Wednesday 1st August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The recent heavy rain continued. The Battalion would be engaged in musketry and field training for the next week.

In a letter home to his wife Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 30^th July) remarked, very presciently, on the heavy rain of the previous day and on the difficulties it would create in the renewed British attacks around Ypres (the Third Battle of Ypres, or Passchendaele); “It has been pouring steadily for the last 24 hours or so and puts our outdoor work at a difficulty. Still worse it will make the British attack which started yesterday much harder to carry on. The Hun has been lucky on these occasions and as a result of this weather he may still be able to hang on better than he would otherwise do. The country must be a quagmire to advance over and guns etc. are very difficult to move”. The restrictions imposed by the weather were also commented on in the Brigade War Diary, “hardly any work is possible owing to the continued rain during the first few days of the month”.

Cpl. John Henry Crawshaw (see 6^th February) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Pte. Fred Heppinstall (see 21^st July), who had spent ten days in hospital in Hazebrouck suffering from boils, was transferred to 7^th Canadian Stationary Hospital at Arques.

Lt. Philip Howard Morris (see 11^th July), and Pte. Harold Walker Bray (see 12^th June), both of whom had been wounded on 7^th June, joined 3DWR at North Shields. 

Pte. Eastwood Wilkinson (see 19^th October 1916) was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to join 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Menhell Hudson (see 5^th April), who had been posted back to England five months previously, was transferred from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, prior to a return to active service.

George Thistlethwaite (see 23^rd July 1915) who, along with his brother John William Thistlethwaite (see 23^rd July 1915) had been discharged from the Army as unfit having been among Tunstill’s original recruits, was recalled to the Army and would join the Royal Field Artillery. George had originally been discharged after just 26 days in training, on account of ‘general debility’.

 

Gnr. George Thistlethwaite

An inquest was held into the death of of Gnr. John George Waggitt (see 31^st July), whose body had been recovered, the previous day, from shallow water just below the bridge at Heber's Ghyll, on the edge of Ilkley Moor. He was the brother of L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt (see 31^st July), who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916. A report of the inquest would subsequently be published in the Craven Herald;

“The inquest was held at the Conservative Club, Addingham, on Wednesday afternoon and was presided over by Mr. Edgar Wood, coroner.

John Waggitt, identified the body as that of his son, John George Waggitt. He was a driver in the Canadian Field Artillery, and was 23 years of age. He had come home from France early on Monday morning on leave. He stayed at home until 2.30 and then went down to Ilkley. They expected him back in the evening. He last saw him at the Listers' Arms, Ilkley, about 6.30. He asked him to come home, but he said he was tired of riding; he would walk home and be there as soon as him. He had only one friend with him, a civilian. He was sober and he did not think he ever tasted anything to drink. He had not been to bed since leaving France. Heber's Ghyll, where he was found, was on his way home. He was a very steady young man.

Sergeant Goldthorpe, stationed at Ilkley, said he saw the deceased at 12.10 a.m. in Grove Road, Ilkley. He was sat on a seat fast asleep. He woke him up; he was quite sober, but he could tell he had had a drink. He talked to him about 20 minutes, because at first he would keep dropping asleep as he was talking to him. He said he had come home from the Front and he was very tired; he had had no sleep. He said, "I had better be going home, my people will be waiting up and they will be very uneasy." He picked up his spurs saying he had no idea he had taken them off. He saw him set off home, saying he would just get home by one o'clock. He heard him going straight away, and he was quite capable of taking care of himself. It was not very dark, light enough to see for 50 yards ahead. There was no one else about. It was about three-quarters of a mile from where he left him to where he was found. He walked quite steadily when he set off.

Arthur Hornby Bland, Burley-in-Wharfedale, gardener, said he found the body just below the bridge of Heber's Ghyll lying in shallow water face downwards at 9.30 on Tuesday morning. There was a steep bank and a drop from the bridge of 20 feet, and 12 feet down the bank-side sloping to the water. He thought he might have fallen down the bank and then rolled in. His cap was lying against his feet. There was no sign of there having been any struggling on the bank.

Inspector Bell said he recovered the body, and it was in the position described by last witness. Deceased appeared to have been dead some time. He thought he had fallen from the bridge top straight into the water. He was in the middle of the gully and it was about five yards wide, and he was lying in the position he would expect to find him if he had fallen off the bridge. His head was down the stream and his feet towards the bridge. There were no signs of anything on the bank, which was soft and mossy, and it would have been easy to see if there had been any struggling. He was lying opposite the bridge. He had £14 11s. 6d. on him. The water was about 18 inches deep where his head was.

Dr. Crabtree, Addingham, said he saw the body on Tuesday evening, and he could not find anything to account for the death of deceased except drowning. He had a bruise on the lower border of the ribs on the right side; he thought it had been done in the fall, but it would not cause death. He might have been winded by the fall, but he thought he had died from suffocation by drowning.

The Coroner, in summing up, said the last time deceased was seen he was quite sober, but overborne for want of sleep and he had no doubt fallen off the bridge into the water and accidently drowned. The jury returned the verdict 'Accidently fell into the water and was drowned.' The Coroner and jury expressed their deep sympathy with the bereaved family”.

Tuesday 31st July 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The weather was fine in the morning but became very wet in the afternoon and the rain continued through the evening and overnight.

Cpl. Albert Harold Hanson was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from ‘dental caries’; he was an original member of the Battalion and from Huddersfield, where he had worked as a ‘doffer’ in a worsted mill, before enlisting, aged 17, in 1914. His older brother, Ernest, had been reported missing, presumed killed, while serving with 2^nd/5^th DWR at the Battle of Bullecourt, in May 1917.  

Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 14^th June), who had been posted temporarily to X Corps to undertake a course of instruction in bombing was severely injured during a training exercise: “during instruction in the throwing of live bombs, a bomb was accidentally dropped. Lt. Halstead placed himself between the bomb and the soldier who had dropped it, in order to screen him, and tried to kick the bomb away, but it exploded, fatally wounding him. The soldier was slightly wounded and there can be little doubt that Lt. Halstead’s gallant action saved the soldier’s life.”

Lt. Halstead would die at 12.40am the following morning at 7^th General Hospital, St. Omer. He would be buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, and would be posthumously awarded the Albert Medal (Gold).

Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 14^th July), who had been wounded two weeks previously, was transferred from 18^th General Hospital at Camiers to 6^th Convalescent Depot at Etaples.

Sgt. Charles Leonard Chorley (see 15^th April 1915) was commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He had previously served with 10DWR but, as yet, I am unable to establish details of his promotions with the Battalion or when he had been posted back to England to begin his officer training. He was the brother of L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 12^th May).

Pte. Charles William Hird (see 18^th June), who had suffered a relatively minor wound to the arm on 8^th June and had been evacuated to England ten days later, was now fit enough to be posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Maj. James Christopher Bull (see 8^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June, appeared before an Army Medical Board in London. The Board found that, “while attacking he sustained a through and through shrapnel bullet wound of right shoulder …fracture of accronoid end of clavicle and splintering of accronoid process”. He was declared unfit for service and was to be re-examined in xix weeks’ time.

At 9.30am the body of Gnr. John George Waggitt (see 30^th July), who had been in Addingham on leave from France, was found in shallow water just below the bridge at Heber's Ghyll, on the edge of Ilkley Moor. He was the brother of L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt (see 30^th July), who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916. An inquest into his death would be held the following day.

Casualties for the month were officially recorded as being:

Killed –                               1 other rank

Accidentally killed           0

Died of wounds               0 

Wounded                          2 officers and 38 other ranks

Accidentally wounded    0

Missing                              0

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

Killed                                   210

Accidentally killed                4

Died of wounds                    9

Wounded                        1,012

Accidentally wounded       51

Missing                                129


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. George Wilson Thompson (see 8^th May), who had died in January; his mother, Susan, was awarded 4s. per week.

Monday 30th July 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

There was heavy rain overnight 29^th/30^th and the rain continued through much of the day, causing some disruption to the planned training programme, as noted by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 27^th July), “It has been raining most of the night and is still wet so it is not a good day for manoeuvring troops about or even for sitting about and marching to and from the range, which is several miles away from each Battalion. I hope it means to clear up again but I fear the best of the weather has broken at last. Still, we have had such good weather for two months or more that we have no cause to complain.” He also reflected on the impact of the weather on plans for a Brigade sports day, “This rain has made the fields too slippery for jumping and I am afraid our sports day may not be a great success. I have put them off for a few days as owing to our move we cannot get things ready.”

Pte. Walter Oddy (see 13^th May) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance suffering from ‘dental caries’; he would be transferred, next day, to to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques.

Pte. Harry Clark (see 20^th July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France and would re-join 10DWR.

Ptes. Fred Kershaw (see 30^th June), James Edward Simpson (see 20^th July), and Arthur Sutcliffe (see 24^th June), who had all been serving with 3DWR were also posted back to France. However, although they were originally scheduled to re-join 10DWR, all three would be re-posted to 2/6^th DWR.

Pte. Edwin Wood (see 7^th July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France; he wold join 2^nd/7^th DWR.

Pte. Harold Wider (see 16^th June), who had been in England since being wounded in January, was also posted back to France, and arrived at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. He had been absent off his final pass for five days immediately before departure and had been ordered to undergo five days’ Field Punishment no.2 as a result.

L.Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 19^th July), who was serving with 3DWR in England having been wounded on 7^th June, began to paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Cpl. Henry Markham (see 20^th July), who had been discharged from Lochee Red Cross Hospital in Dundee ten days’ earlier, was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Lt. John Charles Brison Redfearn (see 6^th July), who had been under medical treatment in England for trench fever for the previous nine months, appeared before a Medical Board. The Board found that, “On July 6^th he was seized with pain in the stomach, vomiting followed by violent retching and slight looseness of the bowels. On July 7^th he was admitted to 1^st Northern General Hospital on recommendation of MO Backworth Detachment. On admission temperature normal, bowels regular, poor general condition, tongue clean. Abdomen shows nothing abnormal. He has been instructed to remain in hospital for 14 days longer for further investigation and final recommendation as to disposal”. In due course he would be transferred to Pinewood Sanatorium, Wokingham.

A number of new Second Lieutenants were commissioned who would subsequently serve with 10DWR. Sgt. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 7^th April), L.Cpl. Fred Dyson (see 7^th April), L.Cpl. Sam Benjamin Farrant (see 7^th April) and L.Cpl. Lawrence Tindill MM (see 7^th April) had all trained together at no. 9 Officer Cadet Battalion at Gailes, Ayrshire. CQMS Cyril Edward Agar (see 8^th April), had trained at no.19 Officer Cadet Battalion at Pirbright.  Cpl. Stephen Brown Airey (see 1^st October 1916) had trained at no.15 Officer Cadet Battalion at Romford; Cpl. William Johnson Simpson (see 7^th April) had trained at no.20 Officer Cadet Battalion at Cookham; and Pte. Percival Victor Thomas (see 7^th April) had trained at no.7 Officer Cadet Battalion at Cambridge. It has not been established where Pte. Keith Sagar Bain (see 13^th February), L.Cpl. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 24^th January), Sgt. George Clifford Sugden (see 8^th April), Cpl. Edward Kent Waite (see 28^th December 1915) or L.Sgt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 17^th April) had trained. Aidan Nicholson (see 10^th February), who had originally been rejected as an officer cadet because of his physical condition, but had subsequently served with the Royal Flying Corps, was also commissioned Second Lieutenant.

2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Edwin Everingham Ison

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Aidan Nicholson

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Former members of 10DWR, CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 7^th April) and Pte. Harley Bentham (see 5^th January) were also commissioned. Oldfield had trained at no.5 Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge and Bentham with Acarnley, Dyson, Farrant and Tindill at Gailes. However, both Oldfield and Bentham, having served in the ranks with 10DWR, would, in due course, be posted to other ‘Dukes’ Battalions.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Harley Bentham

Gnr. John George Waggitt (see 17^th November 1916), who had been serving in France with 2^nd Canadian Division, arrived in Addingham on leave. He was the brother of L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt (see 17^th November 1916), who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916.

Sunday 29th July 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

There was rain in the morning but the weather cleared in the afternoon.

Pte. Thomas Arthur Bedford (see 3^rd April) was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Gilbert Swift Greenwood (see 28^th June), who had been reduced to the ranks having fallen out on the line of march a month earlier, was re-appointed to his post as Lance Corporal, although on an unpaid basis.

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 3^rd May) was ordered to undergo 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1; the nature of his offence is unknown.

A number of men who had previously served with 10DWR were among a draft posted from 3DWR to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, pending a posting back to active service. Sgt. Richard Farrar (see 20th July) had been in England since having been wounded in October 1916; he would be posted to 2DWR. Pte. Ambrose Birdsall (see 6^th July) had been in England since being taken ill in March; Pte. Francis John Bottomley (see 17^th March) had been in England since reporting sick with paralysis to his left arm in March; Pte. Fred Brook (see 5^th January) had been in England since having been wounded in January and would be posted to 2^nd/4^th DWR; Pte. John William Dean (see 19^th May) had been in England for the previous eleven months after suffering gas poisoning in August 1916; Ptes. Albert William Knight (see 20^th February) and Ernest Taylor (29168) (see 9^th June) had both been under medical treatment in England since reporting sick with severe cases of ‘trench foot’ in February. Pte. Herbert Willis Pickles (see 14^th July), was originally to have re-joined 10DWR but would instead be posted to 2^nd/6^th DWR, joining his Battalion on 17^th August. Also among this draft was Pte. Walter Smith (18428) who was due to join 10DWR but would instead remain at Etaples for more than two months. He was a 21 year-old tailor’s fitter from Huddersfield and had served in France with 8DWR between December 1916 and March 1917 before being invalided back to England suffering from piles.

Saturday 28th July 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

Another very hot day.

L.Cpl. John Jackson (19555) (see 14^th May) began to be paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Ptes. Arthur Dyson (see 19^th December 1916), George William Foster (see 15^th February), Thomas Ward (see 28^th June) and Frank Wood (see 20^th May) were all promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Cpl. Harold Best (see 21^st May), and Ptes. Thomas Butler (see 23^rd June 1916), Fred Riddiough (see 12^th May) and Isaac Robinson (see 7^th March) departed for England on ten days’ leave. L.Cpl. Alfred Taylor (see 25^th July), serving with 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, also went on ten days’ leave.

Following three weeks treatment on a carbuncle on his neck, Pte. John Edward Atkinson (see 5^th July) was discharged from hospital and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. William Frederick Ackrill (see 5^th July), serving in France with 2DWR, was reported as ‘deficient of iron rations; value1s. 10 ½d.’; he was to pay for the deficiency.

Pte. Herbert Burgess (see 15^th July) was transferred from 3DWR at North Shields to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead.

Pte. George Barber (see 3rd May), who had been serving with 26^th Durham Light Infantry, was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps. 

Pte. Edgar Johnson (see 23^rd October 1916), who had had his left leg amputated below the knee having been wounded in the actions at Le Sars in October 1916, was discharged from the Lord Derby Hospital in Warrington where he had spent the previous nine months.

Pte. James Wilson (see 16^th May), who had been transferred to the ASC as a lorry driver with the Motor Transport Section in October 1915, was discharged from D Division dysentery convalescent hospital, Barton, New Milton, Hants. He had spent three months in England being treated for the disease.

In Skipton a ceremony was held for the presentation of Military Medals to two local men, Sgt. J. Webster, formerly of 6DWR, and Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 27^th July), currently home on leave from 10DWR. The events and speeches would be extensively reported in a subsequent edition of the Craven Herald.

FOR BRAVERY - MILITARY MEDALS PUBLICLY PRESENTED AT SKIPTON

Nearly all Skipton turned out on Saturday afternoon to witness the public presentation to Private J.W. Atkinson, of the 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment and Sergt. J. Webster, late of the 6^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, of the Military Medals awarded them some time ago by the King for gallant conduct in action in France. The circumstances under which the medals were gained are well known locally, but for the benefit of readers further afield we may recall them. In the case of Private Atkinson the award was made “for good work in attending to the wounded”, while Sergt. Webster earned the distinction for “continued bravery near Ypres between September and December 1915”. The latter, who is a married man with two children, and lives at 29 Hallam’s Yard, Sheep Street, is now back again in civil life, working for Mr. A.J. Shorter, coal merchant, Skipton. His record of service with the local territorials covers fifteen years, and he returned from the front in April 1916, as a time-expired man. Pte. Atkinson, who is still serving, was home from the Front last week on the usual ten days’ leave. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Atkinson, 8 Nelson Street, Skipton, and was, we believe, the second Skipton soldier to be awarded the medal. Before enlisting he was employed at the Skipton Gasworks, and was a member of the local Fire Brigade, and was also associated with the Otley Street Baptist Church. His wife and daughter live in Devonshire Street.

We are not aware of the origin of the idea that the presentation of the Medals should be made a public function, but we understand that Mrs. Atkinson was asked to see the Officer in command of the Skipton Drill Hall, and that Lieut. Walton, the commanding officer of the Skipton Volunteers, kindly offered to assist her and agreed to write to the West Riding Territorial Association to obtain the medal. In reply to his letter the medal was sent to him and in conjunction with his N.C.O.’s Lieut Walton arranged for Mr. Walter Morrison (see 7^th October 1916), who is an honorary colonel in the volunteers, to make the presentation on a Sunday afternnon, and invited members of the local authority and other public organisations to be present. Subsequently, in deference to the expressed wish of the Skipton Urban Council and the public generally, it was arranged for Mr. Morrison to make a joint presentation to Pte. Atkinson and Sergeant Webster on Saturday last, the arrangements to be in the hands of the Urban Council and the Volunteers, the latter to carry out the military part.

The popularity of the function was attested by the magnitude of the assembly in front of the Town Hall to witness the ceremonial, the ample space in High Street, in the vicinity of the Hall, being almost filled. For the presentation, a temporary platform, decorated with flags of the allies, had been erected in front of the main entrance to the Hall.

Captain Charlesworth, chairman of the Skipton Urban Council, presided, and with him on the platform were Mr. Morrsion, the Venerable Archdeacon Cook, Mr. J. A. Slingsby, the Rev. F.G. Forder, Captain W.B. Carson, Captain J.D. Horsfall and Lieut. S.H. Walton of the 6^th West Riding Volunteer Corps, and the wives and relatives of the two recipients. Several seats in front of the platform were provided for wounded soldiers from the two Skipton Military Hospitals, and there were also present a number of discharged soldiers, principally from the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, who have fought in the present war, the local special constable force, a number of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and members of the Skipton Fire Brigade. An interested spectator was ex-Colour Sergeant T. Rodgers (ex-policeman at Skipton Railway Station), formerly of the 69^th South Lincolnshire Regiment, wearing his medal awarded for service in the Red River Expedition (Fenian Raid) in Canada in 1870. Sergeant Webster and Pte. Atkinson were escorted from their respective homes to the Town Hall by a guard of honour provided by the officers and men of the local Volunteers, with the Band, the route taken being along Cowper Street, Sackville Street, Keighley Road and High Street. On arrival they were accorded an enthusiastic reception.

THE CHAIRMAN

The Chairman said he desired,as chairman of the Skipton Urban Council, to express in the name of the town, the great pride which they all, as citizens, felt in the two brave men who were stood before them, and in their achievements in the field. “We are glad”, he continued, “of this opportunity of showing honour publicly, not only to them, but to all those other men who are now fighting for us in this great war, and also to the memories of those brave men who have passed over in this conflict”. He did not consider his duties included the introduction to the audience of Mr. Walter Morrison, because Mr. Morrison needed no introduction to any Craven audience, but he would like to be allowed to say that there was no-one upon whom they would more gladly bestow the honour of conferring those medals that afternoon than Mr. Morrison. As to the order of the proceedings Mr. Charlesworth said they would be more or less under military government, and asked that there should be no cheering until the word for it was given. He was going to ask Mr. Morrison to address them and to present the medals, and afterwards the gathering would have the opportunity of cheering the recipients, which he hoped they would take advantage of to the full (applause).

THE PRESENTATION ADDRESS

Mr. Morrison saide he felt it a great honour to be invited to take part in that ceremony. There was some appropriateness in it because Craven men had always shown themselves ready to do their bit in the way of defending their country. Some of them might have heard of the old Craven Legion. When Napoleon Bonaparte – an abler man than the Kaiser and a man who fought clean, as did his his soldiers, but as the Bosches did not – nearly succeeded in his dream of founding a great European Empire, and England prevented him, and beat him at the last, his predecessor at Malham Tarn, Lord Ribblesdale, was the leader of this Legion of 1,200 men, 200 of whom were cavalry men. Then, when another Napoleon came to the front afterwards and was begged to invade England, this country was just as unprepared in regard to the Army and Navy as it was in 1914, and the Volunteers came forward gladly and formed what in time would have been a formidable body. Neither of these bodies went under fire; they were not called up to do so. Now again the men of Craven who had joined the 33^rd Regiment, the Duke of Wellington’s, had carried on the old traditions, and had carried them a great deal further than their predecessors, because they had most distinctly been under fire.

Our Wonderful Army

“Now”,continued Mr. Morrison, “we are proud of our Army (hear, hear). It has been a surprise to us all, and still more so to the Bosches and the Kaiser, that we were able to raise one million men in the first six months of the war, and it was due to two facts. First of all, we had Lord Kitchener, an old friend of mine (hear, hear) available, and his name was worth hundreds of thousands of men to our Empire. Then there were the atrocities which the Boches committed to Belgium, and the tearing up of the solemn treaty signed to protect the territory of Belgium, the Germans calling it “a scrap of paper”. With regard to the German atrocities in Belgium, we had not heard the worst. The newspapers had not told us all, but there was one certain fact which showed that the Germans were lower than any race of savages that he had ever heard of, and this was the fact that they had roped women and children together and driven them in front of the charging columns. No race of savages would have done that. They would have had too much pride and too much self-respect.

Two Brave Skiptonians

“Now you Skipton men”, proceeded Mr. Morrison, “are especially proud of your two comrades here today. They have done and shown what English soldiers can do. First of all there is Pte. J.W. Atkinson. I am told that he has been awarded this medal on account of singular audacity, singular courage and ability. The first time his Regiment went over the top he was recommended for this decoration. Five days after he was again recommended, having been two days and two nights without sleep or food, attending to the wounded. This was on 10^th July 1916. He has been in the army since 18^th September 1914, and went to France on August 26^th 1915. He got a leave six months later and has not had another leave for eighteen months. He was, as you will see, one of those who joined the Army at the commencement of the war, in the Autumn of 1914, before there was any talk or thought of compulsion – all those men were volunteers”. His neighbours would be especially proud of Pte. Atkinson, because he was told that amongst them at the first there was a general opinion that he was likely to distinguish himself. “Recollect”, said Mr. Morrison, “what it means being first over the trenches. How he has managed to come off without a wound is, of course, one of the mysteries of the war. Then there is Sergeant Webster, who was decorated for continual bravery near Ypres between September and Christmas 1915”.

England’s Reawakening

He supposed that they had all been astonished at the good show which England had made in this war. He had to confess that before the war he was rather afraid that we were a failing race – that we were given up too much to the worship of money-making, and to our games, to the exclusion of higher things. But the war called into action all the best that was in the nation, and the belief in Lord Kitchener as a man in whom we could trust had the most marvellous results in the raising of our Army. One million men joined the colours and men had been crowding in ever since, so that at the present time we had something like four millions of men under arms.

The German’s Black Record

Our quarrel was not only with the Kaiser and the military caste in Germany, but also with the German nation, and with the women as well as the men. The whole German people utterly hated us. We must recollect how the women of Germany, after the sinking of the Lusitania, crowded out into the streets, cheering and dancing and singing patriotic songs. We might be sure that if the Germans had succeeded in their plan of crossing, first France and then Russia, and then, by getting together a bigger fleet than ours, invading this country, the outrages which they would have committed here amongst our women and children would have been equally as great as those they had committed in Belgium. Nay, they would have been greater. The Kaiser himself said, in the first year of the war, that he intended levying eight thousand million sterling on England and France. “Whenever I see a man in khaki”, said Mr. Morrison, “and we see them about all over this fortunate island, I always feel I owe a debt of personal gratitude to him. He is there to protect me and all that is dear to me and to you from the outrages which the Germans have shown can be committed in wartime. Nothing of this sort has happened in war for over two centuries. For over two centuries the fighting between men has been comparatively honourable”.

The Old Volunteers

He was invited to that ceremony because it so happened that he was one of the early Volunteers when the movement was started, and he rose to the command of the Skipton Administrative Battalion (hear hear). He had every reason to be proud of such a splendid body of men (hear hear). Of course, they did not go under fire, they were not required to do so. As regards himself he was far past the age when he could do his bit in a physical way. He was eighty-one years of age, and if he were to join the army he would not be much use to go to the Front; he would be sent to the hospital the moment he got there.

A Craven War Record

It might be that some of those present knew that there was a scheme for the collection of the names of all the men that the District had given to the 33^rd Regiment, and it was proposed, after the war, to issue a book which, to begin with would contain the names of the officers and men who had given their lives for their country, and then the names of all those who joined the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in the first year of the war. This book would, he had no doubt, continue to be an heirloom in Craven families, and generations would hence point to the names of their ancestors and express their pride that they had done their duty when called up.

What the War has Revealed

This war had revealed to us first of all that we were a brave race. He did not think we needed to be told that; we all knew that before, and also that the English had always been a fighting race. Without desiring war, when we found ourselves with backs to the wall, we showed ourselves worthy of the name of John Bull. The war had also revealed to us, certainly to his astonishment, our singular powers of organisation, and of producing not only capable fighters, but also capable officers. Just before the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon said he reckoned one English soldier or one French soldier was equivalent to two Prussians. Our Army in the retreat from Mons accomplished one of the most splendid military exploits that the history of war had ever shown. We believed that in that retreat the Germans were four or five to one, and yet we fought our way through and helped our gallant French allies to win the Battle of the Marne. We had certainly not deteriorated in our soldierly qualities, and besides that, our men had developed an extraordinary gift of doggedness, perseverance and cheerfulness amongst the horrible miseries that we had read of in the newspapers about the long winter campaigns in the trenches. He had, therefore, very great pleasure in taking the leading part in that ceremony, and he had also very great pleasure in calling upon “our two neighbours” to come forward to receive the decorations which they had so well deserved (applause). Amid cheering Mr. Morrison then pinned the medals on the recipients’ breasts and at the call of Captain Horsfall and Lieut. Walton three hearty good cheers were given first for Sergt. Webster, then for Pte. Atkinson and lastly for Mr. Morrison; and the proceedings, which had occupied half an hour exactly, closed with the National Anthem. Sergt. Webster and Pte. Atkinson were afterwards escorted back to the Drill Hall by the Volunteers and the Band, by way of Newmarket Street and Bunker’s Hill.

Friday 27th July 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

Another very hot day.

The Battalion was occupied in training, with a particular focus on musketry. Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 24^th July) had expressed his hope that “we may be able to put the men through a certain amount of proper musketry training. It is what they most want but ranges are not very east to find as a rule. We were near this place and did some musketry here during the winter but now it might do them more good”.

