Thursday 1st June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

The weather deteriorated over the next few days, becoming windy, much colder and with frequent showers. The Battalion began a “thorough overhaul” of clothing, equipment and all other necessities, alongside a routine of general training. For the next week the Brigade as a whole would provide large working parties of up to 600 men per day and a further 300 each night.

Cpl. Christopher John Kelly (see 29^th May) and Pte. George Edward Western (see 26^th May) were evacuated to England from 2^nd General Hospital in Le Havre, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Panama. On arrival in England Pte. Western would be admitted to the Lord Derby Hospital in Warrington; the details of Cpl. Kelly’s initial treatment in England are unknown.

Pte. Robert Cresswell (see 2^nd January) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from haemorrhoids. 

It was reported that 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 28^th May), who had been reported as being unfit to continue as a platoon officer, had been informed of the decision that he should return to England and resign his commission. However, for reasons unknown, he would not actually leave the Battalion for a further three weeks.

Wednesday 31st May 1916

Billets in Bois de Bouvigny

A fine day which was spent in general cleaning up following the recent extended stay in the trenches.

L.Cpl. James Gordge (see 14^th May) was admitted transferred from 11^th Stationary Hospital at Rouen to 2^nd Convalescent Depot, also at Rouen, he had been suffering from influenza.

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

Killed                                       8 (incl. Lt. Armitage of 9^th Yorks)
Accidentally killed                 0
Died of wounds                     8 (incl 2Lt. Bethell of 9^th Yorks)
Wounded                             76 (incl. 2Lt. Webster of 11^th West Yorks)
Accidentally wounded         1
Missing                                   0

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                     1 (Pte. Ernest Dawson, see 24^th May)
Accidentally killed              0
Died of wounds                  0
Wounded                           12
Accidentally wounded       0
Missing                                 0

It should be noted that these casualty figures take no account of the death of  Pte. John Smith (see 21^st May), who died of wounds after having been wounded and evacuated for treatment.

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

Killed                                   27
Accidentally killed               4
Died of wounds                   3
Wounded                         150
Accidentally wounded     43
Missing                                  3

Seaman George Earnshaw died in the sinking of HMS Defence during the Battle of Jutland; he was the nephew of Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw (see 7^th April). George was one of three sons of Thomas Earnshaw who were serving in the forces (Thomas was Kayley’s elder brother). George had joined the navy in 1912 at the age of 14.

Seaman George Earnshaw

Tuesday 30th May 1916

Reserve trenches east of Bully Grenay

The usual artillery exchanges, described in the War Diary as ‘desultory’, resumed in the early hours of the morning and continued throughout the day. In the afternoon the Battalion was relieved by 2^nd East Lancs. (the sector being taken over by 24^th Brigade). Preparations had begun in the morning with billeting parties under Lt. Adolph Keith Lavarack (see 12^th May) departing to take over billets two miles west at Bouvigny Huts from 1^st Worcesters. The Battalion transport moved off from Bully Grenay at 2.15pm, with an instruction to maintain, “good intervals between each vehicle”, because of the danger from German shelling of the reserve areas. A similar instruction was applied to the main relief which commenced in mid-afternoon, once 2^nd East Lancs. were in place. The men were ordered to march out by sections, with one hundred yards between, until reaching Fosse 10; from there they were to move by platoons, but again maintaining a similar distance between parties.

Whilst at Bouvigny one of ‘A’ Company’s original officers, Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 15^th May), left the Battalion to begin training which would lead to him serving as an observer with the Royal Flying Corps.

Pte. William Sutcliffe Wood (see 20^th June 1915), serving with 23^rd Division Headquarters, was posted back to England suffering from dysentery; on arrival he would be admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

Further enquiries were made into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover in January. A second statement was taken from Pte. John Driver (see 16^th May), who by this time had been moved to hospital in Le Havre; “He went out with a party of about 3 or 4 men at Armentieres on 22^nd December 1915 (sic., actually 13^th January 1916) to inspect German wire entanglements. The party were attacked and got cut off and Lieut. Glover was shot by a rifle bullet. His body was discovered next day on the wires by Lieut. Waite of B Company who had been sent with a search party to look for them”.

2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Pte. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 4^th May),who had only recently joined 1^st Battalion West Yorkshires on active service in France was admitted to 17^th Field Ambulance; he was reported to be suffering from fever (“PUO, NYD, Pyrexia”; ie “Pyrexia of unknown origin; not yet diagnosed”). He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Edward Everingham Ison, pictured while serving with 10DWR
(Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

A payment of £40 14s 6d was made to settle the amount due on the account of the late Battalion Medical Officer, Lt. John David Wilson, who had been killed on 9^th March (see 9^th March)

Monday 29th May 1916

Reserve trenches east of Bully Grenay

British artillery resumed their duel with the Germans at 4am and the German response increased from 8am. Once again the focus of the German shelling was against reserve and rest positions, and on this occasion the Battalion transport lines were hit, with two men wounded. One of those wounded was Tunstill’s Man, Cpl. Christopher John Kelly (see 4^th December 1915), who suffered wounds to his left foot; he would be evacuated to one of the local casualty clearing stations (details unknown) before being transferred (30^th May) onboard no.4 Ambulance Train and admitted (31^st May) to 2^nd General Hospital in Le Havre. The second man wounded was Pte. James William Briggs; (see 14^th January); in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish any details of his service beyond the fact that at some point (date and details unknown) he would be transferred to the Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire) Regiment.

Cpl. Christopher John Kelly pictured extreme left of front row, with other recruits to Tunstill's Company from Grassington in September 1914.

In the evening orders were received that the Battalion would be relieved next day. There was however an additional alarm at 11pm when the Battalion was alerted to be prepared for a possible use of gas by the Germans. The War Diary simply recorded that, “all the necessary precautions were taken”.

While still in the reserve trenches, J.B. Priestley wrote home to his family. The letter sounding an increasingly negative tone:

“We spent five days in a village just behind the trenches, went in again for four days, and are now in the reserve trenches until tomorrow. Curious you should mention the loss of trenches at (censored), as that is the terrible place we took over from the French three months ago (Priestley was doubtless referring to the Souchez area which the Battalion had first occupied in March, and where conditions had been especially difficult, see 8^th March) and we are only just on the left of it now. I have seen all the battles for the crest (when we were there the Germans had it and we were crouched in shell holes about 25 yards away and 6 inches of snow on the ground).

The village we were in last Sunday was shelled with armour-piercing Jack Johnsons, but we had only one man killed (see 21^st May), though there were many civilians killed and wounded. It was a ghastly day. All the roads leading to the trenches were shelled too, and there were mules and limbers going up in the air. They sent every kind of shell over – gas shells (it was quaint to see the French children with gas helmets on), tear shells (everybody’s eyes were watering and sore), incendiary shells, shrapnel, and last but not least, the enormous Johnsons. I tried to imagine Saltburn Place (Priestley’s home in Bradford) being shelled in a similar manner, but it was too horrible to think about. They crash through houses and roads and steel girders like paper. And the concussion! Our heavy batteries, just near, were thundering in response, and our stretcher bearers had to keep dashing down to the gun pits to bring out the wounded, poor maimed creatures – burnt, twisted, torn and many of them dazed beyond immediate recovery with the sheer noise. I’ve had some narrow escapes from rifle grenades and trench mortars this time in, but I’m all right and carrying on.

Ten months out here and no signs of a leave; it’s a shame! Some of the officers have been home three times. We are expecting large drafts of Derby men this time out (see 25th May), for, notwithstanding regular drafts mainly of men who have been out before, we have only a handful of men left. My Company is not the weakest in the Batt. And we have only a fighting strength of about 70 men instead of 260. People get the impression that we’ve ample men out here but that’s wrong. We’ve taken over such a lot of new frontage that the actual number of men per mile of trench seems less than ever. It’s a t the bases where you can’t stir for men – not in the firing line. As for food, when we were in the firing line this last time, we had a loaf for every four men for a day’s ration, and no fresh meat or even Maconochie, but just bully beef.

Now that you know where we are, you’ll be able to follow events in our part of the line with interest. It’s the star turn on the British front and second to none in hellishness. They say we go to (censored) the next time we go to the trenches. Send me another parcel soon, but it’s no good sending stuff to mix with water as there’s very little water. Some of mother’s homemade tuck would be very acceptable.

NB Enclosed are flowers plucked from the parapet, probably growing out of dead men; there are plenty in these parapets, it’s no uncommon sight to see a hand or foot sticking out”.

Priestley’s reflections on the flowers growing in the midst of the trenches were echoed in the official Divisional History which commented on the contrasts; “In the defences themselves even, as summer came on, relief to the ugliness of trench and parapet could be found in the mass of wild flowers which sprang up from the overturned chalk soil. The long Arras road communication trench was flanked on either side by a bright herbaceous border of poppies and other wild flowers. While, looking far out across and beyond the German line from the summit of the Lorette Spur, one could almost forget the war, till stumbling on some ghastly relic of 1915, one was brought back to the grim realities of the present”.

Pte. William Baxter (see 18^th March) was posted to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, having been found fit only for Permanent Base duties; he would serve first with 15^th Division Permanent Base Company, before being transferred to 8^th Division.

At the Regimental Depot in Halifax, Pte. John Beckwith (see 27^th May) who had been absent without leave for six days (22^nd-27^th May) was sentenced to 120 hours detention, on the orders of Lt. Col. Parsons.

A payment of £5 19s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Cpl. Harry Wain (see 23^rd March), who had died of wounds in March; the payment would go to his widow, Ethel.

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Tom Bradley (see 18^th March), who had died of wounds following an accident at the Brigade bomb school in November 1915; his mother, Mary, was awarded 10s. per week.

Sunday 28th May 1916

Reserve trenches east of Bully Grenay

The weather remained good. German shelling came to be increasingly concentrated against the rear areas of the British line, both close to the reserve positions and also in and around Sains-en-Gohelle and Fosse 10. The danger was such that an order was issued that the Battalion transport lines should be relocated to Bouvigny; only shortly after this had been effected a large German shell landed in the recently-vacated positions. No casualties were suffered. The continued shelling also meant that the main dressing station located there (see 24^th May) was emptied, with patients transferred to the care of 71^st Field Ambulance, further back in reserve. The emergency accommodation remaining at Fosse 10 was moved to the cellars.

Three more new subalterns reported for duty with the Battalion; 2Lts. Coke, Dawson and Smith had all disembarked in France a few days previously (see 24^th May).


Pte. Walter Milnes departed for England on one weeks’ leave. He had been an original member of the Battalion having enlisted aged 19; he was from Halifax and had been working as a joiner.

