Wednesday 27th December 1916

Trenches east of Armagh Wood

On a colder, frosty day, the Battalion was relieved by 11^th West Yorks, but on their return to Ypres, the Battalion was not billeted at the Infantry Barracks as before, but instead two companies were housed in the Cathedral and one each at the Hospice and the Cavalry Barracks; Battalion HQ was at the Hospice. The relief was complete by 8pm.

(It is not clear whether the ‘Hospice’ refers to the ‘Hospice Belle’ or Women’s Asylum, or to the ‘Hospice Notre Dame’; both were located in the centre of Ypres, just off the Grande Place. The Cavalry Barracks were just south of the Infantry Barracks, close to St Peter’s Church).

Pte. Arthur Walton (see 12^th December) was reported ‘absent without leave’ having failed to return from two weeks’ leave to England.

More men went back to England on ten days’ leave; among them were LCpl. Christopher Longstaff (see 6^th October) and Ptes. Thomas George Coates (see 11^th September 1915), Louis Feather (see 14^th December), George King (16475) (see 10^th December 1915) and Alfred Edward Wybrow MM (see 8^th December).

L.Cpl. Christopher Longstaff

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green (see 22^nd July) reported sick, suffering from ‘ICT’ (inflammation of connective tissue) in his leg; he was admitted, via a Casualty Clearing Station, to one of the local hospitals (details unknown). 

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green

CSM Alfred Lodge (see 31^st October), who had been in England since July, having been severely wounded in the actions around Horseshoe Trench, and was now serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, received formal confirmation of the award of the Military Cross. Shortly afterwards Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 26^th December) hosted a dinner in his honour, attended by a number of Lodge’s comrades who were also now serving with 83^rd Training Reserve. During the dinner Tunstill presented Lodge with his medal ribbon. The events were reported in a newspaper article (see below, exact date and publication unknown) which was kept in Tunstill’s personal album.

Company Sergeant Major A.J. Lodge, MC, has a splendid soldier’s record. He served 16 years in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in India and South Africa, obtaining three medals, two in the South African War and one for dangerous segregation work in India at the time of the bubonic plague. He left the Army with the rank of Sergeant and was employed at Standon Mill and later at Chingford. When war broke out, he responded at once to his country’s call and rejoined his old regiment on August 8^th 1914. He quickly rose to be Company Sergeant-Major, giving him the rank of Warrant Officer. In September 1915 he went to the front and had practically eleven months in the trenches.

He was recommended for the Military Cross for the following deeds of heroism: On March 11^th 1916 at Souchez he succeeded in bringing in fourteen wounded men under heavy machine gun fire, and, after dressing their wounds, sent them to the dressing station. On the same date, also under machine gun fire, he brought in fourteen other men suffering from frost bitten feet. His plucky action at Contalmaison on July 9^th 1916, redounded to his courage and absolute absence of physical fear. The machine gun fire could hardly have been heavier, yet he courageously brought in Lieutenant Taylor, who had been wounded in the head. The gallant officer died and his rescuer was unfortunately wounded in the back during the operation, and buried. As he had sustained some injury to the spine it led to his being invalided home. 

He was a good shot, in fact he was a musketry instructor. After leaving the Bath hospital he returned to his regiment at Newcastle, and on December 27^th he received word that he had been awarded the Military Cross. His Company Officer, Captain Tunstill, gave a dinner in his honour and pinned the white ribbon with the purple stripe on his breast amidst the delighted cheers of his comrades. His only regret is that he has to leave the Army owing to the disablement caused by his wounds. He is, however, hoping to do useful work for his country in a munition factory. He has a wife and two children residing at Puckeridge. He comes of a soldier family as seven of his brothers fought in the South African War and four in the present war, one of whom was killed. Undaunted in courage, cool in danger, resolute and resourceful, this brave soldier has well earned his laurels. 

CSM Alfred Lodge

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

This image from the personal album kept by Gilbert Tunstill may show Tunstill himself (centre) with an unknown officer (right) and CSM Lodge (left). The image is not captioned in the album and the identification of Lodge is not certain, though there is a strong resemblance and the man wears the ribbon of the Military Cross; Warrant Officer rank insignia; and a wound stripe on the lower left sleeve; all of which would apply to Lodge.

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton.