back to the battalion.

Pte. Willie Jackson (see 30^th October), serving at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples having been wounded in October, was admitted to 24^th General Hospital at Etaples; the reason for his admission is unknown.

Sgt. Herbert Lawton (see 29^th July) (he had lost his acting rank of CSM on having been wounded), who had been wounded on 29^th July,  was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Pte. Jacob Sweeting (see 29^th July) was now sufficiently recovered from the wounds he had suffered on the Somme in July to be posted back to duty with 83^rd Training Reserve, based at Gateshead.

Sgt. George Clifford Sugden (see 3^rd August), who had spent the previous three months at 37^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples having been wounded in June while serving with 10^th East Yorkshires, re-joined his Battalion. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Monday 13th November 1916

Front line trenches south of Sanctuary Wood

The sector remained largely quiet, with only a few trench mortars and an occasional burst of machine gun fire from the Germans. In the evening, ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies moved into the front line to relieve ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies who took up their positions in close support and reserve respectively. Overnight patrols continued to be sent out and work proceeded on improving the wire.

One man from the Battalion died of wounds in the care of one of the local Field Ambulance units. Although the Battalion War Diary makes no specific note of any man having been wounded during this tour, the final monthly total makes it clear that four men were wounded during the month without specific note having been made. The man who died was L.Cpl. William Hemp; he was not an original member of the Battalion and had arrived at some point in 1916. He was 21 years old and from Bradford; he would be buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery. An (unnamed) platoon sergeant would write to L.Cpl. Hemp’s family; “He was without doubt one of the bravest lads who ever donned soldier’s uniform and had gained the respect of all of us by the manner he went about his duties”.

Pte. Harry Horner (see 11^th September) was admitted to hospital (details unknown); he would be discharged and return to duty after ten days.

Having spent the previous days observing and analysing the German positions, Lt. Col. Robert Raymer, C.O., 10DWR (see 10th November) submitted an ‘outline scheme’ to 69^th Brigade for a raid against German trenches which he proposed to carry out on 20^th November. Raymer explained the objectives and method of attack in his plan.

SECRET

69^th Brigade

I have the honour to submit herewith an outline scheme for raid against enemy trenches on 20^th inst.

References are to attached sketch.

1. Objective

Saps marked A and B.

The sap A approaches somewhat closer to our trenches than would appear from the sketch (taken from aeroplane photo dated 21.10.16). It is within 25 or 30 yards of Cross Street, is sandbagged and protected by wire closely interlaced and fairly strong, but not very deep (about 20-30 feet). It is occupied by the enemy during the day, the sentry was seen this afternoon looking over the parapet, and afterwards using a periscope. Another German was also observed looking over the parapet. Its northern flank is covered by a broad ditch, a sunken road filled with wire (shown on sketch by dotted line).

The sap B runs from our listening post apparently right into the German line. It is partially blocked by wire at outside our post and a patrol which examined it last night heard Germans walking on duck boards at the other end.

2. Strength of attacking force.

(a) Two bomb parties of 12-15 men each.

(b) A supporting party of similar strength.

Each party commanded by an Officer and accompanied by a Lewis Gun. Total 40 men.

3. Scheme of attack

The wire at X having been breached by a Bangalore torpedo, the left column, starting from the listening post opposite, would rush the sap A, while at the same time the right column would push along sap B. The supporting party would be held in readiness between the two saps to cover their retirement, which would be effected on a given signal from O.C. support, who would also be O.C. raid.

The communication trenches leading back from the German front line near the sap junctions would be kept under machine gun fire, while Stokes mortars, conveniently placed, would be detailed to engage hostile machine guns already located and likely to give trouble.

Arrangements would be made with the artillery to place a barrage along the dotted blue line immediately the attack started.

The object of the attack would be to destroy or capture as many as possible of the enemy forming posts in the saps or at the sap junctions.

2Lt. Charles Archibald Milford (see 26^th October), who had joined the Battalion less than three weeks’ earlier, was admitted to No.10 Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek, suffering from influenza.

Pte. John Edward Atkinson (see 30^th October) was admitted to hospital suffering from ‘Pyrexia, NYD’ (high temperature, not yet diagnosed); he would return to duty six days later.

Pte. Robert Hitchen (see 17^th October) was admitted to hospital (cause and details unknown); he would be discharged to duty two days later.

Pte. Stanley Sykes (see 17^th July) was admitted to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, suffering from ‘trench foot’; he would return to duty eight days later.

Having just arrived home, at John Street, Greetland, Halifax, on 10 days’ leave, Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster (see 12^th November), Quartermaster, 10DWR, reported to the Senior Medical Officer at the Regimental Depot at Halifax, as suffering from bronchitis. He was issued with a medical certificate, which he forwarded to CO 10DWR, confirming that he had been granted an extension of his leave to 12^th December, on medical grounds.

Pte. Lewis Walton (see 14^th July) was discharged from 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester; he had spent four months in hospital being treated treated for shrapnel wounds suffered on the Somme in July. He would have ten days’ leave before joining 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead. 

Lt. Cecil Edward Merryweather (see 27^th October), currently on home service with the RFA, appeared before a Medical Board at the Military Hospital at Ripon. The Board found that, “He has no symptoms from the wound, but still is very nervous and sleeps badly”. They declared him fit for home service and ordered that he be re-examined in another month.

L.Cpl. William George Wade (see 3^rd August), having completed his training with no.3 Officer Cadet Battalion at Bristol, was commissioned Second Lieutenant and posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

 

Lt. William George Wade

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton