“The natural strength of Contalmaison had been apparent from the first; but its full strength was only realised later, when there was opportunity to examine the numerous cellars and dugouts and to reckon the immense garrison for which it could afford protection from artillery fire. The amount of work which had been expended on its defences by the Germans gave the measure of the importance that they must have attached to this position”.
July, was, finally, relatively secure.
Sporadic German shelling of the village continued through the 11th and three men from the Battalion machine-gun section were killed during the day by the explosion of a German shell. One of those killed was Pte. Francis Herbert Maltby (see 13th March), known as ‘Bert’; he had only recently joined the machine-gun section. The news reached his family within days in a letter from 2Lt. Maurice Tribe (see 27th December 1915), who said:
“I am very sorry to have to tell you that your son has died, but he felt no pain. It is more than sad to know that it is only by deaths such as his, and fights such as that in which he played his part so well that England can come through this war to something better. I know it cannot lessen your personal grief but it does greatly add to his personal glory. Without such men no one can say where England would be now … Personally I am very sorry for he was invaluable to the section.”
Sgt. Tom Pickles (see 10th June), also wrote to Mrs. Maltby: “Your son was not in the section a long time, and personally I did not know him, but the other boys liked him well. From what I have seen he was a fine lad and did his duty well and nobly. The whole section desire me to convey to you their deepest sympathy”.
![]() |
Pte. Bert Maltby |
Pte. Joseph Haywood, known as Joe, was also killed; he was, like Pte. Maltby, an original member of the Battalion. He was 32 years old and from Brighouse where he had worked at the Brighouse Gasworks; he was married, with two children. As was the case with Pte. Maltby, news would be conveyed by 2Lt. Tribe and Sgt. Pickles, both of whom would write to Pte. Haywood’s widow. 2Lt. Tribe wrote, “I feel somewhat rude in encroaching upon your personal sorrow but perhaps it may help in some slight degree to lesson the grief for you to know that your husband, though killed in action, died instantly and without any pain whatever. He was in a trench in front of, and guarding, a village with a famous name that the Brigade had captured the day previously. No man can say what the great offensive may bring forth but whatever of god to England and the world may come of it will be the result, the chief result, of deaths, lives and actions like those of your husband. Personally I am very sorry indeed for him, for myself and most of all for you, for I know that he is at peace but that you cannot but be in the midst of grief. I will say no more but to thank you for having given him to us and to his country”. Sgt. Pickles would write, “It is with deep regret that I write to convey the sad news of your husband’s death. He was buried by the explosion of a shell on Monday inst. (sic., but more likely, as per 2Lt. Tribe’s account, overnight 10th-11th July) and all hopes were lost from the first. His death was instantaneous and it is comforting to know he did not suffer. On behalf of the section I convey to you our deepest sympathy. The whole of us liked Joe and he was a friend to all of us. I personally feel his loss very much. He was cheerful always and brave and fearless. ‘Tis poor consolation I know, but he died facing the enemy for his country’s honour. May God be with you and help you in this your time of great trouble”.
![]() |
Image from The Brighouse Echo, 28th July 1916 |
The third man killed was Pte. Frank Sanderson Chatwin; he had also been an original member of the Battalion. He was 22 years old and from Scarborough, where he had worked with his father who was a ‘boot dealer’. All three men have no known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
L.Cpl. Walter
Blamires (see 20th
November 1915) died of wounds and was buried at Fricourt British Cemetery; he
had been wounded at some point during the actions of 10th-11th.
A number of other men were also wounded. Pte. Patrick Conley (see 22nd
June) suffered a fractured hand and fractured ribs due to shell concussion;
he would be evacuated to 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital at
Outreau. Pte. Charles Smith (12380) (see 27th April) suffered
wounds to his left hand; he would be admitted via 2nd Field Ambulance
to 34th Casualty Clearing Station at Vecquemont, east of
Amiens and from there, on 12th
July, onboard no.9 Ambulance Train to 6th General Hospital in Rouen.
Also wounded at some point in the actions of early July, although the exact date has not been established, was Pte. Willie Bradley (see 7th June 1915). He was reported to have suffered “a flesh wound by shrapnel in the arm above the elbow and a bullet wound in the arm below the elbow, which fortunately missed the bone”. He appears not to have been transferred back to England but to have been treated locally as he quickly re-joined the Battalion.
![]() |
Pte. Willie Bradley |
![]() |
Pte. Fred Benson |
![]() |
Sgt. John Hartley |
![]() |
Pte. Clifford George Unwin |
Also killed during the day were two other men, not from Tunstill’s Company; Pte. Frank Sanderson Chatwin had been an original member of the Battalion; he was 22 years old and from Scarborough, where he had worked with his father who was a ‘boot dealer’. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. L.Cpl. Walter Blamires (see 20th November 1915) died of wounds and was buried at Fricourt British Cemetery.
Wounded 27 officers and 606 other ranks
Missing 1 officer and 159 other ranks
Pte. Cecil Rhodes (see 30th June) re-joined the Battalion following treatment at 19th Field Ambulance.
