Thursday 23rd September 1915

Front line trenches near Bois Grenier.

The bombardment of the German lines continued and the War Diary reported, “enemy’s parapet breasted in many places”.

Orders were received for a ‘false alarm’ to be raised at 8 pm in order to try to draw German troops onto their parapet; ”‘the Bde Grenadier officer will fire rockets. The men in the front trenches will cheer and wave their bayonets as if about to attack. Having got the enemy to man the parapets, there will be one round of Gun Fire throughout the Corps against the hostile parapet”.  It was observed that,’ as there was a thunderstorm in progress at the time it was difficult to judge to what extent the ruse succeeded’.

Sgt. Robert William John Morris (see 16^th September), who had been under arrest for the previous week having been reported for ‘neglecting to obey Battalion trench orders in that he entered a dugout at night’ appeared before a Field General Court Martial. He was found guilty and ordered to be reduced to the ranks and to imprisoned, with hard labour, for three months. The sentence would be reviewed and confirmed at Brigade level, but with remission of the term of imprisonment; Morris would remain with the Battalion.

A/Cpl. Wilfred Hall (see 11^th September) was promoted Sergeant.

Pte. John Nunn (see 22^nd July) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner published a letter written by Sgt. David Hinchcliffe (see 17^th December 1914), “A good many of your readers will no doubt be interested in the doings of the 10^th Battalion west Riding Regiment in which a good number of Huddersfield men are serving, and I am taking the opportunity of writing to you with the hope that you will find space in your well circulated paper so that those families who have men serving and those generally interested will have some little idea of the conditions. In the first place we are exceedingly well fed and clothed and, for ‘active service’, conditions are really comfortable. Our trenches are as strong and durable as they can be made. We are well served and covered with the necessary big guns etc and, in that particular department, we can beat the Germans hollow. At the moment of writing an artillery duel is taking place and each shot makes me jump. I suppose we shall get accustomed to them after a while. The battalion we relieved walked up and down the trenches as though nothing was happening. The officers of the battalion are very popular and do their work thoroughly. They look after the interests and safety of the men. Consequently the battalion works in unity and hopes to gain good results. Tedious marches were necessary to bring us to our present station and all ranks stuck to the work right manfully and good results were obtained. Our aircraft are equally good, if not better than the Germans. We had the pleasure of seeing a Taube brought down a few days ago by one of our airmen who handled his machine in a masterly manner, accounting for both the pilot and observer, the machine falling into the English lines (see 13^th September). There are quite a large number of fruit trees between our and the enemy lines which are well laden with fruit. The enemy snipers are rather troublesome at times. However we accounted for one the other day. He had been observed in a tree and was shot down smartly. We have had two casualties, both being killed by stray shots. They were not Huddersfield men. I am not allowed to state our station but I hope the above mentioned will serve its purpose in letting the interested know that all is being done that can possibly be done for the safety and success of our battalion”.

The mother of Pte. William Hissett (see 11^th September) wrote to the War Office regarding her son, “I have a son enlisted in Kitchener’s Army and he has been sent to the trenches and as he is not yet 19 years of age I would like him out of the army until he is of age as I think he is too young to be in the trenches and if you would kindly see into this matter and oblige”.  The War Office noted the letter but, also noted that ‘mother informed her request could not be acceded to”.

The Newcastle Daily Journal published a request for donations to support the purchase of equipment for the men of 23^rd Division:

“Mrs. Babington, wife of Major General Babington, commanding 23^rd Division, now in France, appeals for funds to supply trench periscopes to her husband’s regiments, which include 10^th and 11^th Northumberland Fusiliers”.

Donations will be gratefully received by Mrs. Babington, Pinnacle Hill, Kelso, Scotland”.