Sunday 25th August 1918

Support positions in the Lemerle Switch line.

Pte. Frederick George Westlake (see 14^th July) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance after suffering a bullet wound to his right foot. The circumstances were described by Cpl. William Harry Hall (see below), “I was seated in a Lewis gun position when I heard the report of a rifle close at hand. I found Pte. Westlake lying on his right side. The muzzle of his rifle was against the middle of his back, with the butt close to his feet and he was bleeding from his right foot. The butt trap of the rifle was open and the pull-through partially pulled out as though Pte. Westlake was preparing to clean the rifle. I unloaded the rifle, finding four rounds in the magazine and an empty cartridge case in the breech. The cut-off was also open and the safety catch forward”. Battalion Medical Officer Capt. Norman Robert Davis (see 7^th August) reported Pte. Westlake’s injury as, “Gun shot wound penetrating right foot through the arch; injury trivial”. Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 31^st July) would consider whether Pte. Westlake was to blame for the injury and would conclude, “Doubtful, but probably accidental, as the man has a good character”. The case would then be referred for judgement by Brig. Genl. Archibald Bentley Beauman DSO (see 29^th July), commanding 69^th Brigade.

Cpl. William Harry Hall had previously served with 1^st/4^th DWR, but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to establish when and under what circumstances he had joined 10DWR.

Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 8^th August), who had been in temporary command of 8Yorks since 22^nd June, re-joined the Battalion.

Major James Christopher Bull MC

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Cpl. Walter Smith (18428) (see 1^st July) and Ptes. William Hewitt (25172) (see 14^th August) and Arthur Thomas Wilford (see 31^st July) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

CQMS Edgar Shuttleworth (see 11^th August), Cpl. William Edward Varley (see 12^th June) and Ptes. Joe Arthur Bentley (see 10^th June), Willie Cowgill (see 28^th July), Willie Davenport Frame (see 5^th August), John Straton Graham (see 16^th January 1917), William Havery (see 2^nd January), Joseph Hirst (29641) (see 29^th June),  James Edward Hollingworth (see 9^th August),  George William Jameson (see 16^th January 1917), John Thorp Newsome (see 13^th July), Joseph Pickles (see 3^rd December 1917), Charles Frederick Riddial (see 28^th June 1917), Thomas Alfred Simpson (see 29^th October 1917), James Slinger (see 11^th January), James Sugden (see 21^st June), Harold Wall (see 16^th January 1917) and Victor Alexander Wildman (see 25^th June 1917) departed on two weeks’ leave to England. For most of these men this would be their first home leave for more than 18 months after being posted to active service.

Pte. James Longworth (see 28^th May), who had spent the previous three months in hospital, was discharged from 39^th General Hospital at Le Havre and posted, via ‘B’ Infantry Base Depot at Arques, back to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Thomas Delaney (see 7^th July), serving in France with 9DWR, was wounded when the battalion attacked German positions near Martinpuich; he suffered shrapnel wounds to his right arm and would be admitted via 51^st Field Ambulance to 34^th Casualty Clearing Station and from there, onboard No.37 Ambulance Train to one of the hospitals on the Channel coast (details unknown). Pte. William Walton (see 9^th February), also serving with 9DWR, was wounded in the same action. He suffered bullet wounds to his buttocks; he would be admitted via 51^st Field Ambulance to 56^th Casualty Clearing Station and from there to 1^st South African General Hospital at Abbeville.

Pte. Sam Tinkler (see 19^th July) serving in France with 54^th Company, Labour Corps, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Pte. Sam Tinkler

Saturday 24th August 1918

Support positions in the Lemerle Switch line.

A number of alterations were made to the plan for the forthcoming raid on the Austrian lines (see 23^rd August). The eastern boundary of the raid was extended, doubling the area of “A” party’s operations and taking the eastern boundary to the railway line and trenches at H.525.569. As a consequence of this extension the size of “A” party was increased to three platoons (90 other ranks) of B Company and one platoon (20 other ranks) of C Company, and the addition of two more officers, 2Lts. Keith Sagar Bain (see 31^st July) and Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 27^th July). The arrangements for the formation and advance of "A" Party were now to be as follows: “In two lines of two platoons. One platoon will go straight through to the west end of the main railway cutting, and thence along the cutting to mop up the eastern end of it and the embankment beyond. One platoon will mop up to the western part of the cutting and the embankment to the west. One platoon will go straight to the small cutting near the eastern boundary and mop that up. The rifle sections of the four platoons less rifle grenadiers will mop up Middlesex Trench, and afterwards act as escort for prisoners and carriers while the Lewis Gun section plus rifle grenadiers will take up a position to cover the left flank. Officer Commanding "A" Party will also detail a Lewis Gun to guard against a counter attack from the north”. The arrangements for the withdrawal of the parties were now to be as follows, “Officer Commanding "A" Party will detail one platoon to cover the retirement of the party and that of the signalling party at E Signal Station. The covering platoon from “B" party will cover the retirement of "B" Party, the party at "D" Signal Station, the convoy of prisoners and Battalion HQ.

The map indicates the approximate positions of the area to be attacked (shaded yellow); the assembly points of the three parties (A, B, C); the advanced signal stations (D, E); Advanced Battalion HQ; and the Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post.

Sgt. Christopher Clapham MM (see 10^th April) was appointed Scout Sergeant.

Cpl. Josias Bailey MM (see 12^th May) was promoted Sergeant.

L.Cpl. Arthur William Stobart (see 22^nd June) was promoted Corporal.

Ptes. Josiah Charles (see 5^th April) and Michael Newton (see 5^th October 1917) departed on seven days’ leave to Lake Garda.

Ptes. Henry Grimshaw (see 16^th June) and Thomas Bates (see 13^th April) were admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 24^th Casualty Clearing Station; both were suffering from diarrohea. Bates would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after five days, but Grimshaw would remain longer under treatment at the CCS .

Following two weeks’ treatment for diarrohea, L.Cpl. Victor Munnery (see 8^th August) was transferred from 9^th Casualty Clearing Station to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia. Three days later he would be promoted Acting Corporal and would re-join the Battalion on 31^st August.

Pte. Percival William Hall (see 20^th June) was transferred from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano back to duty at XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia.

CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 18^th August), who had been injured in an accident two weeks’ previously, was transferred from 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa.

CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

 

Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 17^th April), serving at XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia, was formally transferred to 9^th Battalion South Staffs., which was the pioneer battalion of 23^rd Division.

Pte. Frank Tucker (see 4^th August), who was on leave in England, failed to report on time (3.30pm) at Waterloo Station at the conclusion of his leave. He had actually sent a telegram two days previously requesting a short extension to his leave but this had been rejected; he would report at Waterloo Station 24 hours later.

Friday 23rd August 1918

Support positions in the Lemerle Switch line

Plans were prepared for a large-scale trench raid to take place on the Austrian lines east of Canove, in an area known as the Vaister Spur,on the 26^th. The plan is best described in the words of the Battalion orders which were to be issued. (See also the map below).

1. INTENTION

The Battalion, simultaneously with a Battalion of the 48^th Division on the right, will carry out a raid on Manchester and Middlesex trenches from H.448.558 to H.518.568; the Railway Cutting, H.456.582 to H.518.567; the quarry at about H.485.573 and all the dugouts, trenches, etc. in the area enclosed within the following map references - H.448.558 to H.460.597 to H.487.597 to H.487.577 to H.518.568.

2. COMPOSITION OF PARTIES 

The raid will be carried out by three parties under the command of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 11^th August), Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 5^th August) and 2Lt. William Johnson Simpson (see 7th March) respectively. The parties will be made up as follows:

"A" Party -  2Lts. Simpson and Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 31^st July) with two platoons (seventy other ranks) of B Company.

"B" Party – Capt. Bolton, Lts. Arthur Neill (see 24^th May) and Lt. Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 7^th August); 2Lts. George Clifford Sugden (see 1^st October 1917) and Edwin Everingham Ison (see 5^th July)  with three platoons (ninety other ranks) of A Company and one platoon (thirty other ranks) of C Company.

"C" Party - Capt Payne, MC, 2Lts. Vincent Edwards MC (see 25^th July), Edward Kent Waite MC (see 19^th February), Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 19^th August) and  Bernard Garside (see 18^th August) with three platoons (ninety other ranks) of D Company and one platoon (thirty other ranks) of C Company.

3. OBJECTIVES

"A" Party will raid the trenches, railway cutting, embankments and intervening ground between H.50.569 and H.518.568. "B" and "C" Parties will raid the remainder of the area, the dividing line for this purpose being from H.474.597 to H.474.578 in the railway cutting to H.480.562 in Manchester Trench.

4. DISPOSITIONS FOR ASSAULT

At Zero minus twenty the parties will be formed up ready to advance by platoons as follows:

"A" Party in two platoons on a line about H.488.520 facing about twenty degrees East of North (exact compass bearing will be notified later).

"B" and "C" Parties in two lines of two platoons each on a line from H.476.526 to H.466.527.

At Zero the assault will commence.

"A" Party will advance on a point at the west end of its area. One platoon will mop up the trench as rapidly as possible and the Railway Embankment to the east, its Lewis Gun taking up a position to guard the right flank, whilst the other platoon will go straight to the Railway Embankment on the west and the Cutting and mop up the dugouts, etc. The platoon mopping up the trench etc. less its Lewis Gun and rifle grenadiers, will, as soon as possible, go to help in the mopping up of the Railway Cutting from the eastern end and will provide a guard for prisoners taken.

"B" Party will enter Manchester Trench at about the south-west corner of its area. One platoon will at once mop up Manchester Trench, and, at the conclusion of that duty, will help the other platoons in the guarding of their prisoners, carrying etc. Two platoons will go direct for the Railway Cutting and Quarry respectively. The fourth platoon will go for the area north of the cutting.

"C" party will enter Manchester Trench at about its apex at H.475.550. One platoon will mop up the trench to the west of the area north towards the Cutting and thereupon act as guard for prisoners and carrying purposes. One platoon will mop up a position at Little Spur guarding the western flank. Meanwhile the other two platoons will go through to the Railway Cutting mopping that up and the area north and south of the same.

Officers commanding "B" and "C" Parties will detail at least one Lewis Gun to take up the best possible position on the north side of the Railway Cutting in their respective areas to prevent a counter attack from the north. Four rifle grenadiers will accompany the Lewis Gun section guarding "A" Party's right flank and six rifle grenadiers will be included in the platoon guarding "C" Party's left flank.

Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 19^th August) will superintend assembly of raiding parties and report to Advanced Battalion HQ on completion of duty.

5. DRESS

The men of the raiding parties will carry the following. Rifle with bayonet fixed, one bandolier of S.A.A., steel helmets and box respirators. Each section commander and one picked man per section will carry two bombs in his pocket. Rifle grenadiers detailed for A and C Parties will each carry six rifle grenades.

6. METHOD OF WITHDRAWAL

Officer Commanding Raiding Parties will inform Advanced Battalion HQ as well as signal, medical and other parties that they are withdrawing. Officers Commanding B and C Raiding Parties will detail one platoon each to cover the retirement. A and B Parties, Battalion HQ party, signallers and prisoners convoy will return to our lines by number four gap, covered by the covering platoon of B Party. C Party and medical personnel will return by Hill 1002 and Camberwell Green Gap covered by the covering platoon of C Party. The signal to withdraw will be given by the Officers Commanding the three parties by repeated blasts on the siren whistles at Zero plus fifty. Flares will be lit on Roncalto Spur about 100 yards west of Line House between Zero plus fifty and Zero plus seventy five to indicate direction of return.

7. ADVANCED HQ.

Advanced Battalion HQ will be established in the dugout on eastern slope of Hill 1002 at H.445.485 at Zero minus 90. Advanced Brigade HQ for the operation will be in the HQ dugout of the right front line battalion of the right brigade of the divisional front.

Maj. William Norman Town (see 7^th July) will be in charge of Battalion rear HQ during the absence of the Commanding Officer at Advanced BHQ.

8. MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS

Company Stretcher Bearers with stretchers will accompany the raiding parties as follows:

Four bearers with two stretchers of B Company with A Party; four bearers with two stretchers of A Company and two bearers with one stretcher of C Company with B party; four bearers with two stretchers of D Company and one stretcher with two bearers of C Company with C Party. A Stretcher Bearers Relay Post will be established at Advanced Battalion HQ. An Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post will be in the two dugouts immediately south of Hill 1002 at about H.433.458.

9. COMMUNICATIONS

Two advanced signal stations will be established: D Station in the Quarry on the eastern slope of Vaister Spur at about H.478.536; E Station behind the small excavation on the south-west side of Post Spur at about H.495.535. D Station will be connected by wire through Advanced Battalion HQ with Signal Station on Hill 1002 and thence with Advanced Brigade HQ. E Station will be connected by wire through Advanced Battalion HQ. D and E Stations will be connected laterally by wire to further ensure proper communication. Capt. Frederick Lowther Dawson Barker (see 31^st January) will be in charge of E Signal Station. 2Lt. James Henry Midgley (see 25^th April) will be in charge of intelligence at D Signal Station with Sgt. James Walker MM (see 15^th February) in charge of the signals.

