Tuesday 1st February 1916

Billets in western fringes of Bois Grenier

On a cold, but bright morning, the Battalion marched to Brigade Reserve billets at La Rolanderie. The day remained quiet, although shelling could be heard across the front lines further south.

Sgt. Arthur Walton (see 21^st January) appeared before a Field General Court Martial charged with ‘absenting himself without leave’; he would be found guilty and ordered to be reduced to the rank of Corporal.

Ptes. Eli Bradley and Joseph Clayton joined the Battalion. Eli Bradley was a 31 year-old labourer from Brierley Hill, Staffs.; he was married, with two children. Joseph Clayton was a 38 year-old weaver; originally from Billington, near Whalley, he had been living and working in Barnoldswick when he had enlisted in August 1915.

Ellis Rigby, having completed his attestation papers almost three months earlier joined up to begin training with 3^rd Battalion West Riding Regiment; he was the younger brother of Pte. Thomas Rigby (see 18^th November 1915) who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits.

Monday 31st January 1916

Front line trenches east of Bois Grenier.

The day dawned dull, misty and quiet and remained so all day. In the late afternoon preparations began for the relief of the Battalion, and of the Royal Scots. Baggage and company stores were carried out via Shaftesbury Avenue and company cooks were despatched to new billets in the western fringes of Bois Grenier. Later that evening, having been relieved by 8th Yorkshires, the Royal Scots marched back, via La Rolanderie, to rendezvous with the rest of their Battalion while most of 10DWR made their way to their new billets. By now, however, the village of Bois Grenier, as described by J.B. Priestley, was in ruins,

“a village which must, in the far-off happy days of peace, have been the home of a prosperous and happy little community. Now – alas – the civil population have long since gone and the village is a ruin. Some of the houses are almost intact, while others – the majority – are battered indescribably. The beautiful old church in the centre of the village is a ruin, roofless, with only about a quarter of its steeple left”.

All images by kind permission of Jerry Rendell. They all originate from Capt. H.L. Oakley of 8th Yorkshires; see Jerry's excellent book, Profiles of the First World War

One platoon of ‘B’ Company, along with two machine guns and their crews did not go into billets but were stationed instead at Cemetery Post, just south of the village in the Bois Grenier Line. Priestley described the “Edgar Allan Poe setting” in which he and his fellow ‘B’ Company men now found themselves:

“a line of reserve trenches runs right through the cemetery, and our platoon is occupying these trenches. The French graves have all large stone or wooden crosses on them – mostly 8 to 12 feet in height, and we are entirely surrounded by these dismal things. Crowded here and there are between these are little wooden crosses that mark what must be the most pathetic graves in the world – those of British soldiers. On some of them, little French memorials have been placed – how and by whom I do not know. At night, our surroundings look very weird – to put it mildly. But we are veterans now and we take everything as it comes”. Writing years later he also recalled how, “We had great crosses and monuments of marble and granite all round us, unbelievable at night when the darkness was split by the white glare of Very lights and the shadows were gigantically grotesque, though often we had not time to notice them, having to duck down as machine gun bullets ricocheted off the funeral stones”.

Fortunately for Priestley and his pals their stay at Cemetery Post was only brief and next day they, along with the rest of the Battalion, would retire to Brigade Reserve at La Rolanderie.

An instruction was issued from the Adjutant General’s Office in France regarding Pte. Benjamin Wilson (see 20^th December 1915), who was under treatment at Eaton Hall VAD Hospital, Eaton, Cheshire. He had had his left leg amputated having been wounded in November. It was now stated that Pte. Wilson’s wounds were regarded as having been ‘self-inflicted’ and it was now considered ‘necessary to find out whether he will ver be fit to stand trial by District General Court Martial’. In the event, there is no evidence that Pte. Wilson ever appeared before a court martial.

Sgt. Henry Carrodus (see 9^th July 1915) was formally discharged from the Army, with the award of the Silver War Badge, on grounds of ill health contracted in service. He had originally served with 10DWR, going to France with the Battalion in August 1915, but, at date unknown, had transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers. I am, as yet, unable to make a positive identification of this man.

69^th Brigade War Diary recorded casualties for the Brigade for the month of January:

Killed                                 13; including one officer from 11^th West Yorks.

Accidentally killed             0

Died of wounds                 7; including two officers; one from 11^th West Yorks and one from 9^th Yorks.

Wounded                            98; including three officers; one of whom was 2Lt. Snell (see 30^th January).

Accidentally wounded   4

Missing                                   3; including 2Lt. Glover (see 13^th January).

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                     1

Accidentally killed               0

Died of wounds                   0

Wounded                            23; including 2Lt. Snell

Accidentally wounded        2

Missing                                   3; including 2Lt. Glover

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France were now:

Killed                                     18

Accidentally killed                4

Died of wounds                     2

Wounded                              93

Accidentally wounded        37

Missing                                    3

The surviving personal effects of the late Pte. John Cardwell (see 27^th January) were returned to his family, via the Infantry Record Office in York.

Thursday 3rd February 1916

Brigade reserve billets at La Rolanderie.

Another fine, cold day; it was reported that, “A strong breeze is blowing which is having a good drying effect upon the ground”. Once again there was nothing to report beyond the usual exchanges of artillery fire. Orders were received for the Battalion to be prepared to relieve 8^th Yorkshires next day.

La Rolanderie farm, January 2016; photos by kind permission of Dominique Bascour

L.Cpl. Willie Marsden (see 21^st January) was reduced to the rank of Private on account of (unspecified) ‘misconduct’.

Pte. John McGlynn (see 18^th December 1915) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left heel; he would spend five days at 23^rd Division Rest Station before re-joining the Battalion.

Pte. Harry Killeen (see 25^th January) who had been wounded three weeks earlier was repatriated to England for further treatment in the Western General Hospital in Manchester. He never re-joined 10DWR, but recovered sufficiently from his wounds to serve out the remainder of the war in England with 2^nd and 1^st/6^th Battalions. Harry’s younger brother, Reggie, had been killed in action on 25^th January.

Pte. James Gordge (see 24^th December 1915) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

In an attempt to resolve several months of administrative confusion, III Army HQ staff forwarded copies of all correspondence relating to CSM Harry Dewhirst (see 26^th January) to the Infantry Records Office in York.

Pte. Michael Hopkins (see 12^th December 1915), who had been in prison in Leeds when 10DWR sailed for France in August, was now posted to France from 11DWR, but would join 9DWR.

Mary Ann Cardwell, having received the personal effects belonging to her son, Pte. John Cardwell (see 31^st January) who had been killed in November 1915, wrote to the Infantry Record Office in York. Her letter, whilst simple and formal, gives some indication of her sense of loss in the death of her son.

Dear Sir

I was very much disappointed at the very few things returned to me, as I sent a parcel of clothing away only five days before he was killed. He would not have received them; the boys of his company wrote and told us they had returned them and we have not had them sent on to us; also he had a pocket knife, cigarette case, a match book and he would have a lot of letters no doubt besides what he may have bought in France, it is not altogether the value of these articles why I should have wished for them but rather the sake of him poor lad, however I suppose we will never get them now, but if they should turn up, we shall be very thankful to have them.

I remain,

Yours respectfully

M.A. Cardwell

Sunday 30th January 1916

Front line trenches east of Bois Grenier.

The day was generally quiet, with some mist and light rain. Overnight, the Battalion was ordered to carry out the raid on the German lines, preparations for which had been in hand for some days. The raid was to be overseen by 2IC Major Lewis Buchanan (see 1^st October 1915). The plan was for a party of three officers, Lt. Lavarack, Lt. George Reginald Charles Heale (see 26^th October 1915): and 2Lt. Christopher Snell (see 26^th October 1915) and 60 men from ‘C’ Company, who were in reserve in the Bois Grenier Line, to advance through ‘B’ Company’s positions north of Farm Grande Flamengrie (I.26.2) then through gaps in the German wire which had been created by shelling a few days earlier (see 28^th January). They were to enter the German trenches with the object of killing as many as possible, but also securing prisoners, documents and other information. The raiding party was to remain in the German lines for no more than five minutes and was to proceed no further than fifty yards from their point of entry before returning to the British lines.

Conditions for the raid were ideal; the sky was starless but fairly clear with only a little mist. At 9.15 pm two wire-cutting parties left the British lines, with the main raiding party in position and the whole Battalion, along with their counterparts from the Royal Scots, on stand-to. At 11 pm the wire-cutters returned, reporting that they had encountered a German patrol of more than twenty men. This had prevented them from cutting the two ‘lanes’ through the German wire which were required for the raid to proceed.  This eventuality had been planned for and the orders issued included the instruction that, “Should a hostile working party be found in front of enemy wire it will be attacked with vigour and driven in, every effort being made to secure at least one prisoner”.  Consequently a substantial party of thirty men was despatched from the British lines to seek out and engage the German patrol. However, this party returned at 12.35 am, having failed to locate any sign of the Germans. At this point, with the men reported to be “very cold and wet” and with the German wire having not been completely cut, the raid was abandoned. It was recorded that, “the failure to carry through Scheme No.1 was due to excessive caution on the part of our wire cutters who should have evaded the hostile patrol. As no enemy working party was met with Scheme No.2 did not come into operation”. 

Saturday 29th January 1916

Front line trenches east of Bois Grenier.

The day was dull and rather misty and conditions calmed down considerably from the previous day. There were continued exchanges of artillery fire, but the War Diary reported that, “The Germans have just sent over a few whizz bangs and are carrying on an irregular and erratic bombardment on our reserve & support trenches. Our guns have replied to them effectively and succeeded in quietening them.”

As they settled in to their routine, Sgt. Gerald Crawford of the Royal Scots reflected on the trench routine, “We ‘stand-to’ an hour before dawn and an hour after dusk. In between we keep our heads down and go about our duties, which mainly consist of drying socks and rubbing anti-frostbite on our feet”.

Friday 28th January 1916

Front line trenches east of Bois Grenier.

The next three days saw a marked increase in German artillery activity, which many in the British lines associated with the fact that 27^th January had been the Kaiser’s birthday. Whatever the truth of their belief, the intensification began in the early hours of 28th with a heavy bombardment of the support and reserve lines which caused some damage but no casualties. From 9 am the bombardment gradually increased in ferocity. At first it was described as “not over intense, it is regular and is somewhat difficult to understand as they don't appear to have a definite object in view”, but as the day progressed, “The bombardment has become more intense, the Germans must have been registering during the morning. They gradually brought more guns to bear until eventually it became a perfect hurricane.”  It was estimated that more than 4,000 shells were fired by the Germans against the 2,000 yards or so of the Divisional front during the course of 27th – 28th and in response, “on this, as on every occasion, our ammunition expenditure in reply was made to exceed the enemy’s”.  The result for the men in the trenches was described with typical understatement, “The 16th Royal Scots are having a rather rough time of it as this is their first experience under fire”.  Remarkably only one man from the 10DWR and one from the Royal Scots were killed and only two others wounded.  Pte. George William Elliott (3/11599), 10DWR, and Pte. Robert G. Russell (19632), 16^th Royal Scots, were both buried at Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois Grenier. George William Elliott was originally from Rothwell, but had been living in Bingley and working as a boatman on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal; he was married and had one daughter. The circumstances of Pte. Russell’s burial are described by Jack Alexander in his excellent book, McCrae’s Battalion. Two other men from 10DWR were wounded. Pte. Vernon Barker (see 21^st March 1915) suffered shrapnel wounds to his left thigh; he would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 8^th Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul to 1^st Canadian General Hospital in Etaples. Pte. Fred Haywood was also wounded; in the absence of a surviving service record the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown, but at some point he would be transferred to 4^th Stationary Hospital in Arques.

Pte. George Edward Bush (see 18^th October 1915) described the events in a letter home, “It was the Kaiser’s birthday recently and our Battalion got to know about it too as the Huns opposite decided to celebrate it by giving us a particularly lively day. They commenced early, about 4am, by ‘strafing’ us severely with ‘whizz bangs’. These are very spiteful little shells, as they arrive without any warning and only just skim the parapet. Of course, it’s the same for both sides, but very unpleasant for the poor infantryman in the front line when the artillery have these mad half hours. We are powerless to act in any way. All we can do is lie low and be pelted with Krupp’s ‘instruments of hate’”.  

One man of the Royal Scots also described what their first experience under fire was like, “We had a very trying time and we were all overcome with a peculiar heavy, drowsy feeling, which we were informed is the usual thing after artillery fire at close range”.

Part of the British shelling had been directed with the specific aim of cutting the German wire in front of ‘B’ Company’s positions, just north of Farm Grande Flamengrie (I.26.2), in preparation for a planned trench raid. This was the point at which there had been a failed raid by 10th Northumberland Fusiliers on New Year’s Day (see 1^st January).  To prevent any attempts by the Germans to repair their damaged wire the Battalion machine-gun teams were ordered to pay specific attention to this area.

Pte. Fred Teal (see 14^th January 1915) departed for England on five days’ leave.

A payment of £4 9s. 9d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Sgt.Charles McCusker (see 13^th November 1915), who had been killed in an accident at the Brigade bomb school in November 1915; the payment would go to his widow, Lilian.

Sgt. Charles McCusker

Thursday 27th January 1916

Brigade reserve billets at La Rolanderie.

With the weather described simply as ‘not good’, the Battalion returned to the front line. The two attached companies of the Royal Scots rendezvoused with the West Ridings at La Rolanderie at 10.45 am. Three of the eight platoons were assigned to 'shadow' Tunstill’s Men; three more were to work alongside ‘D’ Company and the other two with ‘B’. For the first two days the officers and men were to be ‘paired’ on an individual basis at all ranks and then for the remaining two days they were to be ‘paired’ on a platoon basis. At 5.15 pm ‘A’ Company led the Battalion on their move to the front line, with platoons marching at intervals of 100 yards and, as they came closer to the front line, from Gris Pot onwards to Bois Grenier, they proceeded by sections with the men marching in single file on either side of the road. ‘C’ Company remained in close reserve in the Bois Grenier Line while the others made their way to the front line trenches. The Battalion was allocated a 1,000 yard front further south than on their previous tour, with the right flank at Farm Grande Flamengrie at the end of the main Shaftesbury Avenue communication trench. This was to be where Tunstill’s Men were to be positioned, with ‘B’ Company to their immediate left and ‘D’ further left still. This was familiar ground, which the companies had occupied on previous tours (see 14^th December).  The reliefs were completed without incident by 8 pm. With two extra companies in the line, conditions were more crowded than usual and company commanders were reminded that, “special note should be taken of all available dugouts”. 

The story of the 16^th Royal Scots has been extensively researched and published in fascinating detail by Jack Alexander in his excellent book, McCrae’s Battalion, and extracts from his work help to add detail to the events of the following days.

Sgt. Gerald Crawford of the Royal Scots wrote to his family from his billet near Vieux Berquin just before moving up to the line: “for we have arrived on a salient in the British sector and the noise of guns is now continuous on all sides. Brother Boche occupies much of the ground to the north and south, as well as to the east, so we are perfectly besieged”. Having arrived in the line, Crawford was able to describe his new surroundings, and in particular his approach to the front line down Shaftesbury Avenue: “The trench is not wide but the boards are frequently loose so that if your pack makes you top heavy, or your boots are slippery with mud, you run a fair chance of a dip in the muddy depths below. Sometimes the enemy may know of your movements, but if they do not they just keep up an intermittent fire on the off-chance of catching someone. When you hear the crack of a rifle or the ping of a bullet, you cannot help ducking your head instinctively at first, but in a few minutes you get over it. When you finally emerge into the first line trenches you are again in another world”.

Pte. William Andrew Leiper Long was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance, 1^st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and 22^nd General Hospital in Wimereux to 5^th Convalescent Depot also in Wimereux; he was suffering from influenza. He was a 20 year-old weaver from Keighley; he had enlisted in January 1915 and had been posted to 10DWR in April.

2Lt. John Henry Hitchin, who had been absent without leave from 11^th Battalion West Ridings for the last month (see 29^th December) checked himself in at the Waterloo Hotel, York Road, Lambeth. He was wearing the uniform of a Lieutenant and told staff at the hotel that he had recently been promoted Captain, which, of course, was quite untrue.

A payment of £7 0s 3d, being the amount due on his army pay, was authorised to John Cardwell, father of Pte. John Cardwell who had been killed two months earlier (see 21^st November 1915).

Wednesday 26th January 1916

Brigade reserve billets at La Rolanderie.

The weather remained dull and conditions generally quiet. Orders were received that the Battalion was to be made ready to relieve 8^th Yorkshires the following day. This next tour in the front line was to be unusual as the Battalion was to be ‘shadowed’ by new troops who were being introduced to the realities and routines of trench life. This was part of a period of ‘trench training’ led by 23rd Division from 26th January to 8th February for the whole of the 34th Division which had only recently arrived in France. As a result, two companies of the 16th Royal Scots were to be attached for instruction.

Between 11pm and midnight it was noted that there were heard considerable exchanges of rifle and machine gun fire on the front lines and the British artillery carried out an intermittent bombardment throughout the night.

Pte. John William Dickinson was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal; he was a 20 year-old clerk from Leeds.

Confusion continued over the case of CSM Harry Dewhirst (see 11^th January) who had been sent back to England as unfit for active service. He had spent the previous two weeks at the Regimental Depot but now the Infantry Records Office in York wrote to Lt. Col. Bartholomew, commanding 10DWR, asking him, “Will you please inform me for what purpose this Warrant Officer was sent home, and if possible furnish me with a copy of the authority”. 

A payment of £2 15s 9d, being the amount due on his army pay, was authorised to Ethel Eliza Emmott, widow of Pte. William Hartley Emmott who had been killed four months earlier (see 1^st October 1915).

Tuesday 25th January 1916

Brigade reserve billets at La Rolanderie.

Another quiet day for the Battalion but it was again observed that there had been considerable activity, with one battery to the right of the Battalion firing more than two hundred rounds.  There had also been a German aeroplane noted as flying over the billets on two occasions during the day.

Trooper Reggie Killeen, younger brother of Pte. Harry Killeen (see 14^th January) was killed in action whilst serving with 3^rd Dragoon Guards. News of Reggie’s death was passed to his family by Trooper L. Boyer: "I thought it my duty to write and let you know the sad end of Reggie. I feel very sorry, as he was my mate. I am in the same troop and squadron, and he died a hero fighting, and his death was instantaneous. He had no pain. I was only five yards from him when he was killed.” Reggie had enlisted, aged only 17, on the outbreak of war.

Trooper Reggie Killeen

 

L.Cpl. Arthur Halstead, (see 15^th December 1915) serving in France with the ASC, and attached to 1^st Cavalry Division, returned to England to begin his officer training; he would later serve with 10DWR.

The St. Helens Reporter carried news of 2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover (see 17^th January).

BRAVE OFFICER'S END. A STORY OF HEROISM.

A stirring story of a British officer's heroism is told in a letter which has been received in connection with the death of Second Lieut. Samuel Lawrence Glover, of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Mr. Glover was the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Glover, engineer for the British Gaslight Company, Norwich, and was the nephew of Mr. Samuel Glover, gas engineer at St. Helens.

Lieut. Glover was first reported missing and has later been reported as killed. He was educated at Mill Hill School under Dr. McClure, and later at Glasgow University, and was being trained as an engineer. After serving in the O.T.C., at Mill Hill, he obtained a commission about a year ago. The many St. Helens people, who know his parents and other relatives, will extend to them their sympathy.

Capt. Carpenter, (Capt. Herbert Carpenter, see 17^th January), of the regiment, writing to Mrs. Glover, says: -
Dear Mrs. Glover, -
You have received by now the sad news about your son, who was one of my subalterns, but I am writing to give you details. At about 1.30 a.m., on the 14th, your son, with a corporal and two men, went out on patrol, and at 3.30 it was reported to me that he had not returned. This made me uneasy, as I knew your son to be an officer who had no fear of any sort whatever. Accordingly I sent out to try to find him, but could find no trace. About 9 a.m. the only survivor came in. He was in a state of collapse, and at first could tell us nothing, but eventually he told me the whole story.
The party had left our trench and had got over to the German barbed wire without seeing anything. When there, your son left this man and another, and with the corporal started to crawl under the German wire with the object, apparently, of seeing how strongly their trenches were held. Half way through, the Germans sent up a flare, and fired heavily on the two who were fully visible. The corporal called out, saying, "I am done for," but your son never moved, and I was afraid he must have been killed at once. One of the other two men was hit and sent the fourth man back for help. The unhurt man lost his way and wandered all night before coming in at 9 a.m., while the wounded man has not been heard of since.

Nothing I can say can make the blow any lighter for you, but I should like to express the deep sorrow I and the other officers of the company feel at losing a comrade. Your son was a magnificent young officer, keen on his work and brave to a fault. The men of his platoon would have followed him anywhere, and all are most upset at losing so good a friend and soldier.

2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover

Capt. Herbert Montagu Soames Carpenter

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Monday 24th January 1916

Brigade reserve billets at La Rolanderie.

Conditions for the Battalion were quiet on a dull day with some rain. However it was observed that there was considerable artillery activity on both sides, with a number of shells falling on Rue Marle.

Sunday 23rd January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

On what was described as ‘a glorious morning’, preparations for the Battalion’s move got underway. Billetting parties were sent to La Rolanderie to take over billets from 1^st Sherwood Foresters and, from 4.25pm the main move began, with the men marching five miles via Erquinghem and Rue du Biez. By 7.30pm the men were settled in their new billets.

In the early afternoon, the aeroplane which had made its emergency landing some days earlier (see 17^th January) had finally ‘got away’.

Sgt. Henry Herbert Calvert (see 15^th October 1915) was transferred for duty at 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Prior to the move, more men departed for England on leave; known to be among them were Sergt. Albert Edgar Palmer (see 23^rd August 1915), Acting Sergt. Edgar Shuttleworth (see 3^rd December 1915), Cpl. Billy Rawlinson (see 23^rd August 1915) and Pte. Stephen Grady (see 14^th June 1915).

Saturday 22nd January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Orders were received that 69^th Brigade was to return to the front line, replacing 24^th Brigade in the right (southern) section of the Bois Grenier sector. Front line positions were to be occupied initially by 8^th and 9^th Yorkshires, with 11^th West Yorks and 10DWR in Brigade reserve.

Pte. Thomas Warburton joined the Battalion; he had enlisted in March 1915 and trained with 3DWR in North Shileds before arriving in France three weeks previously. On arrival he had been admitted to hospital (cause unknown). He was a 25 year-old collier from Oldham, and was married, with one son.

J.B. Priestley, in a letter to his family, referred to the death of L.Cpl Herbert Waddington (see 13^th January) which had occurred whilst Priestley himself had been away from the Battalion having suffered a minor wound from the explosion of a rifle grenade: “By some strange irony of fate, each time I have been away from the Battalion, I have lost a very dear friend. First it was Ellis (Sgt. Irvine Ellis, for whom see 21^st January) and now it seems that Waddington (whom you met at the station) is either dead or wounded in the hands of the Germans. I am feeling rather lonely these days, and the loss of these chums has a greater effect on me than the experiences I go through personally”

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 5^th September), who had left 10DWR in September 1915, was transferred from the Regimental Depot to join 11^th Battalion, based at Brocton Camp. Cannock Chase, Staffs.

Friday 21st January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Another fine and quiet day, with nothing to report other than the usual aeroplane activity overhead.

Pte. Willie Marsden (see 28^th October 1915) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Sgt. Arthur Walton (see 10^th January) re-joined the Battalion having been ten days’ late in returning from leave; he would be immediately placed under arrest but also admitted to hospital (details and cause unknown).

William Murphy (see 31^st December 1915), who had been in England since having been severely wounded in September 1915 and had been discharged from the Army on account of his wounds, was discharged from The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London.

In accordance with the terms of his will and being part of the amount due on his army pay, a payment of £5 12s 3d was authorised to Jessie Ellis, mother of the late Sgt. Irvine Ellis (see 20^th November 1915); the payment was specifically said to be for ‘herself and her daughter, Mabel’. There was also a payment of £2 16s 2d to go to Ellis’ older brother, Philip.

Thursday 20th January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Another quiet day, devoted to Company training. It seems to have been during this training that Tunstill’s Man, L.Cpl. Matthew Best (see 23^rd December 1915) suffered an accidental injury to his chest which resulted in his being treated locally for the next two weeks.



L.Cpl. Matthew Best

2Lt. Harry Thornton Pickles (see 19^th March), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company before being commissioned, was married to Ada Heuf, of New Eltham, Kent; the marriage took place in Lewisham. Within days of being married he left to serve in France as bombing officer with 9DWR.

2Lt. Harry Thornton Pickles

Wednesday 19th January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

A fine and bright day, with conditions again quiet, although considerable artillery activity could be heard from further south. A working party of 100 NCO’s and men from ‘B’ Company was despatched to Erquinghem.

