Thursday 1st February 1917

Front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)    

In the evening the Battalion was relieved by 8^th Yorks & Lancs, with the last men clear of the trenches by 9.40pm ,and proceeded to Winnipeg Camp, arriving at 1am. 

The mixed results of the continuing cold weather were noted in the War Diary of the Divisional Trench Mortar Batttery: “ground became very hard, and many places, hitherto impassable owing to mud, were easily visited; digging was very difficult owing to frost making ground like iron for a depth of two feet”.

Pte. William Holdsworth died of wounds at no.10 Casualty Clearing Station and was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. From Bradford, he was 29 years old and had married Elizabeth Ann Brannan in 1906 and the couple had four young children. William had been working as a woolcomber (for Messrs. Pickles and Wray) but had enlisted soon after the outbreak of war and had served with 8DWR, being wounded in June 1915; on recovering he had been posted to 10DWR.

After spending a month at No.3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne being treated for influenza, Pte. Elijah Sudworth (see 8^th January), was evacuated to England for a period of convalescence. 

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 9^th October 1916), who had been England since being wounded in action at Munster Alley, returned to France en route to re-joining the Battalion.

Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 29^th December 1916), who had been one of the original officers of Tunstill’s Company, but was now a Flying Officer (Observer) with the RFC, was posted to no.28 Squadron based at Gosport.

A payment of £14 0s. 3d. was authorised, in respect of pay and allowances due to the late Pte. Myer Freedman MM (see 19^th September), who had been killed in action on 19^th September 1916; the payment would go to his father, Marks.



A payment of £17 1s. 10d. was authorised, in respect of pay and allowances due to the late Pte. Archie Munro (see 12^th October), who had been killed in action in October 1916 while serving with 2DWR; the payment would go to his father, Daniel.

Wednesday 31st January 1917

Front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)    

The recent bitterly-cold weather continued. Another generally quiet day, with no casualties.

Pte. George King (16475) (see 9^th January) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station suffering from ringworm to his scalp; he would be discharged to duty after five days.

Pte. Erwin Wilkinson (see 19^th December 1916) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, suffering from influenza; he would be treated for a week before returning to duty on 7^th February.

Pte. Fred Riddiough (see 26^th January), suffering from scabies and impetigo, was transferred from 50^th Casualty Clearing Station to 25^th General Hospital at Hardelot.

Former member of Tunstill’s Company, Acting Sgt. George Clark (see 24^th October 1916), now serving with ASC, Motor Transport Section in England, having been diagnosed with Raynauds Disease, reverted to the rank of Acting Corporal. This was on account of ‘misconduct’, although the detail was not specified.

2Lt. Harry Widdup (see 11^th January), currently on sick leave in England, reported his present address as being, c/o Mrs Barrett, 39 Castle View, Clitheroe.

In Huddersfield, Florence Hogley, wife of Pte. Herbert Farrand Hogley (see 11^th January), who had been posted to France three weeks previously, gave birth to the couple’s first child; he would be named Charles Herbert.

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

Killed                                       10 other ranks

Accidentally killed                   1 other rank

Died of wounds                        0

Wounded                                69 other ranks

Accidentally wounded          23 other ranks

Missing                                      0

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                       6 (The Battalion War Diary records 11 killed)

Accidentally killed                0

Died of wounds                     0

Wounded                              34 (The Battalion War Diary records 35 wounded)

Accidentally wounded         1

Missing                                   0

These Brigade casualty figures do not take account of the deaths of five men who had been wounded but had died subsequently from their wounds. However, they were accounted for in the figure quoted in the Battalion War Diary.

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

Killed                                       154

Accidentally killed                     4

Died of wounds                         7

Wounded                               756

Accidentally wounded            49

Missing                                    116

Tuesday 30th January 1917

Front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)

A generally quiet day, with no casualties. The weather remained very cold and there was a light fall of snow overnight 30^th-31^st.

Pte. Arthur Sutcliffe (see 16^th December 1916) left the Battalion and was posted back to England; the reason for his departure is unclear, but can most likely be ascribed to wounds or illness.