10. PRISONERS AND TROPHIES.

A Prisoner Collecting Station will be formed in the trench about 300 yards north-east of Advanced Battalion HQ and marked by stakes with luminous paint. Raiding Parties will send all prisoners and trophies direct there to Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West (see 8^th August) who will be in charge with RSM Charles Edward Parker, DCM, MM (see 29th April; it is unclear exactly when he had been promoted RSM) and Regimental Police. Maj. Carr West will give receipts for all prisoners and trophies handed over. The raiding parties will provide escort for prisoners, etc, as ordered by Maj. Carr West.

11. CASUALTIES.

Officers Commanding Raiding Parties will, on their way back, advise Advanced Battalion HQ through the nearest Advanced Signal Station of the number of their casualties if any.

12. ARTILLERY

A barrage map and time table accompanies this (a copy does not survive in the Battalion War Diary) for the information of those immediately concerned. The barrage will last 60 minutes and will include heavy counter battery work on the enemy batteries.

13. REFRESHMENT

Officers Commanding Companies will arrange to give all men going on the raid a hot meal at the latest possible moment. Hot tea and rum will be issued to the raiders on their return.

14. PASS WORD

The pass word will be “Dukes”.

15. PROTECTION

Officer Commanding C Company will arrange for a reconnoitring patrol to patrol No Mans Land near the assembly points between dusk and Zero hour. The composition of the patrol will be three reliable men from each of A, B and D Companies, with a reliable NCO from C Company, all under the command of 2Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 15^th June 1917). This patrol must on no account get engaged and will report to Maj. Borrow at the assembly point of "A" Party at Zero minus 30.

16. TIME

Each party will send an officer with two reliable watches to synchronise them at Battalion HQ at 6pm on Zero day.

17. IDENTIFICATION MARKS

Officers Commanding Companies will see that no member of the raiding parties takes with him any numerals, badges, papers, reports, orders or identification of any kind whatsoever.

18. ZERO

Zero Day and hour will be notified later; also orders for the 58^th Division Raid.

The map below indicates the approximate positions of the area to be attacked (shaded yellow); the assembly points of the three parties (A, B, C); the advanced signal stations (D, E); Advanced Battalion HQ; and the Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post.

Pte. John Beckwith (see 5^th January) was admitted, via 69^th Field Ambulance to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from venereal disease. After seven days he would be evacuated via no.39 Ambulance Train (destination unknown) He was also permanently transferred to 9^th Battalion South Staffs., which was the pioneer battalion of 23^rd Division.


CSM Edward George John Cooke (see 24^th July), who had been at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, awaiting posting for the previous month, was transferred to 43^rd Garrison Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

Thursday 22nd August 1918

Front line trenches between Roncalto and Pelly Cross.

In the morning the Battalion was relieved by 8Yorks; the relief was completed by 12noon and the Battalion moved into support positions in the Lemerle Switch line.

Pte. Tom Platts MM (see 17^th December 1917) was wounded, suffering a gunshot wound to the face; he would be admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 11^th General Hospital in Genoa.

Pte. William Hutchinson (see 16^th August), who had been late reporting back from leave, was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.2 and forfeited four days’ pay.

Pte. Frederick Thorn (see 6^th February), serving as an officer’s servant at XIV Corps reinforcement camp, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Pte. John Anderson Mitchell (see 30^th July), who had been suffering from persistent diarrhoea, was discharged from 11^th General Hospital in Genoa and posted to theConvalescent Depot at Lido  d’Albano; he was now reported as suffering from debility. 

Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 11^th August), now serving in France with the ASC, was posted from the Army Service Corps Depot in France to join 52^nd Divisional Train.

Sgt. Ellis Rigby (see 18^th June), who had been posted back to England as a candidate for a commission, reported to no.16 Officer Cadet Battalion at Rhyl.

Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 19^th August), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was admitted to Brighton Grove Military Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, suffering from gonorrhoea.

Pte. Michael Henry Rourke (see 8^th August), who had been wounded in June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army due to his wounds; he was assessed as having a 70% disability and was awarded a pension of 28s. per week which was to be reviewed in six months.

Annie Odell Dawson, wife of L.Cpl. William Neville Dawson (see 17^th July 1917), who was now serving with 16^th (Transport Workers) Battalion York and Lancasters, died at the South London Hospital for Women, Clapham Common; she was just 31 years old. She was the older sister of 2Lt. Maurice Tribe MC (see 23^rd December 1916), who had been severely injured at Le Sars in October 1916.

Wednesday 21st August 1918

Front line trenches between Roncalto and Pelly Cross.

Ptes. Walter Gibson (see 30^th June) and Reginald James Nosworthy (see 9^th August) were discharged from 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.

