Monday 8th January 1917

Billets in the Hospice and Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Ypres and at Zillebeke Bund

The German shelling of Ypres intensified again and a number of shells fell in and around the Hospice, but without causing any casualties in the Battalion.

Pte. Thomas Arthur Sturdy was promoted Lance Corporal. He had enlisted under the Derby Scheme in November 1915, while working as a dyers labourer. He was a married man (he had married Annie Elizabeth Lee in 1907), but had no children. He had been called up in April 1916 and had been posted to 10DWR on 7^th September 1916.

Pte. John Onion (see 24^th December 1916), who had been under treatment for ‘trench foot’ while serving in France with 2DWR, was transferred from 1^st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Elijah Sudworth (see 31^st December), who had been admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from suspected pneumonia ten days previously, was transferred to No.3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, with a diagnosis of influenza.

Pte. Harry Clark (see 20^th December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France, but would join 2DWR rather than re-joining 10DWR.

2Lt. John William Pontefract (see 7^th January) reported for duty with 10DWR.

At home in Preston Sarah Milner died from pneumonia; she was the mother of Pte. Arthur Milner (see 5^th January).

Following three weeks leave in England, Pte. Conrad Anderson (see 19^th December 1916), previously serving with 26^th Royal Fusiliers, reported for duty at no.17 Officer Cadet Battalion at Kinmel, near Rhyl. Once commissioned he would serve with 10DWR.

A payment of £2 12s 9d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King (see 31^st August 1916), who had died of wounds in August 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Ada. 

A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King, pictured with his wife and children.

Image by kind permission of Clair Almond

  

Sunday 7th January 1917

Billets in the Hospice and Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Ypres and at Zillebeke Bund

There was more German shelling of Ypres, but the Battalion suffered no casualties. The weather turned wet, and increasingly stormy, overnight.

Two of the men who had been wounded in the German shelling of Ypres two days earlier (see 5^th January) died of their wounds at 17^th Casualty Clearing Station; Sgt. Herbert Veal (see 5^th January) and Pte. John Greenwood (see 5^th January) would both be buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 28^th December 1916) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from pleurisy.

Pte. James Duncan Foster (see 1^st January), who had been wounded a week earlier, was evacuated to England from 8^th Stationery Hospital at Wimereux, onboard the hospital ship, Carisbroke Castle; it is not clear to which hospital he was admitted on arriving in England.

The Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfred L. Henderson (see 16^th October 1916) wrote to the parents of Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM who had been killed two days’ earlier (see 5^th January): “You will already have heard the sad news of the death of your son, but I just wish to say how deeply we all sympathise with you in your loss. It happened while we were in billets behind the line, an unfortunate shell killing and wounding many of our men; your son was very seriously wounded and died shortly afterwards. We buried him the following evening in a soldiers’ cemetery, and a short service was held at the graveside. A cross with his name and number will be put over his grave which will be forever kept sacred and reverently cared for. Your son will be much missed in the battalion; he had been with us long and had the love and respect of all. Believe me, our prayers and sympathy are with you in your great sorrow.”

 

Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM

Pte. Leonard Green (see 17^th July 1916) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from myalgia.

Cpl. John William Pontefract (see 2^nd August 1916), serving with 1^st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company in France, was promoted Temporary 2^nd Lieutenant (on probation) and posted direct to 10DWR.

Pte. Arthur Gill (14980) (see 20^th December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France; he would remain at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples for the next six weeks. 

Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster (see 12^th December 1916), Quartermaster, 10DWR, who had been on sick leave in England since mid-November, was posted to 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion at North Shields, as being unfit for further service overseas.

Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Saturday 6th January 1917

Billets in the Hospice and Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Ypres and at Zillebeke Bund

There was further German shelling, though not so extensive, but the Battalion did suffer more casualties. L.Cpl. George Andrew Bridge (see 14^th November 1916) was wounded (details unknown) ; he would be evacuated to England and, having arrived, would be transferred to hospital in Dundee. Pte. Joseph Dobson was also severely wounded; he would be evacuated to England (details unknown). He was a 29 year-old driller (working for Mr. Wigglesworth in Saltaire) from Bradford; he had been an original member of the Battalion, but, for reasons unknown, he had not been posted to France until some time in 1916, rather than in August 1915 when the Battalion departed..

Acting Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 2^nd December 1916) was confirmed in his rank.

Pte. George Alfred Giles (see 17^th July 1916) was promoted Corporal.

L.Cpl. William Foulds (see 20^th October 1916) began to be paid in accordance with his rank, which he had previously held unpaid.

Friday 5th January 1917

Billets in St. Peter’s Church, Hospice and Cavalry Barracks in Ypres

Ypres was heavily shelled by the Germans and a number of shells fell in St. Peter’s Church, killing four men outright and wounding more than thirty others. The four men killed were Pte. Fred Ainley, who was a 23 year-old weaver from Huddersfield (his brother, Joseph, RFA, would die of wounds in May 1917). Pte. Sydney Fox was 24 years old and from Manningham, Bradford (he had worked for Lister & Co., dyers) and had married Rosina Webber in February 1916. He had six brothers serving in the Army. Pte. Frank Harrison (19068) was 21 years old and from Bradford. Pte. Oliver Stancliffe (see 17^th October 1916). One of the men wounded, Sgt. Thomas Stephen Moyle MM (see 8^th December 1916), died within hours; he had been home on ten days’ leave in December. All five men would be buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery alongside Sgt. Sam Phillips (see 30^th December) who had been killed in similar circumstances a week earlier. Pte. Harold Walker Bray (see 7^th October 1916) would write to the mother of Pte. Ainley, informing of her son’s death.

Sgt. Thomas Stephen Moyle MM

Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 6^th October 1916), was serving as a stretcher bearer and was injured whilst attending the wounded; he suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his left thigh. He was evacuated to the General Hospital in Rouen, where he underwent an operation for the removal of the shrapnel. Among the other men wounded was Sgt. Michael Kenefick MM (see 12^th December 1916); he suffered wounds to his left thigh and right arm and would be admitted via 10^th Casualty Clearing Station to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne. Sgt. Herbert Veal (see 29^th July 1916) was evacuated to 17^th Casualty Clearing Station. Cpl. Henry Markham (see 16^th December 1916) suffered severe wounds to his right thigh and left foot and was evacuated to 13^th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. L.Cpl. John Henry Crawshaw (see 25^th November 1916) suffered wounds to his face and right arm; he would be evacuated via 70^th Field Ambulance and 17^th Casualty Clearing Station to 15^th Casualty Clearing Station. Also wounded was Pte. William Frederick Ackrill (see 17^th December 1916); he suffered wounds to his legs and sides and would be evacuated via 17^th Casualty Clearing Station to 13^th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. Pte. Fred Brook (see 29^th July 1916) he suffered wounds to his right leg and left shoulder and, following treatment (details unknown) he would be evacuated to England on 26^th January. Pte. John Cork (see 2^nd July 1916) suffered wounds to his head, arms and leg and would be evacuated to 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne. Pte. Sydney Exley (see 30^th October 1916) suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his left leg; he would be evacuated to 8^th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. Pte. Arthur Gill (14920) (see 1^st July 1916) was wounded in the left leg and right arm, but the wounds were relatively minor and he appears to have been treated in France and not evacuated back to England. He had been posted to 10DWR having recovered from wounds suffered on 1^st July while serving with 2DWR. Pte. John Greenwood (see 19^th December 1916) was evacuated to 17^th Casualty Clearing Station with severe wounds to both legs. Pte. William Hargreaves (see 9^th March 1916); he suffered a severe facial wound resulting in a compound fracture of his jaw. He would be evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinghe where an operation was carried out to remove shell fragments. He would then be further evacuated to 13^th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne. Pte. Arthur Milner (see 17^th October 1916) suffered a minor wound, but remained at duty. Pte. Ernest Morrison (see 17^th October 1916) suffered severe injuries to his right leg and ankle; he was evacuated via 17^th Casualty Clearing Station to 3^rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. Pte. Fred Smith (23056) (see 19^th December 1916) was wounded (details unknown) but would be treated in France and re-join the Battalion. Pte. Richard Swallow (see 8^th December 1916) was also wounded (details unknown) and was admitted to 3^rd Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne; he would be evacuated to England two days later onboard the Hospital Ship Glenart Castle. Pte. Albert Edward White (see 17^th July 1916) suffered relatively minor shrapnel wounds to his left hand and right shoulder; he would be treated at 2^nd West Lancs. Field Ambulance and would re-join the Battalion a week later.

As a result of the shelling the billets at St. Peter’s Church were abandoned, and ‘C’ and ‘B’ Companies would instead be billeted at the Infantry Barracks and at Zillebeke Bund respectively. 

Pte. Joseph Dobson was a 29 year-old driller (working for Mr. Wigglesworth in Saltaire) from Bradford; he had been an original member of the Battalion, but, for reasons unknown, he had not been posted to France until some time in 1916, rather than in August 1915 when the Battalion departed.

L.Cpl. Christopher Steward (see 9^th September 1916) was posted back to England having suffered shrapnel wounds to his right thigh; the date and details of his having been wounded are unknown.

More men departed on leave to England; among them was L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 16^th September 1916).

2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 27^th May 1916), who had been taken ill (details unknown) and had returned to England seven months earlier, now returned to France en route to re-joining the Battalion. 

2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

Pte. Thomas Martin Douglas (see 31^st October 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in July 1916, was discharged from Keighley War Hospital; the details of his immediate posting are unknown, but he would subsequently (date and details unknown) be transferred to the Labour Corps.

Just a month after her son, Pte. Charles Walton (see 19^th December 1916), had reported with 10DWR, Susannah Walton died, aged 62, at the family home in Halifax; her cause of death was recorded as ‘capillary bronchitis and heart failure’.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried news of Capt. Gilbert Tunstill’s mention in despatches (see 4^th January) and also reported on some of the Helllifield men who had been home for Christmas, including Ptes. Sydney Hoar and Harley Bentham (see 17^th December 1916).

CAPTAIN TUNSTILL’S DISTINCTION

Included in the list of officers recommended for some mark of distinction by Sir Douglas Haig is Temporary Captain H.G. Tunstill of Otterburn, attached to the West Riding Regiment.

SOLDIER’S LEAVE

A number of Hellifield soldiers have been fortunate in visiting their homes this Christmas, amongst them being Pte. S. Hoar, A. Hailwood and H. Bentham. Pte. S. Hoar was invalided home from the Front about six weeks ago, suffering with trench fever, and has been in the Royal Infirmary at Glasgow. Pte. H. Bentham, who has been at the Front for six months, is at home on a month’s leave preparatory to undertaking a course of training in the O.T.C. Wireless Operator J. Wightman, H.M.S. Athersdone, has also been on a visit to his parents.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Harley Bentham

A payment of £1 15s 4d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Albert Edward Lawton (see 10^th October 1916), who had been killed whilst on patrol in January 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Jane, for herself and their daughter.

Thursday 4th January 1917

Trenches east of Armagh Wood

In the evening the Battalion was relieved by 11^th West Yorks and returned again to Ypres. On this occasion ‘B’ and ‘D’ companies were billeted at St. Peter’s Church, ‘C’ at the Cavalry Barracks and ‘A’ Company was based at the Hospice, along with Battalion HQ.

(It is not clear whether the ‘Hospice’ refers to the ‘Hospice Belle’ or Women’s Asylum, or to the ‘Hospice Notre Dame’; both were located in the centre of Ypres, just off the Grande Place. The Cavalry Barracks were just south of the Infantry Barracks, close to St Peter’s Church).