Monday 29th January 1917

Front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)

The recent freezing weather continued. It was reported that, “The enemy was rather more active than they were during the previous tour in this sector”, but the Battalion suffered no casualties.

L.Sgt. John Thomas Matthews (see 15^th November 1917) was promoted Sergeant.

LCpl. Ronald Jeckell (see 14^th November 1916) was promoted Corporal.

Pte. James Robert Ingleson (see 12^th November 1916) was reported by Cpl. Robinson (unidentified) for “neglect of duty; ie dumping rations (water)”; on the orders of 2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 14^th January) he would be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green (see 12^th January) who had returned to duty less than three weeks previously following a stay in hospital, was re-admitted.

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green

The War Office confirmed that Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 25^th January) had been re-commissioned and instructed to join 3DWR at North Shields as soon as possible.

 

Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC

A medical report on Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 4^th December 1916), who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service and had undergone a major operation seven weeks earlier to address the symptoms of TB, found that he “looks wasted and ill”, but that “no TB found in sputum”. He was declared to be totally incapacitated for at least three months.

Following his claim three months earlier for a war pension Fred Tate (see 17^th October 1916), who had been an original member of ‘A’ Company but had been discharged on grounds of ill health whilst the Company was in training, was examined by a Medical Board at East Leeds War Hospital. Tate was found to be suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and he reported the circumstances as, “16 (sic. recte 26) months ago commenced to have a cough and pain in right hand side and became short of breath. Was then in training at Frensham Camp, Surrey. Reported sick but was not taken to hospital, but discharged 12^th November 1914 by Regimental MO. Then, six months later admitted to Otley Union Infirmary. Was there 12 months. Latterly working at dye works”. When Tate was examined it was reported that, “Tubercular bacilli found in sputum in very large numbers. Now complains of shortness of breath and pains in the chest. Never spits blood now; last did so two months ago. Says has lost weight. Appears dull mentally and any history is extremely difficult to extract.” The Board had evidence from “Lt. Col i/c 10^th West Ridings who states that at present there is no officer serving with this Battalion who can give information as to exposure, rations etc objected to by this man” and they concluded that the TB was not caused by Tate’s military service, thus rendering him ineligible for any pension. However, he was awarded a gratuity of £52.


A further payment, of £2 19s. 5d was authorised, being the balance outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Anthony Hudson (see 15^th March 1916), who had been killed in action in December 1915; the payment would go to his married sister, Mrs. Fanny Hall. It is unclear why there had been such a prolonged delay in the release of this final amount.

Sunday 28th January 1917

Billets in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)

On yet another bitterly cold day, the Battalion returned to the same sector of the front line as on their previous tour, relieving 11^th West Yorks, with the relief complete by 8.20pm.

The application for a commission completed the previous day by CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 27^th January) was endorsed by Major Ashton St. Hill (see 2^nd January), temporary C.O. 10DWR. Odfield had also been certified as medically fit by Battalion M.O., Capt. Cecil Berry (see 10^th January).

 

CSM Billy Oldfield MM

Pte. Walter White (see 14^th December 1915), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company but had been transferred to 2DWR in April 1915, and had subsequently been posted back to England, was reported absent without leave from the Regimental Depot at Halifax.

Saturday 27th January 1917

Billets in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres

Working parties were again provided with conditions generally quiet, though freezing cold.

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 7^th January) was discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion.

L.Cpl. Reyner Sutcliffe (see 6^th October 1916), who had been in England since having suffered wounds to his right arm and buttocks in October 1916, was discharged from the Lord Derby War Hospital in Warrington.

After six weeks in hospital suffering from influenza, Pte. Albert John Start (see 11^th December), who had been attached for duty to the heavy branch of the Machine Gun Corps, was discharged from hospital and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples; it was confirmed that he was deemed fit only for Base Duties.

CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 8th December 1916) completed and submitted his application for a commission.

CSM Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Charles Archibald Milford (see 23^rd January), was appointed as an Assistant Anti-Gas Instructor based at Etaples.