HQ First Army wrote to the War Office in the case of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 22^nd May), who had been reported as being unfit to continue as a platoon officer. The letter, which included a copy of the report on Dawson’s case, stated that, “I consider this officer unfit for his position and recommend that he should be called upon to resign his commission. Orders have been issued for him to proceed to England and to report in writing to the War Office on arrival. The remarks of the General Officer Commanding First Army will be communicated to Second Lieutenant Dawson before he leaves this country”.

Pte. Albert Edward White (see 11^th May), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp in Staffordshire, was reported as having been ‘unshaven on church parade’; he would be confined to barracks for five days.

Saturday 27th May 1916

Reserve trenches east of Bully Grenay

The weather remained fine and there were continued exchanges of artillery fire, though the day was largely quiet. In the late evening an alarm was raised of a German incursion against 1^st Division positions just to the north. The event was reported in the Battalion War Diary: “About 11pm we received S.O.S. from the right Btn.,  1st Bde.,  1st Div. It appears that a number of the enemy were caught in an attempt to reach our trenches. These were smartly dealt with. The number of casualties inflicted upon the enemy is not known. Our artillery kept up a well-regulated bombardment. S.O.S. was withdrawn at 1am 28th inst.”

Four of the new subalterns who had recently arrived in France reported for duty with the Battalion; they were 2Lts. Barker, Brinsley-Richards, Hart (see 24^th May) and Lassen (see 18^th May). However, 2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 7^th May) having been taken ill (details unknown), left the Battalion and returned to England.

L.Cpl. Matthew Best (see 14^th May), re-joined the Battalion having spent the previous two weeks at no.4 Stationery Hospital, Arques, where he had been treated for ‘dental caries’.

L.Cpl. Matthew Best

Pte. William Knox (see 25^th May) again wrote home to his wife, Ethel (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters);

“… We are out of the trenches again once more. Came out Friday night (26^th) but I cannot say when we go in again … Did you send my books last week as I have not received them? Well Dear we have had a very hot time of it in this as we have been very near to where all the heavy fighting has been this last week. I can tell you we are in the hottest part on our front. We are expecting something doing here very shortly. It has been a rare sight when it has been dark of a night to see the Boshes sending up their flare lights when our heavy artillery opened fire on them. It looked more like a firework display than anything else. But I am afraid our casualties there has been very heavy as it looked impossible for human beings to stand it. I can tell you we shall all be glad out here when it is all over as everybody is absolutely fed up with it. They talk about the Germans being fed up but if they are any worse than us it is God help them. We have just had an order to get battle order ready for tonight but of course we don’t know what for. I hope it is cancelled.

We are in an awful billet where we are now. They are the cellars and the houses are all knocked down to the ground. I can tell you it is an awful sight. I told you in my last letter about them issuing gas helmets out to the French civilians here. Well on Sunday (20^th) afternoon they sent gas shells over in galore and I can tell you it was rotten. The first we knew about it was everybody’s eyes were running and couldn’t keep them open so we got orders to put on our gas helmets. And we were stood to all night with them on so we dare not lift them up for a minute or else we should have been gassed. But it made my heart ache to see women with about three little children with their helmets on.  And some with babies not over a couple of months old with them on too. I hope and pray to God none of you at home ever has to witness anything like it.

Well Dear I had a very decent time of it this time in the trenches. I was attached to the Battalion bombers and we were back of the firing line. And we had plenty to eat and plenty to drink this time as we fetched it ourselves. So we took good care to bring plenty with us. …

Before I forget will you get me a knife like that one you sent me as our Captain wants one. He asked me to get him one so if you send it don’t send me any money as I can keep the cost of the knife. I am sending you a few cornflowers. I got them off the parapet of our firing line. It looks lovely in between our line and the Boshes as there are all sorts and colours of flowers. Yes Darling I did send you those violets. I got them on Easter Sunday just close to where I was billeted. We are started coming on pass a bit quicker just. There were two went on Saturday night and two more on Wednesday. I think I come somewhere about ninth or so if they go as we are doing”.

Pte. John Beckwith (see 22^nd May) reported at the Regimental Depot in Halifax, having been absent without leave since 22^nd.

Pte. Arthur Calvert Tetley, serving with 21^st Royal Fusiliers, was posted back to England to begin officer training with no.10 Officer Cadet Battalion at Gailes, Ayrshire; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Arthur Tetley, born 28^th May 1893 was the eldest son of Calvert Greenwood Tetley, a successful Bradford cotton merchant, dealing in the East India Trade, and his wife, Mary Annie. Arthur had worked in the family business before the war and had also had two years in the Territorial Army. He had enlisted on 6^th October 1914 and had gone to France with his Battalion on 14^th November 1915.

Friday 26th May 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

Another fine, quiet morning although five more high explosive shells fell just behind ‘A’ Company’s positions, causing no casualties. Orders were received for the Battalion to be relieved; the relief began at 2.30pm and was completed, without casualties, by 6pm. The Battalion did not, however, return to their former billets in Sains-en-Gohelle, but was withdrawn only as far as the reserve trenches east of Bully Grenay, moving out by platoons, with 150 yards distance between platoons. Once established, in the evening Lt. Dick Bolton (see 25^th May) reported machine gun fire directed against ‘A’ Company’s positions, “fired at frequent intervals, traversing the whole front, starting at about 9.30pm.

Pte. Thomas Delaney was admitted to to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left foot. He was a 23 year-old dyer’s labourer (working at Aykroyd’s Dyeworks) from Bradford and had enlisted in September 1914, along with his younger brother, Pte. John Delaney, who had actually been only 17 when he enlisted, and had been working as a rag packer.

The Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfred Leveson Henderson (see 23rd March), wrote to the mother of Pte. Ernest Dawson who had been killed two days previously (see 26^th May): “Another name has been added to our country’s roll of honour, and it is one which will bring home to you the sadness of war. I suppose you have already heard the sad news of the death of your son but I wish to tell you how much we all sympathise with you. He was killed last Wednesday by a trench mortar and we buried him last night in a soldiers’ cemetery immediately behind the lines. A cross with his name and number will be put over the grave, and his grave for ever kept sacred and reverently cared for. Both officers and men join with me in expressing their sympathy. Your son will be much missed by his comrades in the battalion. I know how difficult it is to say words of comfort to a mother, but, deep as your sorrow may be, I feel that there can be no bitterness in it. The mothers of England are proud of their sons today and justly proud that they should have given up all they hold dear to follow the call of duty and you too must feel that pride in your son. You must rejoice at the splendid sacrifice he has made. “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. Our sympathy and prayers are with you. God bless and comfort you.”

Pte. George Edward Western (see 14^th May), who had suffered abdominal wounds twelve days’ previously, was transferred to 2^nd General Hospital in Le Havre.

Four men from the Battalion were transferred from 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station at Lozinghem to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques for further treatment for dental caries. They were Ptes. Edwin Baldwin (see 3^rd May), George Illingworth (see 3^rd May), Tom Nixon (11904) (see 3^rd May) and Harry Smith (15201) (see 3^rd May). Ptes. Baldwin, Illingworth and Nixon would be treated for four days and Pte. Smith for eight; all would be discharged to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route to re-joining 10DWR.

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 7^th April), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company, but latterly with 9DWR, was released from hospital and transferred to no.17 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route to re-joining his unit.

Thursday 25th May 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

A much quieter day in the line. During the morning a British heavy trench mortar fired several rounds from within ‘A’ Company’s sector and Lt. Dick Bolton (see 23^rd May) noted that, “they (the Germans) matched on the mortar’s position later with 10 or 12 small HE (high explosive) shells; in one place the trench was blocked”. The Company suffered no casualties on this occasion but the exchange does call to mind the reservations expressed by J.B. Priestley and others about the danger to the infantry posed by the activities of their own trench mortar batteries (see 23^rd March). Bolton also reported that later in the evening (around 9.30pm) a German machine gun began traversing the whole of ‘A’ Company’s front, “only ceasing at 1am when one of our Batteries began to fire at that part of the German line”. Work on wiring and dugouts continued.

At some point in this tour in the trenches an unexploded British rifle grenade was ‘returned’ by the Germans, with an enclosed note which read, 

“Dear Englishmen

Enclosed you will find one of yours unexploded and see that these things can do us nothing. Tell your manufacturer to do powder in the same. We wish to tell you that we have taken 40,000 French prisoners at Verdun and the fort of Kut-el-Amara with 13,000 of yours. Here too we are quite well and have plenty to eat therefore you can’t get us by this. It is nothing with your fliers too. Our Lieut. Boelcke has got his 16 aeroplanes and Immelman his 15^th. Splendid fellows aren’t they?”.

The ‘race’ between German ‘aces’ Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann was the subject of much publicity in Germany. Boelcke had scored his 16^th victory on 18^th May, two days after Immelman had recorded his 15^th. Immelmann was to be killed on 18^th June 1916 and Boelcke on 28^th October 1916. The British-Indian garrison of Kut, south of Baghdad, had surrendered on 29^th April 1916. Bitter fighting continued at Verdun for many months.

  
Pte. Ernest Dawson (13541) of ‘D’ Company who had been killed the previous day was buried at Tranchee de Mecknes, near Aix Noulette, close to other casualties from the Battalion (see 23^rd March and 1^st April).


Pte. William Knox (see 20^th May) again wrote home to his wife, Ethel (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters);

“ … We are in the trenches again once more. We are in until Saturday night. It has been very nice weather until today and it has started to rain. … Yes I often see some of the Lichfield Bhoys (referring to the men who had trained with Pte. Knox before being posted to France). They are keeping pretty well. Jim McMath (Pte. James McMath, see 15^th November 1915) wished to be remembered to you …”.

The office of GOC, London District replied to the recent request for information from the War Office in the case of John Henry Hitchin (see 16^th May). They reminded the War Office that Hitchin had been treated at Queen Alexandra’s Hospital, Millbank because, “The case was one of urgency, the patient was in uniform, and there was nothing to arouse suspicion as to his being other than he seemed”.

Pte. Lionel Vickers arrived in France en route to join 10DWR; on arrival he would join ‘A’ Company. He had attested, aged 22, under the Derby Scheme, in Halifax on 13^th December 1915 and had been mobilised six weeks later, joining 3DWR with whom he completed his training before departing for active service. Lionel was the youngest of eleven children (five of whom had died) of John and Sarah Vickers who had lived for many years in Sowerby Bridge, where Lionel worked as a dyers’ labourer (he had also previously worked as a worsted spinner). Other men are also known to have arrived in France on the same day en route to joining 10DWR. Pte. William Mitchell was a 21 year-old labourer from Halifax and would also join ‘A’ Company. Pte. Arthur Shaw (18277) was a 23 year-old married man from Halifax. Pte. Eastwood Wilkinson was a 20 year-old mason from Greetland.

A payment of 18s was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. William Henry Jowett (see 23^rd March), who had been killed in action on 23^rd March; the payment would go to his mother, Nancy Jowett.

Wednesday 24th May 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The day began fine, but became showery. There were regular exchanges of rifle grenades and trench mortars along the Battalion front and from 1.30pm a somewhat more concerted German artillery bombardment of the sector. One man was killed in the shelling and another wounded. The man killed was Pte. Ernest Dawson (13541) of ‘D’ Company. He was a Keighley man and would likely have known some of Tunstill’s Company before the war, especially as the Keighley News would later report that he “was very well known in the town”. Dawson’s Company Commander, Captain James Christopher Bull (see below), wrote to Dawson’s mother the same day, with news of her son’s death: “I expect you will have heard from the War Office that your son was killed today by a trench mortar bomb, but I felt I must write to you personally to say how sorry I am for you in your trouble. I have known your son since October 1914 at Frensham, and he was always a hard-working and good soldier and we shall miss him a great deal. Mr. Marks (2Lt. Isidore David Marks, for whom, see 26^th March), his platoon officer, who was with him when he died, is partially trained as a doctor, and he assures me that your son suffered no pain. I hope that this fact and the knowledge that he died for his country may be some consolation, but please accept the sympathy of all the officers of this Company, for we all had a high opinion of your son’s soldierly spirit”.

Work progressed on improving the barbed wire defences and it was stated that the Brigade as a whole had, in the course of the night, laid “16 lines of wire, varying from 20 to 80 yards in length”, despite the fact that “Work hampered by enemy patrols and machine gun fire”.

There was no renewal of the attempt to recover the lost ground further south and it was concluded that the German intention had been primarily to gain control over a number of mine shafts and galleries which had been prepared by the British. In this it was acknowledged that, “he (ie the Germans) could claim success for his operation … but the extent of ground gained by the enemy in these operations had been small”.

Again, as at Loos in September 1915, the Battalion had found themselves on the fringes of-, and only partially engaged in -, a significant operation.

The continued shelling of Fosse 10 meant that all casualties at the main dressing station located there (see 19^th May) were moved into the cellars of the buildings.

Captain James Christopher Bull had been commissioned in September 1914 and posted to the newly-formed 10^th Battalion, taking command of ‘D’ Company. Born on 10^th May 1881 he had attended St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he had been a member of the University Volunteer Corps, before graduating in 1903. Since then he had been teaching, firstly at Dunchurch Hall School for two years and then as an Assistant Master at Twyford School, Winchester, where he was in charge of physical training.

Acting Sgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 28^th March), at his own request, reverted to his previous rank of Lance Sergeant.

L.Cpl. Percy Simpson (see 18^th October 1915) began to be paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Sgt. Herbert Grayshon was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from nephritis. He was an original member of the Battalion; he had been working as a coal miner in Drighlington and had enlisted aged 27. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when he had been promoted.

Pte. Henry Vanderstein Joyce was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from shellshock; he would be discharged to duty after six days. He was 34 years old, married with three children and from London where had had worked as a assistant foreman in a laundry. He had enlisted in the early Summer of 1915 having previously served eight years (1899-1907) with the York and Lancaster Regiment, including service in South Africa and India, and four years (1907-1912) on the Army Reserve.

Pte. Fred Wainman (see 14^th May) was discharged from no.4 Stationary Hospital, Arques, following treatment for ‘dental caries’, and re-joined the Battalion.

Six new subalterns arrived in France, en route to join 10DWR.

2Lt. Frederick Lowther Dawson Barker was just 18 years old and had been commissioned with 3DWR on 16^th August 1915. He was the elder of two sons (he also had two sisters) of William Grisdale Barker and his wife Florence. The family had lived in Guiseley and William had been the managing director of a brewery, but had died on 2^nd December 1914.

2Lt Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards was 29 years old (born 18^th January 1887). He was born in Austria, where his father, James Brinsley-Richards was correspondent for The Times in Vienna (he had also been correspondent in Berlin). Roland was educated at King's School Canterbury from 1894 to 1906. He went on to Queen's College, Oxford on an Open Classical Scholarship (1st Place) where he obtained first classes in Classical Moderations in April 1908. Later in 1908 he moved to Hertford College where he achieved Literae Humaniores in July 1910. He was a prominent speaker at the Union Society at Oxford, serving on its committee from 1908 and was Assistant Treasurer in 1909. In 1910 he had worked as a journalist for The Times for six months before taking up an appointment as a junior clerk in the India Office (Home Civil Service); he was appointed Resident Clerk at the India Office in 1912. In June 1913 he became an MA and became private secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary for State in 1914. In early 1915 he received permission to undertake military service and on 7^th June 1915 he enlisted in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and on 10^th September 1915 he was commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant.

2Lt. Ernest Cyril Coke had been commissioned on 23^rd September 1915. He was 25 years old (born 18^th April 1891), the fourth of seven children of William and Mary Coke; his father was a surgeon and the family had lived in Kent. Ernest had attended Haileybury School, where he had spent two years in the OTC and had been a prize-winning marksman. He had then studied at the Crystal Palace Engineering School and had then worked for two years in Borneo as assistant engineer for the Rajah of Sarawak. In his application for a commission he had requested that he be commissioned into the Royal Engineers, or into another unit where he might apply his engineering skills.

2Lt. Charles Crowther Hart was 25 years old (born 17^th June 1890); he was the youngest son and one of nine children of Rev. Frederick Hart, Rector of Kimberley, Notts. He had attended Nottingham High School and had then spent two years in the USA before returning to England to take up his theology studies at the Medical Missionary Training College, Leytonstone. However, following the outbreak of war he had enlisted (on 25^th September 1914) as a Private in the Notts. and Derbys. Regiment (Sherwood Foresters). In June 1915 he applied for a commission and was formally discharged to his commission with 3DWR on 25^th August.

2Lt. John Selby Armstrong Smith was just 17 years old (born 28^th June 1898); the son of John and Isabella Selby Smith. His father had died when John was only an infant and he, along with his mother and two sisters, had lived for some time with his paternal grandmother. He had been educated at Manor House School in Clapham. He had applied for a commission on 30^th September 1915, at which time it was stated that he had, “passed the army entrance exam in two subjects out of four. He has a good general education”.

The sixth new officer, 2Lt. Henry Dawson, has not yet been positively identified beyond his name and rank.

Tuesday 23rd May 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

On another beautiful day, regular artillery exchanges continued as on the previous days. Most of the German shelling was directed against British batteries in rear rather than against the front lines and Fosse 10 and Aix Noulette were again reported to have been heavily shelled. About 7pm the British shelling to the south increased markedly in support of an attempt by 47^th Division to recover the ground lost to the Germans two days earlier. Some initial gains were made in this attack but they could not be held and troops were forced to withdraw, leaving the position as it had been, with the Germans still occupying their gains from the attack on 21^st. During the British assault, German artillery fire was re-directed upon the British front lines and four men in the Battalion were reported wounded. 

One of the men who had been wounded was from Tunstill’s Company; Pte. Anthony Goulding had been one of the Keighley contingent added to Tunstill’s original recruits in September 1914. Aged 19 when he enlisted, Anthony Goulding was Keighley born and bred, though his father, Thomas, was originally from County Sligo in Ireland. Thomas and his wife Ellen had 12 children, two of whom had died in infancy. Prior to enlisting Anthony had been working as a coremaker in an iron foundry. Pte. Goulding suffered wounds to his left arm, right thigh and left foot and would be evacuated (details unknown) and admitted to 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre. On 27^th May he would be evacuated to England onboard the Hospital Ship Asturias. The details of his treatment in England are unknown, but he would recover sufficiently from his wounds to return to active service (date unknown) although he did not re-join 10DWR but was instead posted to 2DWR.

The other wounded men were Ptes. William Brassington, (see below), Patrick Larvin (see 19^th December 1915) and William Leach (see below). Pte. Larvin suffered wounds to his neck and left hip and would be evacuated (details unknown), like Pte. Goulding, and admitted (26^th May) to 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre where, on 28^th May, he would undergo an operation: “removal of foreign body in upper part of left thigh; foreign body removed and cauterised and drained; stovaine (anaesthetic)”. Pte. William Leach was an original member of the Battalion, having enlisted in September 1914, aged 18, in Keighley, where he worked as a woolcomber. While on sentry duty he had suffered wounds to his left arm and thigh and would be evacuated and admitted (26^th May) to 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre where an X-ray would be carried out, but no operation performed. The details of the wounds suffered by Pte. William Brassington and his treatment are unknown, but he would later serve with 2DWR, 2/4^th DWR and 1^st/4^th DWR. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to establish any further details of his service.

Pte. William Leach

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 21^st  May) reported that, under cover of the artillery fire, “The enemy had a working party out from about 10pm in front of their trench … the sounds seemed to indicate that they were digging in the old trench which lies in front of their wire”. British machine guns were unable to engage the Germans because British wiring parties and patrols were also operating in No Man’s Land. At 10.30pm Bolton accordingly ordered a patrol of two men plus 2Lt. Redington (Bolton did not make clear to which of the Redington brothers he was referring; both were serving as Second Lieutenants with the Battalion - see 27th December 1915)  out to investigate. The patrol returned after an hour having located a shallow sap, around two feet deep,  reaching out into a shell hole which had been deepened; however, it was found to be then unoccupied. The Brigade’s wiring parties continued to put out wire, with defences extending anywhere between ten and eighty yards ahead of the front line. 

Pte. Herbert Smith (11837) was transferred to 69^th Brigade Pigeon Station. He had been an original member of the Battalion; aged 35 he was a brick burner from Elland. He was said to have “long had a hobby in pigeon keeping, taking a keen interest in the homing variety, which he bred, and took part in racing. He has won prizes in long distance competitions”.

L.Cpl. George Wallace Fricker (see 21^st February), serving with11DWR, at Brocton Camp in Staffordshire, was promoted Corporal.

A payment of 13s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Joseph Allen (see 9^th March), who had been killed in action in March; the payment would go to his father, James.

Monday 22nd May 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

At 12.15am news of the German assault further south reached the Battalion in a message from 69^th Brigade HQ: “Situation *** Enemy attacked VIMY RIDGE today; British Counter attacked; situation still undecided *** Heavy shelling but not attacked CALONNE and SOUCHEZ section. All ranks in trenches to be warned to keep a good lookout. Message ends”. In fact the situation would remain quieter through the day, although there was a continuation of artillery duels.

During the morning orders were received for the Battalion to relieve 11^th West Yorks in the front line. ‘D’, ‘C’ and ‘A’ Companies were to be in the front line (from left to right), with ‘B’ in close support. The relief began at 3.30pm and was complete by 8pm. Despite German shelling the Battalion suffered only one casualty, with one man slightly injured by shrapnel. Regular artillery exchanges continued throughout the night. The Brigade War Diary noted that, “Work on trenches continued, but work on wire hampered by nervy state of enemy, who threw up innumerable “Very” lights throughout the night and fired at our working parties”. Much work had been done over the previous few days to try to improve the state of the British wire, and this would continue over the following days.

Prior to departure for the front line, Cpl. Wilfred Blackburn (see 14th March) had written home to his family:- "Thanks for parcel. Besides being beneficial to us in a practical sense, one feels we are remembered sometimes that the giving of ourselves is not forgotten. Lately, death has been exceedingly close, far too close to feel indifferent. Yesterday, and for many days previously, bombardments have been little short of terrifying. Houses go up like feathers, and soldiers and civilians are dug constantly from the debris. I don't know what to think of an advance for my eye, of course, is very limited in its sight and the object in hand so vast a poor soldier cannot see much of things in general. Today we leave for the trenches, having been out for five days."

Cpl. Wilfred Blackburn

The recent increase in the intensity of shelling also meant that the Advanced Dressing Station at Bully Grenay (see 19^th May) was re-located to a new house with better cellars; this now provided three cellars with accommodation for 24 lying cases. It was also reported that the experiment with the new one-wheeled stretchers had been “found to be useful, reducing time of carrying from RAP to ADS from 2 ½ hours to 1 ½ hours in spite of two narrow galleries to pass through, where stretcher has to be taken off carrier and carried shoulder high”. 

Lt. Genl. Henry Wilson, commanding IV Corps, signed an order in the case of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 20^th May), who had been reported as being unfit to continue as a platoon officer. Following a request by Maj. Genl. Babington that Dawson be appointed to an administrative post, Wilson’s report concluded, “I cannot see what qualifications this officer has and I am not prepared to recommend him for any employment which requires technical military knowledge. As he is not fit to command a platoon in the field, I recommend that he be sent home, for such employment as he may be considered suitable there”.

Pte. James Barker (12288) (see 11^th April), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was reported ‘absent off pass from 12.45’; he would not report back until 9.45pm on the 24^th March and would be admonished but suffer no further punishment.

Pte. John Beckwith (see 31^st March) who had been wounded in March and had been treated in hospital in Staffordshire before returning to the Regimental Depot at Halifax was reported absent without leave.

Sunday 21st May 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

On a beautiful morning the artillery activity of the previous day increased even further; again there was intense shelling of British positions south of Souchez (held by 47^th Division) but there was also a considerable bombardment against the Angres sector. The Battalion War Diary account of the shelling: “Beautiful day. About 11am the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment on our front line trenches which extended to the whole of the front visible to the eye. This continued until the early afternoon, after which he lengthened his range and rained shells of heavy calibre on the supports, and roads leading to the trenches, and also within the vicinity of our batteries”. The Brigade War Diary noted that a part of the front line was, “considerably damaged, the front trenches being blown in in three places and a dugout destroyed, but, compared with the amount of ammunition expended, no great damage was done”.

From mid-afternoon the barrage against 47^th Division, and also against the extreme right of 23^rd Division’s front (held by 68^th Brigade), where it met 47^th Division, just south of Souchez, became even more intense and was accompanied by the use of gas shells; this was again noted in the War Diary, “ At 4.50pm we received advice from the 68th Bde that the enemy was sending gas over to our lines, this was accompanied by a torrent of shells from the enemy which were principally composed of what is known as tear shells”.

There was also a marked degree of counter-battery fire from the Germans and the impact on an artillery battery located close to the Battalion billets was noted, “The enemy got very near to a number of our batteries but the damage done generally is not obtainable. A battery of R.G.A. which was in action played a very important part in the days proceedings. This battery was subjected to such a hail of shells for 5 to 6 hours which can only be explained by the word terrific. Needless to say the men of this battery stuck to their guns in the good old fashioned way, and when the enemy thought he had succeeded in silencing them they roared forth again and again. This battery continued the fight throughout the night and the enemy gave it up as a hopeless case about 11pm”.

Around 6pm shelling of 68^th Brigade subsided but the bombardment of 47^th Division continued unabated until, at 7.45pm, the Germans launched an infantry assault against the British lines in the Berthonval sector, near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, around the area generally notorious as ‘The Labyrinth’. The British defences in this area were known to be vulnerable on account of the desperately difficult conditions and the central section was quickly overrun; as a result it was necessary to withdraw from adjacent positions both left and right. There was no assault against 23^rd Division.

J.B. Priestley, in a letter home to his family, painted a more graphic picture of events,

“The village we were in last Sunday was shelled with armour-piercing Jack Johnsons, but we had only one man killed, though there were many civilians killed and wounded. It was a ghastly day. All the roads leading to the trenches were shelled too, and there were mules and limbers going up in the air. They sent every kind of shell over – gas shells (it was quaint to see the French children with gas helmets on), tear shells (everybody’s eyes were watering and sore), incendiary shells, shrapnel, and last but not least, the enormous Johnsons. I tried to imagine Saltburn Place (Priestley’ home in Bradford) being shelled in a similar manner, but it was too horrible to think about. They crash through houses and roads and steel girders like paper. And the concussion! Our heavy batteries, just near, were thundering in response, and our stretcher bearers had to keep dashing down to the gun pits to bring out the wounded, poor maimed creatures – burnt, twisted, torn and many of them dazed beyond immediate recovery with the sheer noise”.

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 15^th May), writing many years later, recalled that, “The barrages laid down by both sides for several nights in succession made the hilltop look like a volcano on eruption.