Pte. Ernest Carter (see 18^th April 1916), attached to 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged and return to duty after ten days.

Ptes. Thomas Bulcock (see 1^st September 1916) and Reginald Jerry Northin (see 26^th December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, were posted back to France to join 2DWR.

Cpl. Michael Loughlin (see 13^h July 1916), who had been in hospital since having been in July 1916, was posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead.

Pte. Samuel Williams (13552) (see 6^th November 1916) was discharged from Keighley War Hospital; he was to be discharged from the Army on account of wounds suffered in action.

Pte. Samuel Williams

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and 'Men Of Worth'

The London Gazette published the list of names of those receiving a mention in despatches on account of their “distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty” by Field Marshall Haig, dated 13^th November 1916. Among those listed were Maj. Robert Harwar Gill (see 14^th December 1916); Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 27^th October 1916); Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 27^th December 1916); Lt. William Andrew Leo Kerridge (see 12^th August 1916); and 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 1^st January).

Major Robert Harwar Gill

Capt. James Christopher Bull

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Murseum

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Capt. Robert Clement Perks

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Wednesday 3rd January 1917

Trenches east of Armagh Wood

Another quiet day, with only sporadic trench mortar activity.

L.Cpl. George Richard Goodchild (see 17^th September) was promoted Corporal.

L.Cpl. George Richard Goodchild

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Walter Charlesworth (see 28^th August), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, made a formal statement requesting a transfer to the Machine Gun Corps:

“Having been a machine gunner in my own Battalion, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s, I hereby make application to be transferred into the Machine Gun Corps. I put an application in when I first joined my Company, which must have been misplaced. I again put in an application which the O.C. Company, Capt. Bathurst (Capt. Charles Bathurst (see 23^rd November 1916), promised to grant me. I was put on a draft and on the G.O.C.’s inspection Lt. Col. McCloud looked into my case and I was taken off the draft to await transfer. I was sent to Chirton on police and have been kept there until now, so now I would like my case to be noticed by you”.

Pte. Irvine Clark (see 26^th December 1916) serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, who had been absent without leave for the previous week, now returned to duty. The nature of his punishment is unknown. 

Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 31^st December 1916), who had recently been compelled to relinquish his commission on grounds of ill-health, wrote to the War Office to seek reinstatement to his post.

Sir

I have the honour to apply for a Central Medical Board so that I may be examined with a view to being re-instated as Captain in the Army. I enclose certificate of fitness from my medical adviser.

My service during the present war dates from May 1915 when I was gazetted Lieutenant, and I was promoted to Captain on July 6^th 1916. Gazetted out as relinquishing my commission on account of ill-health on December 7^th 1916.

I have been mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches (April 30^th 1916) and received Military Cross, March 1917.

Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC

Tuesday 2nd January 1917

Trenches east of Armagh Wood

Sporadic trench mortar fire continued but conditions were generally quieter.

Battalion C.O., Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 28th December 1916) took temporary command of 69^th Brigade with Brig. Genl. Lambert going to England on one months’ leave (see below) and Major Ashton St. Hill (see 10^th December 1916), took temporary command of the Battalion.

Brig. Genl. Lambert, in his diary, noted, “Left Ypres and crossed to Calais … good passage and journey … arrived about 7pm”.

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me to reproduce extracts from Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 11^th December) re-joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Joseph Simpson (see 1^st September 1916), serving with 14^th Training Reserve Battalion having been wounded when with 10DWR in September 1915, was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. William Henry Thornton (see 27^th November), serving at Northern Command Depot at Alnwick, was admitted to hospital in Alnwick, suffering from gastritis, caused, it would later be stated, by ‘rough living and privations endured in France’. The details and duration of his treatment are unknown.

Pte. Henry George Headings (see 14^th December 1916), who had been evacuated to England suffering from bronchitis, was posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead.