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.

Among the seven casualties was Pte. Henry Vallance Killeen (known as ‘Harry’) (see 23^rd September 1915). 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”..

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

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

The other six men wounded were the following:

Pte. John Broadbent (see 20^th April 1915); he 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. James William Dunwell (see 27^th November 1915); the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown but he would shortly re-join the Battalion.

 

Pte. Thomas Hockey (see 18^th December 1915); the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown but he would re-join the Battalion.

 

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.

Sgt. John Henry Martin; the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown but he would be evacuated to England. He would be subsequently (date and details unknown) be transferred to 1DWR and posted to India. He was a 30 year-old brass foundry worker and was married, with two children. He had been on the Special Reserve at the outbreak of war and had been posted to France to join 2DWR in September 1914. He had been wounded and gassed on a number of occasions before being transferred to 10DWR.

 

Pte. Harry Wood (see 13^th October 1915) 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 10th December 1915).

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”