Wednesday 6th June 1917

Trenches in the Hill 60 sub-sector, opposite the Caterpillar

Just after midnight 5^th/6^th June the delayed move into the front line, relieving 11^th Northumberland Fusiliers opposite the Caterpillar, began. At 3am, with the Battalion still taking taken up their positions in the front line, the alarm was raised that the Germans were themselves massing for an attack. The Battalion was ordered to stand-to, but in the event no attack materialised and the remainder of the night and the whole day passed relatively peacefully, although the continued German shelling and especially their use of gas shells meant that the relief was not confirmed as complete until 9pm. All four companies occupied the front line in Coffee Trench, Woolley Walk and Leek Street, supported also by two Stokes Mortars, with a further four Stokes Mortars in support and ready to fire thermite in support of the advance. Battalion HQ, along with an ammunition dump, was established in Grand Fleet Street (I.34.b.50.80).

With their orders for the day firmly established and reinforced down to an individual level the Battalion waited in the front line trenches for the attack to begin. They were supported also by two Lewis Gun sections detached from 11^th Northumberland Fusiliers.

One man is officially recorded as having been killed in action, although the precise circumstances are unknown. Pte. Samuel Sharp (see 16^th January) was buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, but the location of his grave was lost in subsequent fighting; he is one of a large number of men who are now commemorated on special memorials in the cemetery. Cpl. Thomas Arthur Sturdy (see 5^th April) suffered severe wounds to his left leg. Pte. Harry Walsh (see 11^th January) was also wounded, suffering severe injuries to his back; he would be treated in hospital in France, though the precise details are unknown. It seems likely that Walsh had been wounded whilst on patrol with 2Lt. Vincent Edwards (see 17^th March) who, writing years later, described what had happened, “I was told to discover whether the barbed wire in front of the enemy trenches had been properly demolished by our artillery, ready for us infantry to make the attack when Hill 60 was blown up. Accompanied by a private soldier I got out of our front trench (in darkness of course) and crawled with him towards the enemy trenches, there, about 30 yards away. Arriving safely near enough to view the condition of the enemy barbed wire, we saw that the artillery had done its job well enough. Returning, my companion suddenly received a bullet wound in his back. Strangely enough, no more shots were fired at us. After lying still for a time, I decided to get the man on to my back and crawl back to our lines. Using shell holes as cover, we at last arrived “home” after one of the most apprehensive journeys I had ever made”.

Pte. Fred Angus (see 11^th May), who had been suffering from neurasthenia, was discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. Five days later he would be classified as fit only for Permanent Base Duties on account of his ‘nervous debility’ and after a further ten days he would be posted to join 91^st Prisoner of War Company, based at Etaples..

Pte. Rowland Firby (see 19^th December 1916) was posted back to England; he had been wounded, but the details, date and circumstances of his wounding are unknown.

Pte. John Delaney (see 4^th September 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to 1DWR and posted to India. Over the next 15 months he would be reported on eight occasions for various minor breaches of military discipline and would undergo a total of 19 days confined to barracks.

Pte. John Henshall (see 5^th November 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted to 1DWR; the details of his posting to India are unknown.

Pte. James Loxam (see 24^th October 1916) was formally transferred to 2^nd/6^th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and would remain in England with the battalion, firstly in Colchester and later in Frinton.