Pte. John Smith (13487) (see 20^th May), who had been wounded in the German shelling the previous day, died of his wounds at 22^nd Casualty Clearing Station, Lapugnoy; he would be buried the following day at Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension. 2Lt. Harry Harris (see 20^th May), to whom Smith had been officer’s servant, would write to Smith’s parents, telling them, “I have always found him a most cheerful and reliable lad and I have lost in him a good soldier”.

L.Cpl. Harry Holmes (see 24^th April) was promoted Acting Corporal.

Saturday 20th May 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

There was a further increase in German artillery fire; this was most noticeable further south, beyond Souchez, against the portion of the British line held by 47^th Division, but the Battalion War Diary also recorded that, “The enemy artillery is showing a marked activity and is ranging upon various places with a high velocity gun of small calibre. This gun can easily be distinguished from others”. Shelling was also directed against Sains-en-Gohelle and on the pithead area of Fosse 10. During the morning one heavy shell demolished one of the houses in the village, killing a French civilian and seriously wounding Pte. John Smith (see 11th December 1915); he was evacuated to 22^nd Casualty Clearing Station at Lapugnoy. His wounds were very serious, as reported in a letter written by Pte. William Knox (see 15^th May), “We have had a chap out of our Platoon hit very bad. The Doctor gives no hope for him. He is an Officer’s servant and he only came back off leave last Sunday. He comes from Halifax and he is the only son”. He had been officer’s servant to 2Lt. Harry Harris (see 10^th April).

Pte. Sam Shuttleworth (see 25^th April) again found himself in trouble, having again been found to be drunk; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 24^th February) departed on one week leave to England.

After a month’s treatment for influenza and two weeks at 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, Pte. Albert John Start (see 4^th May) re-joined the Battalion.

The incident involving Pte. John Smith was one of a number of things referred to in a letter written over the course of two days by Pte. William Knox (see 15^th May) (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters);

“… It is very hot here with ourselves. I am writing this letter taking cover behind a great big coal tip. You know what I mean. Like them round the Nunnery Pit. We are forced to be there as the Germans have shelled us out of our billets and it is a perfect Hell. We have lost over fifty men. All killed but eighteen. And ever so many civilians.

I can tell you it touched me on Friday afternoon (19^th) as I saw two little kiddies, only about five year old, blown to pieces. We had to put them in sandbags. I never want to witness another scene like it. It is bad enough grown-up people getting killed but when it comes to innocent children it is a rotten shame.

We have had a chap out of our Platoon hit very bad (Pte. John Smith, 13487, see above). The Doctor gives no hope for him. He is an Officer’s servant and he only came back off leave last Sunday. He comes from Halifax and he is the only son. …

You ask me how long it will be before I get my pass. I cannot say but I am afraid it will be at least another three months yet as they are always stopping it. But we have heard a rumour that our Colonel is going to let all married men come first. But it will cause a lot of grievance with the single men who have been with the Battalion since it was first formed.

I wish I could transfer to another lot as I am getting fed up with this one. They mug us about too much. When we are out of the trenches they are not satisfied unless they are drilling us all day long. Yes Dear I was forced to go bombing and I came out with two first class certificates Dear. It is not a dangerous job if you are only careful and you can trust me to be that. I take every precaution for safety for I am thinking of the day when I come home for good and we get settled down in a home of our own …

Well Dear it is Sunday morning (21^st) and I am finishing this letter before we go to Church. You would be surprised how keen most of us are to go when we get a chance. We are having it in the open. They are just burying a young man that got killed with a shell on Friday. He was a French chap, only eighteen years old. Six of our men are acting as bearers.

We saw an awful sight last night (20^th). About eight o’clock a German shell weighing 110lbs. hit a house and it knocked it right down to the ground and the furniture was all over the road. Two French women were killed.

They have issued smoke helmets out to the civilians here now in fear of the Boshes sending gas over. It is a shame to see little kiddies about four year old wearing them. They have twenty minutes drill every day so as to know how to go on when gas does come. I have been through it once when I was at the bomb school. We were in for about ten minutes and it is an awful experience. You are nearly suffocated with the chemicals from the helmet. You will be able to have one on when I come home on leave.

You remember that satchel you sent me before I left Lichfield? If you remember I thought I had lost it when that shell hit our dugout and I lost my coat (see 10^th November 1915). It appears that I had been using it the night before and it was on the boards and a chap of ours picked it up and put it in his pocket and forgot all about it. And he went into hospital with pneumonia and he came back to us yesterday, Saturday (20^th), and as soon as ever he saw me he gave it to me with everything in it. Your photo and little Lizzie and Grace’s and Edith Mitchell’s. So I can tell you I am right pleased. I gave him the other one you made me. I will let you have one of yours home again as soon as I can and you can say you have been on a battlefield. I had it that day when we saw the Germans coming over to our lines just before Xmas and we went out and met them in No Mans Land, on the land in between our trench and old Fritz. …

PS We go back into the trenches tomorrow afternoon, Monday (22^nd), until Saturday night”.

Maj. Genl. Babington, commanding 23^rd Division, having received the recommendation of Brig. Genl. Lambert in the case of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 19^th May), who had been reported as being unfit to continue as a platoon officer, issued his own recommendation that Dawson should be posted to an administrative position, considering him unfit for employment with a labour battalion.

L.Cpl. Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 5^th April), who was still at 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples following recent medical treatment, was promoted Corporal.

The original commander of Tunstill’s Company, Maj. Harry Robert Hildyard, (see 11^th April) was transferred to 1^st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, Leics. Regt.

Sgt. James Leach (see 26^th December 1915) was transferred to the Army Gymnastic Staff as a Sergeant Instructor.