In advance of his next appearance before a Medical Board, 2Lt. John Keighley Snowden (see 28^th December 1916), who had been wounded at Le Sars, prepared a statement of his current situation: “I was wounded at Le Sars on October 4^th 1916, while serving with 10th Duke of Wellington's. During an attack on this date an enemy bomb landed within a yard of my side. I was operated on at the Casualty Clearing Station and pieces of the bomb (wood) were removed from my left leg and from my head just behind the right ear. A portion of my right ear was blown off. I was removed to England and placed in the 2^nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol. As the result of the explosion I am now suffering from deafness in my right ear. After three months sick leave I find little signs of improvement in my hearing”.

Friday 26th January 1917

Billets in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres

Another quiet day but bitterly cold day, with large working parties again provided for the Royal Engineers.

L.Cpls. Harry Holmes (see 30^th July 1916) and William Hutchinson (see 9^th December) were promoted Corporal. L.Cpl. Jonathan Richardson Sunderland (see 20^th October 1916) was confirmed and paid in his rank, which he had previously held on an unpaid basis. Despite his previous brushes with military discipline, Pte. Clarence Best (see 19^th December 1916) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal. Pte. James Arthur Heap (17^th December 1916) was also promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Fred Riddiough (see 12^th September 1916), was admitted to 50^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from scabies.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 5^th January), currently on light duty with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Brighton Road Schools, Gateshead appeared before a further Medical Board assembled at Tynemouth. The Board found that, “nothing is now to be observed wrong with the knee joint; no swelling or tenderness. He states that he has some pain and swelling if he walks far, but the Board ascertains that he is able to march 10 miles”. He was declared fit for general service.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A payment of £5 19s. 1d. was authorised, in respect of pay and allowances due to the late Pte. Edward Kilburn (see 6th October 1916) who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Ethel.
The weekly edition of the Craven Herald again reported on the death of Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM (see 12^th January)

STEETON-WITH-EASTBURN - THE LATE SERGEANT T. MOYLE

During the past fortnight many sincere expressions of sympathy from local friends, as well as letters from Steeton soldiers in their late son's battalion, have reached Mr. and Mrs. E. Moyle, Elmsley Street, Steeton. The Chaplain of the gallant sergeant's brigade (Rev. Wilfred L. Henderson, see 7^th January) has also written a sympathising letter in which he says:-

"You will already have heard the sad news of the death of your son, but I also wish to tell you how deeply we all sympathise with you in your loss. It happened while we were in a billet behind the line, an unfortunate German shell killing and wounding many of our men. Your son was very seriously wounded and died shortly afterwards. We buried him the following evening in a soldier's cemetery and a short service was held at the graveside. A cross with his name and number will be put over his grave and it will be forever kept sacred and reverently cared for. Your son will be much missed in the battalion. He had been with us so long and had the love and respect of all. Believe me our prayers and sympathy are with you in your great sorrow."

Sgt Thomas Moyle MM

There was also news of the continuing fund-raising efforts and the provision of parcels for men at the front:

SOLDIER’S GRATITUDE

Letters have been received from men on the Longpreston and Wigglesworth Roll of Honour showing how much they have appreciated their Christmas parcels. They all comment on the variety and usefulness of the contents and wish to convey the thanks of all who had in any way contributed, either by working or giving, towards sending them out. One of the letters received brought news that Company Sergeant Major William Jones (see 23^rd January) had been awarded the Military Medal during the ‘Big Push’.

Thursday 25th January 1917

Billets in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres

The freezing weather continued. Around 200 men were employed each day on working parties; conditions remained generally quiet.

Battalion Adjutant Lt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 1^st January) was attached to 69^th Brigade Headquarters for duty, although he had to leave to England prior to taking up his new appointment. His post as adjutant again went to Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips (see 24^th December).

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Pte. Joseph Blackburn (29722) (see 16^th January) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, having suffered a sprained ankle.

Pte. Henry Marshall (see 19^th December 1916) was admitted to no.46 Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from syphilis. He would be transferred, via 131^st Field Ambulance and 3^rd Canadian General Hospital, to 51^st General Hospital at Etaples.

Sgt. Robert William John Morris (see 22^nd January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted to the NCO’s School of Instruction at Tidworth Camp, Wilts.

Pte. Walter Charlesworth (see 3^rd January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.

Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 3^rd January), who had recently been compelled to relinquish his commission on grounds of ill-health but had appealed the decision, appeared before a Medical Board assembled at the War Office in London. The Board found that, “He has recovered and is fit to be re-commissioned”.

Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC

Pte. Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 23rd September), having completed his officer training, was commissioned Second Lieutenant with the West Riding Regiment. Also commissioned on the same day, having completed their officer training, were 2Lts. Leopold Henry Burrow, Vincent Edwards (see 1^st September 1916), Arthur Lilley and Thomas Arnold Woodcock. All were posted initially to 3DWR at North Shields. Leopold Henry Burrow was 21 years old and the elder of two sons of Henry John and Hannah Burrow. He had been born in Kent but had lived in West Norwood, London, where his father worked as a manager for a firm of merchants and Japanese importers. Exactly what Burrow had been doing at the outbreak of war and by what route he came to be commissioned has not yet been established. Arthur Lilley was 23 years old (born 28^th February 1893) and was the fifth of eight children of John and Sarah Lilley. John, who had died in 1908, had worked as a miner as had his elder sons, but Arthur had trained as a teacher, attending Normanton Grammar School and St. Peter’s College, Peterborough, from where he graduated in 1914. He had attested under the Derby Scheme at Oxford in November 1915 and had been called up in November and posted to 28^th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Fusiliers. From there he was transferred to 104^th Training Reserve Battalion on 1^st September 1916 and posted to no.10 Officer Cadet Battalion, at Gailes, Ayrshire, a month later. Thomas Arnold Woodcock was 19 years old (born 3^rd April 1897), the second child and only son of Wright and Florence Woodcock. The family lived in Bingley where Wright was Headmaster at a local school. On the outbreak of war Thomas had been a student at Bradford Grammar School and a member of the school OTC. He had attested in February 1916 and had served initially with the Ox. and Bucks. Light Infantry before being transferred to no.6 Officer Cadet Battalion based at Balliol College, Oxford.


Pte. Samuel Williams (13552) (see 4^th January) was formally discharged from the Army as longer physically fit for service on account of wounds suffered in action; he was assessed as having suffered an 80% disability and was awarded an Army pension of £2 13s. 7d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

A second payment, of 4s. 6d. was authorised, being a further amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. James Kettlewell (see 23^rd October 1916), who had been killed in action on 28^th July 1916; the payment would go to this mother, Dorothy.

Wednesday 24th January 1917

Front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)

Bitterly cold again, but largely quiet. The Battalion was relieved by 11^th West Yorks and returned to the Infantry Barracks in Ypres.

Although there is no mention in the War Diary, two men were killed and the precise circumstances of their deaths have not been established. Pte. George Gelling had been one of the original members of the Battalion. Born in Skipton in 1880; he was the youngest of three sons of an unmarried mother, Hannah Gelling. George had worked as a mason’s labourer and in the summer of 1911 he had married Julia Jemima Fagan in Skipton and the couple set up home at 17 Cumberland Street. George by then was working as a stoker at the Skipton Gasworks. He was a well-known local sportsman, and at one time had been a prominent Northern Union Rugby Football player. He had played for the Worth Village Club and later played as a three-quarter with both Manningham and Keighley. In September 1914 George joined the 10^th Battalion; aged 34, he was among the oldest of the recruits. He had survived what was described as ‘a narrow shave’ in the autumn of 1916 when he was said to have been blown off his feet by a shell explosion, but escaped uninjured.

Pte. George Gelling

Pte. Hubert Henry (‘Bertie’) Greensmith was 29 years old and from Holmbridge, near Huddersfield; he was the only son and eldest of three children of William and Sarah Greensmith. William was a self-employed baker and Bertie had worked with his father. Bertie had been called up under the Military Service Act in May 1916 and posted initially to the Royal Field Artillery before being transferred to the West Ridings in June 1916. He was among a draft posted to France on 3^rd October 1916 and had spent two weeks at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples before joining 10DWR on 17^th October 1916. Both men were buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground.

Pte. John James Cowling (see 21^st January), who had been wounded three days previously, was evacuated to England onboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick. 

After six weeks treatment for laryngitis and bronchitis, Sgt. John William Wardman (see 10^th December) was discharged from 32^nd Stationery Hospital at Etaples to 34^th Infantry Base Depot, where he would remain for almost five months.

Sgt. Frederick Griggs MM (see 23^rd December 1916), who had been one of Tunstill’s original Company but was now serving with 2DWR, was posted back to England, prior to beginning a course of officer training.

L.Cpl. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 2^nd October 1916), 1^st Battalion, West Yorkshires, was posted back to England to begin an officer training course. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

LCpl. Edwin Wveringham Ison

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Aidan Nicholson (see 18^th January), who had previously been dismissed from his officer training course, as being “of insufficient physique”, again wrote to the War Office, thanking them for their reply to his recent letter and enclosing a medical certificate as requested. He also informed them that he had been called up for service with the RFC; “I have this day been placed in Category A and I am due to report at the Newcastle Barracks on 1st February 1917”. He requested that they provide him with further instructions on how to proceed before that date. He would later serve with 10DWR. 

Aidan Nicholson

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Pte. Percival Victor Thomas (see 30^th December 1916), serving with 28^th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles) which was an officer training battalion, based at Richmond Park, completed his formal application for a commission; he would later serve with 10DWR.

Tuesday 23rd January 1917

Front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.2½.8½ to I.24.b.8½.3½)

Another freezing cold, but generally quiet, day. A large raid was carried out by 70^th Brigade further south but “enemy retaliation was very weak”.

The four new subalterns (2Lts. George Patrick Doggett, Arthur Neill, Charles George Edward White  and Stanley Reginald Wilson) who had arrived in France four days earlier (see 19^th January) now reported for duty with the Battalion.

2Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

CSM William Jones MM (see 6^th October 1916) left for England to be posted to the Regimental Depot in Halifax; the reason for his departure is unclear.

Battalion C.O., Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 2^nd January), currently in temporary command of 69^th Brigade, wrote to 23^rd Division HQ to submit and recommend an application for a commission by RSM John William Headings (see 6^th December 1916). Raymer wanted Headings to be commissioned so as to be appointed Quartermaster to 10DWR, in place of Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster (see 7^th January), who had been on sick leave in England since mid-November and had recently been declared unfit for further service.

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer

RSM John William Headings (standing), with his brothers, James Lawrence and Henry George.
(Image by kind permission of Jill Monk)

Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

2Lt. Charles Archibald Milford (see 21^st January), was posted from 34^th Infantry Base Depot to No.1 Training Camp Base Depot at Etaples.

2Lt. Tom Pickles (see 29^th December 1916), formerly of Tunstill’s Company, but currently ill while on home leave from 9DWR, returned to Queen Mary’s Military Hospital, Whalley to attend a further Medical Board. The Board found that he was quite unfit for duty because of ‘severe rheumatic pain in the back, and especially in the stomal region; also from bronchial catarrh; the pain being much aggravated by the cough’. The Hospital advised him to seek hospital treatment.

Driver Harry Metcalfe, who had been one of Tunstill’s first recruits but had quickly been transferred to the ASC (see 15^th December 1914), was home on leave and was married to Annie Ethel Wooler at St Mary’s Church, Long Preston.

Dvr. Harry Metcalfe and his wife, Annie

Image by kind permission of Alan Metcalfe

Capt. William Norman Town (see 11^th January), wrote to the War Office with regard to his failure to receive any information regarding his appearance before a Medical Board which he had been due to attend the previous day. He confirmed that he had written to them with news of his current address, but “As I have so far received no orders and there is a possibility of my letter or the order having been lost in the post I thought I ought to repeat the information”.


A payment of £2 16s. 5d. was authorised, in respect of pay and allowances due to the late Pte. Wilfred Lawson Oates (see 27^th October 1916), who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his father, Arthur.

Pte. Wilfred Lawson Oates

Lt. Hamlet Unitt Lavarack, brother of the late Lt. Adolph Keith Lavarack (see 27^th July 1916), who had been killed on 5^th July 1916, submitted the certificate declaring that his brother had left no will and that, with his mother still alive (his father had died in 1914), there was no need for letters of administration for the management of his estate.

Lt. Adolph Keith Lavarack