L.Cpl. John William Mallinson (see 15^th June) was reported for “insolence to an NCO”; on the orders of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 23^rd July) he was reduced to the rank of Private.

L.Cpl. William Stowell joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, having originally been posted to France on 6^th July to join 2DWR. He was a 29 year-old foundry labourer from Halifax; he had been called up in July 1916 and had trained with 3DWR at North Shields.

L.Cpl. Arthur Lund (see 22^nd July), who had been wounded five days’ previously, was evacuated to England for further treatment.

Pte. John Foster (see 14^th July), who had injured his knee whilst on a carrying party two weeks previously, was evacuated to England from 47^th General Hospital at Le Treport onboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis. On arrival in England he would be admitted to Guildford War Hospital.

Pte. Alec Radcliffe (see 7^th June), who had suffered relatively minor wounds to his right leg on 7^th June, was discharged from 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. 

(Acting) Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Galbraith Buckle MC (see 12^th March), who had spent two months with 10DWR in the Summer of 1916, and was now commanding 2^nd Northants, was wounded for a second time; this time “by an 8" shell scoring a direct hit on battalion HQ at Hooge during an officer briefing”. However, he remained at duty, as he had done when wounded on a previous occasion.

(Acting) Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Galbraith Buckle MC

CSM Alfred Lodge MC (see 27^th December 1916), who had been in England since July 1916, having been severely wounded in the actions around Horseshoe Trench, appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that he be discharged from the Army on account of his wounds.

CSM Alfred Lodge MC

Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 27^th March), who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service and was presently at Ida Convalescent Hospital, Leeds, appeared before another Army Medical Board. The Board concluded that his disability was permanent and that he should remain in the Convalescent Hospital.

Gnr. Harry Beaumont (see 28^th April), serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery was posted to France; he was the elder brother of Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 7^th July), who was stationed at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, having been in England since being wounded in January.

A report in the Craven Herald provided news of Pte. Sam Shepherd (see 2^nd January 1916), who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits but had been transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps.

AUSTWICK

Invalided Home – Mr. and Mrs. J.W Shepherd, Main Street, have received a letter from their only son, Cyclist Sam Shepherd, stating that he has been invalided home from France and is at present in Toxteth Park Military Hospital, Liverpool. Previous to coming to England he was in a base hospital, suffering from severe trench fever. He is now making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Cyclist S. Shepherd enlisted on September 13^th 1914 in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He later transferred to the Cyclist Section, and went out to France in January 1916, where he has been up to the present time.

The same edition also carried a list of the names of local men who had been awarded decorations for bravery.

FOR GALLANTRY - LIST OF WAR HONOURS WON BY MEN OF CRAVEN - A TOTAL OF SEVENTY-FOUR

In view of the presentation at Skipton tomorrow (Saturday) of the Military Medals won by Sergt. J. Webster and Pte. J.W. Atkinson (see below),both of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, - the first ceremony of this kind in the district – we have compiled from the files of the Craven Herald a list of the various honours which have been won by the men of Craven for bravery and distinguished conduct on the battlefield. The list is quite up to date, and is, we believe, a full record of the coveted decorations which have been bestowed on soldiers from this district. Altogether, seventy-four honours have so far been won by seventy-two Craven men – a notable and distinctly gratifying record; and one that will undoubtedly be added to so long as the war continues.

The list of men who had received awards included nine men who had won their awards whilst serving with 10DWR:

Distinguished Conduct Medal: Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM (see 15th December 1916), who had been killed on 9^th June 1916.

Military Medal: Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 13^th July), who was still serving with the Battalion; Sgt. Thomas Henry Edmondson MM (see 7^th October 1916), who had been seriously wounded in July 1916 and had been under medical care in England ever since; L.Cpl. Christopher Leigh MM (see 22^nd August 1916), who had been wounded in July 1916 and had subsequently been transferred to the Military Foot Police; Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM (see 10th July), who had been killed in January; CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 7^th April), who was in training for a commission at to no.5 Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge; 2Lt. Norman Roberts MM (see 8^th June), who had since been commissioned and was serving with the Machine Gun Corps; and L.Cpl. James Walker (see 2nd May), who was still with 10DWR.

Meritorious Service Medal: Sgt. William Edward Gibson MSM (see 13^th July).

Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM

Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM

CSM Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Sgt. William Edward Gibson MSM (far right)

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Thursday 26th July 1917

Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen

The very hot weather resumed.

The Battalion marched five miles south-west to Caestre where they boarded a train to travel twenty miles to St. Omer followed by a final seven-mile march west to billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem, arriving late in the evening. 

Pte. Harry Squire (see 7^th July) was reported for “drinking on the line of march”; on the orders of Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 24^th July) he was to be confined to barracks for five days.

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 13^th June), who had been in England for the previous six weeks, having been wounded on 7^th June, appeared before a Medical Board. The Board found that, “he received bullet wounds, (a) of left foot with compound fracture of scaphoid bone. The wounds are healed, the foot is swollen, movements still limited; (b) of left leg just below the knee; superficial wound, now healed”. He was to remain in hospital for further treatment to his injured foot.

Pte. John Willie Walmsley (see 7^th June) who had been in England since having suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his left leg on 7^th June, was discharged from the County of Middlesex War Hospital in Napsbury, near St. Albans. He had a period on leave in England before joining 3DWR. He would subsequently be posted back to France (date and details unknown) and would be transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.

Pte. John William Ford (see 29^th July 1916), who had been wounded in July 1916, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds. He was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 12s. per week. 

Wednesday 25th July 1917

Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen

The morning began very wet and the weather remained cloudy and showery through the day.

Divisional Commander, Major General Sir J. M. Babington KCMG, inspected the whole Brigade in fighting order, starting with 10DWR at 9.30am; the inspection went ahead despite the wet conditions.

Pte. William Naylor (see 1^st December 1916) was reported by Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see 26^th May) as being “dirty on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 18^th July) he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Samuel Stansfield (see 17^th June 1916) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from indigestion; he would be transferred to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station.

Pte. Alfred Taylor (see 25^th June), serving with 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, was appointed Lance Corporal.

Pte. Edwin Wright (see 10^th June) was discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques and would re-join the Battalion three days later.

.

Tuesday 24th July 1917

Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen

Another very hot day

At 9.30am Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 23^rd July) inspected some of the recent new drafts to the Battalion. The inspection generated a number of disciplinary issues.

Ptes. George Green (22749), Smith Hesselden (see 2^nd April), Stanley Roebuck Hutton (see 25^th November 1916) and Henry Jarratt (see 5^th April) were all reported by Sgt. Arthur Kilburn Robinson (see 25^th June) as having been “unshaven on 9am parade”; they were ordered to be confined to barracks for three days on the orders of Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 25^th June). Pte. George Herbert Lant (see 5^th July) was reported by Sgt. Ernest Craddock (see below) as having a “dirty rifle on 9am parade”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days on the orders of Capt. Pereira. Pte. Albert Edward Pope (see 8^th July) was reported on both counts (unshaven and a dirty rifle) and was to be confined to barracks for a total of five days, again on the orders of Pereira. Pte. Joseph Hartley (see 28^th May) was reported by Sgt. Dan Fretwell (see 4^th October 1916; it is not known when he had been promoted) for smoking on the same parade; he was to be confined to barracks for three days, again on the orders of Pereira.

Sgt. Ernest Craddock was 33 years old and from Prudhoe, where he had worked a as house painter; he was a married man with two children. It is not clear when he had joined the Battalion or when he had been promoted. 

Ptes. John Bayliss (see 5^th July), William Franklin (see 9^th July) and Robert Phillips (see 5^th July) were all reported by CSM Charles Edward Parker MM (see 7^th May; Parker had been promoted since May) as having been “dirty and unshaven on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 18^th July), they were to be confined to barracks for five days. Pte. Harold Draper (see 5^th July) was reported by L.Cpl. Thomas Riding (see 2^nd July) as having “dirty small arms ammunition on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Perks he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Victor Munnery (see 5^th July) was reported for “breaking out of ranks”; he was awarded seven days’ Field Punishment No.2.

Pte. James Lister Petty (see 21^st June) was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Harry Robinson (see 17^th May) was found to have been absent from a working party and was awarded seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. John Thorp Newsome (see 11^th July) re-joined the Battalion following two week’s treatment at 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, having reported sick with “ICT” (inflammation) to both legs. Having been in England for more than a year after being wounded on the Somme in July 1916, Pte. Norman Greenwood (17998) (see 2^nd September 1916) re-joined the Battalion.

The application for a commission by CSM Albert Edgar Palmer (see 10^th July) was endorsed by Brig. Genl. Lambert.

2Lt. Leopold Henry Burrow (see 16^th July) was transferred from 7^th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne to 83^rd General Hospital, also in Boulogne.

Pte. Herbert Butterworth (see 12^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June and had been evacuated to England, was now sufficiently recovered to be posted to 3DWR at North Shields. 

A payment of £12 8s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Thomas Hodson (see 29^th July 1916) who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since 29^th July 1916; the payment would go to his father, Thomas.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. James Heaton (see 5^th February) who had been killed in action in October 1916; his mother, Minnie, was awarded 5s. per week.