Pte. Bob Harrison (see 17^th December 1914) was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

A payment of £3 14s 11d, being the amount due on his army pay, was authorised to be made to the father of Pte. Barker Stott who had died in November 1915 (see 7th December 1915).



Pte. Barker Stott

Tuesday 18th January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Another quiet day, with some rain.

Monday 17th January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Another quiet day in good weather, enlivened only by an incident in the early afternoon when a British aeroplane suffering engine trouble made an unscheduled landing just a few hundred yards from the billets. 

Official notification was sent, by telegram, to the parents of 2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover that their son was missing (see 13^th January). Glover’s father immediately wrote back confirming receipt of the message and stating that, “He (referring to himself in the third person) anxiously awaits further information & details which he hopes you may able to send at an early date”.

2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover

Within days the family received a letter from Capt. Herbert Carpenter (see 5th September), commanding ‘B’ Company, informing that he believed that their son had indeed been killed, although it had not been possible to recover his body. He went on to say that, "Your son was a magnificent young officer, keen on his work and brave to a fault. The men of his platoon would have followed him anywhere; all are most upset at losing so good a friend and soldier. I should like to express the deep sorrow I and the other officers of ‘B' Company feel on losing a comrade." Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfrid L. Henderson (see 21st November 1915), also wrote: "Your sorrow is shared by all his brother officers and men. We have lost a good comrade. He was a fine manly fellow, full of pluck and will be much missed in the battalion. Both officers and men wish me to express to you their deep sympathy." At some point Glover’s remaining effects which he had left behind when he went on patrol, were forwarded to his family; they comprised of “2 purses, letter, pocket book, 2 photographs”.

Capt. Carpenter, photographed in England in May 1915 (photograph by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

A payment of £3 8s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Arthur France (see 7^th November 1915), who had died of wounds in November 1915; the payment would go to his mother, Emma. 

Pte. George Arthur France

A payment of £7 6s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Norman Lancelot Young (see 10^th November 1915), who had been killed in action in November 1915; the payment would go to his mother, Elizabeth.

Pte. Norman Lancelot Young

Sunday 16th January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

A bright morning, followed by a quiet day, with “nothing to report”.

Pte. George Edward Western (see 7^th October 1915) was reported as ‘absent from rifle inspection’; on the orders of Capt. Robert Harwar Gill (see 28th September 1915), he would be confined to barracks for seven days.

It was around this time, although the precise date is unknown, that Pte. Robert Wilson Irving (see 25^th September 1915) re-joined the Battalion; he had spent 16 weeks in hospital in France being treated for shellshock after being buried by a shell explosion.

Pte. William Hissett (see 14^th December 1915) was discharged from the Military Hospital at the Curragh Camp, near Dublin and posted to 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs..

Saturday 15th January 1916

Front line trenches north of Rue du Bois

The day was generally quiet and by 7 pm the Battalion had been relieved by 12^th Durham Light Infantry and marched six miles to divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau. This was part of a relief of the whole of 69^th Brigade by 68^th Brigade. For the next eleven days the Battalion was to enjoy a well-earned period of rest, which was greatly aided by an improvement in the weather, which remained largely fine and mild. The first week was to be spent at Hallobeau with only routine training and an occasional working party to disturb their rest.


Pte. William Knox (see 13^th January) once again wrote to his wife, Ethel (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“Just a few lines hoping they will find you quite well as I am pleased to say that it leaves me very well at present. I received three letters from you Saturday night, dated 8^th, 10^th and 12^th. I wondered what had happened as I never got one for over a week and then, as soon as I came out of the trenches, I got that lot. We have had an easy time of it this time. We were billeted at an old farm and it was a tumbled down old place and talk about rats. They were awful. You could not sleep for them. I used to fasten my overcoat right over my head so as they would not run over my face. And they were as large as cats. They used to give me the creeps.

You will have to excuse me not writing a very long letter today as we are going to Church this morning and I shan’t have much time. What sort of weather are you having at Manchester? It is very mild here for the time of year but the French people told us that the Winter was ‘nappoo’, which means finished. And I hope it is true as we have plenty to put up without that. Will you send me a pocket knife in your next parcel as I have lost the other one and I am just about lost without one. You will soon be getting tired to death with me as I am always wanting something but I hope to repay you some day and before long too for all you have done for me since I have been out here. Nobody could have done more than you have done Dear and I can tell you I am quite proud of you Love”.

Following his recent appearance before a Medical Board, Maj. Harry Hildyard (see 10^th January) was granted an extension of his period of leave to 9^th February, with a new Medical Board convened to meet on that date. In the meantime Hildyard would remain at home at ‘The Peak’, Hythe.

Friday 14th January 1916

Front line trenches north of Rue du Bois.

The day began quietly enough but subsequently became “full of excitement”. At 11.30am British artillery, supported by rifle, machine gun and trench mortar fire, opened a heavy bombardment on the German trenches. It was reported that, “Our shells fell in the desired position. If there were any of the enemy on or about there they must have suffered severely”. On the other hand, the German response caused no casualties and little damage.

At 3.30pm a German aeroplane flew over the British lines but was driven back by anti-aircraft fire.