Capt. John Atkinson (see 30^th June), who had been admitted to hospital in Le Havre on arriving in France six weeks previously, with a diagnosis of trench fever, was posted back to England. The details of his treatment in England are unknown, but, once sufficiently recovered, he would re-join 3DWR at North Shields.

Tuesday 20th August 1918

Front line trenches between Roncalto and Pelly Cross.

Pte. Jonas Yoxall (see 2^nd August) was wounded, suffering shrapnel wounds to his forehead; he would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station, where his wound would be ‘excised and sutured’, before being evacuated to 11^th General Hospital at Genoa.

Ptes. Thomas Butler (see 5^th July), Thomas Henry Fearn (see 10^th June), Herbert Jacklin (see 20^th July) and Sidney Powdrill (see 18^th July) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia. 

Pte. Reginald Dayson (see 14^th August), serving at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, was reported as being “absent without leave from roll call 6.15am until 4pm”; he was ordered to forfeit one days’ pay and to be confined to barracks for one day.

Pte. Richard Metcalfe (see 10^th August), who was at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia having been on attachment to the Royal Engineers, was reported as being “absent without leave from roll call 6.15am until apprehended by regimental police at Toreglia at 10.15pm”; he was ordered to forfeit one days’ pay and to be confined to barracks for seven days.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. George Thomas Bates (see 18^th June 1918), who had died of wounds in November 1917 while serving with 32^nd Company, Labour Corps; his widow, Emily, was awarded 16s. 3d. per week.

Monday 19th August 1918

Front line trenches between Roncalto and Pelly Cross.

The Brigade War Diary noted that, “Information received from various sources pointed to a withdrawal of the enemy. Vigorous patrolling was carried out. Two prisoners were obtained by 10^th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment”.

Pte. John Bayliss (see 20th September 1917) was reported 2Lt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 28^th February) for being asleep whilst on sentry duty. This was a serious offence which could potentially carry a death penalty, though this was seldom enforced. He would be held in confinement awaiting trial by Field General Court Martial.

Pte. Walter Eary (see 10^th June) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from tonsillitis.

Pte. John William Dean (see 16^th August 1917), serving in France with 2/5^th DWR, departed for England on two weeks’ leave; whilst in England his leave would then be extended for a further week (reason unknown).  

Pte. Walter Limmer (see 11^th August), home on leave, married Alice Wade at Skipton Register Office.

At 11.55pm Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 2^nd July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was again reported absent off final leave; he would return to duty at 4.40pm the following day having been ordered to do so by the Military Police in Newcastle. He would be ordered to undergo two days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. Frank Butler (see 24^th December 1915) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service (details unknown). He had originally served with 10DWR but had been transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and subsequently (dates and details unknown) to the Army Reserve Class W, to resume his civil employment. He would be assessed as having suffered a 20% disability whilst in service and would be awarded an Army pension of 10s. per week.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 30^th June), who had recently relinquished his commission having been severely wounded while serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at 2^nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds. The Board reported that 2Lt. Oldfield, “was transferred to this hospital from 2^nd London General, Chelsea, May 25^th 1918. Xray shows loss of tissue to the extent of 4 cms in right lower jaw. Maxillary cap splints have been fixed. Mastication is good with these. A special appliance will be necessary. There is no possibility of bony union. The arm is improving. He is totally blind. General health good”. It was determined that he was to remain in hospital and was to be re-examined in two months’ time.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

George Julian, father of Pte. Arthur Julian (see 21st May 1918) who had been officially reported missing in action in July 1916, wrote to the Dukes Regimental Depot in Halifax, hoping for news of his son

“We have recently seen it announced in the newspapers by a Sgt. Mallett of Bradford that there is a Sgt. Julian, an unwounded prisoner of war at Porchim, Germany. We have a son, Pte. Arthur Julian, 19278, who was reported missing on July 30/16. We have wondered whether there is any connection. So far as we know our son was a private when he went into action, but may have been given a sergeant’s uniform by the Germans afterwards as a makeshift if he is still alive. We are trying to get in touch with Sgt. Mallett. In the meantime would it be too much trouble for you to refer to your records and let us know whether there is a Sgt. Julian missing from the West Ridings. If there is, then our hopes are again dashed to the ground. Can you render any assistance such as following up the clue please? If not, what office should we apply to?” The official reply, via the Infantry Records Office in York, would inform Mr. Julian that had his son been a prisoner in German hands, then news of his fate would have been passed to him by now and that, regretfully, they were unable to offer any further assistance.

Pte. Arthur Julian