A number of officers and men were cited in the Battalion War
Diary for their conduct in the operations around Contalmaison. Of those
mentioned, only Sgts. Edmondson and McKrill, L.Cpl. Davis and Pte. Atkinson
would receive gallantry awards.
Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 10th
July): Displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty when in Command of
his Coy which occupied Shelter Trench and point x.16.d.6.0. During the attack
on Contalmaison when his Coy was under intense artillery fire he constantly
walked up and down the trench setting a magnificent example of coolness and
personal ability.
2Lt. Henry Kelly (see 10th July):
Was in charge of the platoon, snipers and Lewis gun at point x.16.d.6.0. This
garrison was exposed to accurate sniping and heavy shell fire throughout the
operations. He displayed the greatest gallantry throughout and handled his
garrison so well that the enemy had to abandon a machine gun point 9.3. He
undoubtedly saved many casualties by the prompt way in which he dealt with the
hostile machine guns.
Capt. John Atkinson (see 10th July):
Commanded his Company in Shelter Trench and when under very heavy artillery
fire with the greatest coolness and devotion to duty. By his example he
inspired his Company with the greatest confidence and although unable to lead
his Company in the advance on Contalmaison through being buried by a shell, he
joined the Battalion at Contalmaison as soon as he had been dug out.
2Lt. Frank Hubert Caudwell Redington (see 10th
July): Displayed great coolness and bravery during the confusion caused by
the retirement of certain parties. He continually rallied men of the Battalion
and brought them on with his platoon. he set a fine example to his men and
rendered very valuable assistance throughout the advance.
2Lt. and A/Adjt. Hugh William Lester (see 10th
July): Rendered the most valuable service throughout the operations. He
continually went forward to ascertain the situation under heavy fire,
displaying the utmost disregard for personal safety.
2Lt. Robert Clement Perks (see 10th
July) who, when his Company Commander had been wounded, gallantly led his
Company forward to Contalmaison. By his coolness and devotion to duty, he set a
fine example to his Company during the advance.
Sgt. Thomas Henry Edmondson (see 10th
July): Assisted 2Lt. F H C Redington in rallying the men and pulling them
together. He displayed the utmost gallantry and coolness throughout the
advance.
Cpl. Charles Wragg (see below), Pte. Leonard
Pankhurst (see 11th September 1915) and Pte. Arthur Gill
(14980) (see 26th May): The above men showed the greatest
bravery when under heavy artillery barrage in continually digging out men who
had been buried by shell fire; Pte. Gill having himself been buried. These men
by their gallantry and devotion to duty were responsible for saving several
lives. Charles Wragg was a 32 year-old coal miner from Castleford; he
was married with one son (a second child had died, aged 3, in 1913). He had
been an original member of the Battalion.
Pte. John William Atkinson (see above): Did
invaluable work as stretcher bearer. He continually carried back wounded
regardless of his own safety. The work of the stretcher bearers was magnificent
and I select him as being the senior. He would be awarded the Military Medal.
L.Cpl. John Davis (known as ‘Jack’) (13588): who was
in charge of the Lewis Gun at x.16.d.6.0. He handled his gun with great ability
and coolness and throughout showed the greatest gallantry, setting a
magnificent example to the remainder of the team. The work of this gun
undoubtedly saved our advancing troops heavy casualties. He would be awarded
the Military Medal. Jack Davis had been an original member of the Battalion,
having enlisted underage (b. 27th October 1896) in September 1914;
he was born in Guiseley but had been living in Bradford and working in a textile
warehouse.
L.Cpl. Reyner Sutcliffe (see 6th July);
L.Cpl. Dan Fretwell (He had been an original member of 10DWR, having
enlisted aged 19 and working as a miner; he had been born in Barnsley but had
been living in Castleford) and Pte. Charles Burn (see 6th
December 1915): Of the Battalion Snipers, did consistently good work
throughout the day in locating and silencing enemy snipers, They occupied an
exceedingly shallow trench and were subjected to heavy sniping and machine gun
fire after the advance had been launched. These men continued sniping the enemy
with great success throughout the operations although the casualties among our
snipers were very heavy.
Sgt. David Frederick McKrill (see 3rd
June): Displayed the greatest bravery and coolness under exceedingly heavy
artillery fire. He continually went up and down his platoon steadying the men
and by his example and assistance greatly assisted in keeping an unbroken line
during the advance on Contalmaison. He would be awarded the Military Medal.
Pte. Enoch Wilson Rhodes (see below): A
stretcher bearer. Rendered the most efficient work as a stretcher bearer. He
carried out his duties with an absolute disregard of all danger and was
responsible for getting a considerable number of wounded carried back. (Pte. Enoch Wilson Rhodes had originally
served with 8DWR, going out to Gallipoli in July 1915. He had been wounded in August
1915 and had been evacuated to England. The date of his transfer to 10DWR is
unknown. He was 23 years old and from Bradford where he had worked in the
textile mills).
Pte. John William Hawkridge DCM (see 9th
March): who was one of a Lewis Gun team although six of the team had become
casualties, continued with great coolness and bravery to work the gun with the
remaining man.
No comments:
Post a Comment