Orders were then received for the Battalion to take part in a ‘smoke demonstration’. The idea was for smoke to be released along the British front line, thus inducing the Germans to line their parapet in anticipation of an attack. This, in turn, would then allow the British artillery to shell the front line, communication and reserve trenches. After a short artillery barrage smoke bombs were duly released at 4.15 pm, accompanied by rifle, machine gun and trench mortar fire. The ‘demonstration’ had the desired effect and created “great excitement” in the German lines; “They were heard shouting, blowing whistles & ringing bells”.  As planned, the British artillery then opened fire against the German positions. This provoked a vigorous response by the Germans which caused some damage to the British trenches and also resulted in seven men being wounded.

In the evening, orders were received for the Battalion to be relieved next day.

Among the seven casualties was Tunstill’s Man, Pte. Harry Killeen. Harry was part of the machine gun section and the events were reported to his family by his Lance Corporal, Harry Thornton:

“I am writing these few lines on behalf of all the team to express our deepest sympathy for the misfortune which has befallen Harry. I suppose our officer will have written to you before this, but I will tell you how it happened. It was about 7.30 pm on Friday last. I was on duty with him with the gun and we were doing our best to quieten a German machine gun which was annoying us, but he had the advantage over us, owing to a bend in the line, so he was able to fire from a house on our flank and he did not give us much of a chance. Harry had just fired about five shots when the German machine gun opened fire on us and Harry received a bullet in his shoulder. It was a clean wound and not in a dangerous place, so I think he will soon be well again. We are all proud of him for the way in which he bore it; he was so cheerful all the time they were dressing him; he even had the heart to sing while they were taking him away. I don’t know how we shall get on without him in the team; he was such a good worker and a first-class gunner. I miss him already, as we have been together ever since enlisting. We have been the best of chums and always slept together. I got his photos and all his private things, which I am sending by a man who is going on leave, as it will save trouble with the censor. I suppose he will post this in London. I think I have told you all, so I will now close, hoping you get this safely. Will you please ask Harry to write to us as soon as he is well enough, which I trust will not be long. Hoping and trusting he will soon be well again, with all the team’s good wishes for a rapid recovery”.

Henry Vallance Killeen, known as Harry, had served with Tunstill’s Company from the outset. He was born on 9^th June 1895, the first child of Edward Crofton Killen and his wife Minnie. Edward Killeen had followed a career in the police force and had been stationed in various towns across Yorkshire. By 1911 he had risen to the rank of Sergeant and was based in Keighley; early in 1914 he had been promoted again, to the rank of Inspector, and had moved to Bolton-by-Bowland. By then there were three children; Reginald Victor (Reggie) Killeen had been born in 1897 and Constance Mary two years later. The younger son, Reggie, had volunteered, under age, soon after the outbreak of war and had joined 12^th Lancers. Harry volunteered in Keighley on 19^th September 1914; it may be that he had remained in Keighley when the rest of the family moved to Bolton-by-Bowland.

Harry Mensforth Thornton was another of the original Keighley recruits. His father had, in the past, been landlord of the Black Horse Inn in the town but more recently had been working as a spindle maker. He and his wife, Louisa, had two children; Harry had been born in 1896 and Mary Louisa in 1899. Harry had been working in the local textile mills when he volunteered for the army on 20^th September 1914. This was a just a day after his cousin, Herbert Thornton, had signed up and they both joined Tunstill’s Company. Herbert was the same age as his cousin, and was one of five children of Thomas Bailey Thornton and his wife, Martha. Frederick Sharp Thornton and Thomas Bailey Thornton were brothers and originally from Ludlow.

L.Cpl. Harry Thornton

L.Cpl. Herbert Thornton

Also amongst the wounded was L.Cpl. Harry Holmes (see 28^th September 1915); he suffered a minor wound above his left eye. He was evacuated to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers, where he would be treated for ten days before being passed fit for duty. Pte. John Broadbent (see 20^th April 1915) suffered a relatively minor wound to his left knee and would be treated at 24^th General Hospital in Etaples; he would re-join the Battalion after two weeks. 

Pte. Harry Wood was injured when part of a dugout collapsed; he suffered ‘a small, superficial, abrasion over lower dorsal region. Complains of pain right across bottom of back; tender on pressure’. He would be evacuated via 70^th Field Ambulance, 2^nd Casualty Clearing Station and no.22 Ambulance Train to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers. 

Pte. John Onion was posted to France and would join 10DWR. He had enlisted in Bradford, aged 19 and working as a labourer, in August 1914 and had been posted to Gallipoli with 8DWR in July 1915; he had been wounded in August 1915 and had been in England since then.

On the same day that Harry Killeen was wounded the Craven Herald carried news of deaths and other injuries affecting his home village of Bolton-by-Bowland. Pte. Harold Carey had been killed (see 9^th January) and Pte. James Mason wounded (see 2nd January).

BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND - PRIVATE HAROLD CAREY KILLED

Quite a gloom was cast over the village of Bolton-by-Bowland when the sad news was received from the War Office by Mr. Alfred Carey, of the Copy Nook Hotel, that his son, Harold, was killed instantaneously on December 27^th whilst in the trenches in France. Deceased joined the 'A' Company, 6^th Duke of Wellington's, twelve months ago, and has been at the Front since the middle of June. Private Carey is, as far as known at present, the first in this parish whose life has been sacrificed for his King and Country, and his father and mother have the sympathy of all who know them.

They have received several letters from the Front, one from Lieutenant Stocks, who says:- "On behalf of the Officers, N.C.O.'s and men I wish to express to you our deepest sympathy in your great loss. Since your son joined us out here he has always shown plenty of pluck and fearlessness, and we are all sorry to lose him."

Pte. F. Clarke writes:- "Just a few lines to tell you of the death of your son Harold. He was my best friend out here. I was with him in the dug-out at the time of his death. We were having a sleep when the dug-out was hit by a German shell, a piece of which hit Harold and he drifted right away. All the boys feel it as if he was our own brother. He was a good soldier, and was liked by all his mates. We had our Christmas dinner together, and he was talking about bringing me to dinner after the war."

Pte. J. F. Core also writes:- "Just a line to let you know how deeply I sympathise with you in the death of your son Harold. Being a mate of mine all the time he was in training and in active service, I thought it was as little as I could to write a few lines to you. He was killed by a shell which came through the dug-out when he was in it. He was killed instantly and was a good soldier, always doing his duty, and was always ready to do a good turn for anybody and I can only say how deeply we all regret to lose such a good pal."

At the Parish Church on Sunday morning hymns which had been special favourites of the dead soldier were sung, and the Rector (the Rev. C. C. Broadhurst) in preaching on the subject of Christ's miracle of changing water into wine continued:- "And then there is the change from life unto death. To some, that change cools gradually but to some it comes suddenly as to Harold Carey, who died on the 27^th in his country's service. His passing has brought, or ought to have brought, the war very near to every inhabitant of Bolton; for though some months ago Arthur Bleazard was reported missing, yet we hope, may we not hope in vain, that he may still be alive, though a prisoner; but Harold Carey is the first on our Bolton list to have given his life in fighting for his country, but in this we feel that he died without pain. We must be more determined than ever to do all that is in our power to carry this war to a righteous conclusion."

After the services, the Prayer of Commendation in the Burial Service was read, and afterwards Mr. Lambert played the Dead March in 'Saul.'

Wounded.

Private James Mason, son of Mrs. Mason, of Calder House has been wounded by a shell near Armentieres, and is now in hospital in England, but we are glad to know that he is progressing favourably. He is attached to ‘A’ Company, 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s.

The same edition also carried further news of the continuing fund-raising efforts in support of Tunstill’s Company:

COMFORTS FOR THE 10^TH WEST RIDINGS

Mrs. H.G. Tunstill acknowledges with grateful thanks the following donations to the “Comforts Fund” for the 10th West Riding Regiment: Already acknowledged £124 9s. 6d.; Mrs. Horner, 2s 6d.; Arncliffe and Littondale (per Canon Shuffrey), £2 10s.; proceeds of whist drive and dance at Kirby Malham, £15 4s.; Mrs. H.G. Tunstill (monthly), £2. This makes a total of £144 4s., but out of this £88 15s. 6d. has already been spent on comforts for the men.

In addition to this, shirts, socks and woollens have been sent by Mrs. Tunstill, on behalf of many friends in the district, and have been greatly appreciated by the men.Captain Tunstill writes, “Can you possibly send us 600 pairs of socks, the men really need them so badly. They were delighted with their beautiful Christmas presents, and send many thanks and good wishes to their friends in Craven and district”.

Four hundred pairs of socks have been sent from the “Comforts Fund” and Mrs. Tunstill would be glad of any contribution of socks to help make up the number required. She also wishes to thank all those who worked so hard in making the whist drive and dance at Kirkby Malham such a success, the effort in spite of a very wet night, raising £15 4s. for the Fund. 

The same edition also featured an extract from a letter home from Pte. Job Kayley (see 1^st January), (the citing of it as being a ‘cheerful’ letter seems a little odd):

LONGPRESTON

Cheerful letter from the Front.

From one of five brothers, four of whom are already serving, and the fifth has attested: “I was put on guard at Headquarters on New Year’s night and something is going to happen in the morning. All our lot are standing to and we shall have to stop at our posts if we get our heads blown off.  I am in the Guard Room and there are two prisoners in bed, and I shall have to look after them when the boys go over the top. This room had the top blown off with shells and the Germans could send another in any minute. We have been billeted in empty houses for four days. The people have just left them but plenty are living close up to the front line and won’t shift. We have lost about 200 in our Division. I got your parcel alright this time and was very pleased with it. Hoping you will all have a Happy New Year.

From a friend somewhere in France.

Job”.

An extract from a letter from Pte. James William Briggs was published in The Brighouse Echo. He was a 36 year-old silk dresser from Brighouse; he was married, with three children. He “writes acknowledging receipt of a splendid Christmas parcel from the Brighouse Soldiers Comforts Fund. The writer says, ‘It is a pleasure to know that the boys from Brighouse who are out here are not forgotten by the Brighouse people. I am in the best of health and still keep pegging at it”