A patrol was to be despatched overnight 28th February/1st March to carry out reconnaissance work on the Austrian lines. Those involved would have been in no doubt as to the difficulties they would face, as described in the Divisional History; “The patrol work was very severe. Men, stripped and with their bodies oiled as resistance to the cold, would cross the first deep channel and drag across a boat carrying the patrol, dressed in white as camouflage against the snow, with their legs protected by thigh gum-boots. The patrol would then proceed to negotiate the farther shallower channels. If the swift current rose above a man’s knees, it would be hard for him to keep his footing”.
Many years later 2Lt. Bernard
Garside (see 26th February)
recalled a conversation with 2Lt. Albert
Joseph Acarnley (see 14th October),
who was to lead to the patrol:
“I remember one or two things which might interest you about
our stay on the banks of the Piave. One was an incident I always remember which
shows you the kind of brave man or one kind of brave man. We had an officer in
our Company called Acarnley – we called him Mephistopheles because he looked so
fierce with his thin red face and pointed short moustache. He was wounded all
over, covered with little puckers where bullets had gone in and the flesh had
healed (Acarnley had been twice wounded
while serving with Royal Berks. before being commissioned). He was called
the bravest man in the Brigade, so whenever there was a job needing reckless
bravery, a lonely job, ‘Meph’ was asked to do it. He came into my dug-out one
day nearly crying and cursing. I said, “What’s the matter Meph?”. He said,
“Garside, they call me the bravest man in the Brigade, but I’ll tell you why
they say that. It’s because I’m in the front of every attack. And why am I?
Because I feel if I don’t rush forward, I’ll turn round and rush back. And so I
get all the dirty jobs. The Colonel has just asked me …” – and he mentioned a
very dangerous job. He had to cross right over the shingle and the river and
lie in wait for an Austrian ‘runner’ right in front of the Austrian trenches,
carefully collar him and stun him, without making him cry out and bring him
back, smothered in a sack, so that he could be questioned about the troops the
Austrians had there and so on. Which shows you why ‘Meph’ was brave. You may
think him, after that, even braver than others thought him”.
The plan was to put three separate parties across the river.
The first party, led by Acarnley, with 12 other ranks, was to “proceed due
North to reconnoitre the enemy wire and if possible to reconnoitre Monte
Pilonetto”; a second party, led by 2Lt. Mark
Allan Stanley Wood (see 9th
October 1917), with four other ranks, was to follow Acarnley’s party but to
go no further than the Austrian wire; while the third party, also of four other
ranks and led by 2Lt. Archibald (Archie)
Allen (see 4th January),
was also to go as far as the Austrian wire and then reconnoitre 500 yards due
East.
All three parties were across the river by 7.25pm and in
position. What followed is best described in the words of the official report
from the Battalion War Diary:
“The first party proceeded rather to the West of Magnetic
North and after searching the scrub were confronted by a stretch of shingle
between them and the river bank. The Officer (Acarnley) here decided to go forward with three men to see whether
it was possible for the remainder of the patrol to follow. While engaged in
crawling across the shingle an enemy post of four men was observed. The four
men divided into two pairs and crawled further forward. Hereupon they were
observed and a man came slightly out from the shadow of the bank. Not satisfied
with what he saw he went back and came forward with a second man. They came to
within four or five yards of the Officer who fired his revolver point blank at
the first man. This man although apparently hit in the stomach immediately
closed with the Officer while the remaining man of the post ran back to raise
the alarm. Apparently they had not far to go as machine gun fire and rifle fire
were opened in very quick time. The wounded man was apparently quite off his
head and struggled with great vigour with the Officer and a Sergeant (Sgt. Christopher
Clapham, see 25th January) who were together. Eventually he
got away but not before his cap had been secured. The party then collected and
after making a short reply to the fire aimed at them returned without
casualties. It is believed that the skirmish took place about H.28.28.
The other two parties, after going about half-way across the
bed of the river, changed direction a few degrees further East and reached the
further bank without being observed. Here a post was located close to some
trees behind the wire. The two Officers crawled carefully up the bank but were
observed whereupon a Very light was fired and two rifle shots. The post were
then heard running away. The patrol then worked forward but found no trench.
They cut samples of the wire which was on new wooden stakes seven or eight
yards apart. The wire was of unusual make being made with the barbs fastened to
a stiff wire of rectangular cross-section. It was found very easy to cut and
when cut the pieces could be taken out very quietly. On further examination no
trenches were found but a certain amount of movement and coughing was heard at
various points on the front. Some wire was also being put up. The officer in
charge of the third party (Allen) went
further East and found all the wire of the same kind. His furthest point was
apparently about H.38.29. Soon after this, both the second and third parties
turned towards the West, forming a defensive flank for the first party".
All parties returned to the British lines, having suffered
no casualties, by 10.30pm.
Acarnley would subsequently be awarded the Military Cross
and Clapham the Military Medal for their actions. The citation for Acarnley’s
reward stated: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When he was in
command of a patrol reconnoitring on the farther side of the river his position
was discovered, but, owing to his good leadership and initiative, he succeeded
in withdrawing his patrol without loss. His patrol work has at all times been
most conspicuous, and during numerous difficult crossings of the river he has
displayed great courage and skill”.
The Battalion War Diary recorded no casualties for the
month; the official cumulative casualty figures since arriving in France in
August 1915 remained as:
Killed 275
Accidentally killed 5
Died of wounds 21
Wounded 1,280
Accidentally wounded 53
Missing 178
Pte. Edwin Kenyon
(see 18th February), in
England on ten days’ leave, was married to May Rimmington.
L.Cpl. Arthur Lund
(see 7th February),
serving in France with 1st/4th DWR, was wounded (details
unknown).
Sgt. John Thomas
Matthews (see 6th November
1917), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally transferred to the
Army Reserve Class W, to resume his civil employment.
Cpl. Edwin Lightfoot
(see 20th October 1917),
who had been in England since having wounded on 20th September 1917,
appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that be discharged from
the army as no longer physically fit for service.Pte. John Beresford (see 20th September 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded in September 1917, was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he was assessed as having suffered a 40% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 16s. per week. He would also be issued with his National Registration Act identity document.
Pte. John William Midgley
(see 7th February), who
had been in hospital in Scotland having suffered wounds to his head and both
legs in May 1917, was formally discharged from the army as no longer physically
fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks,
reducing to 16s. 6d. per week and to be reviewed in one years’ time.
Mrs. Jane Earnshaw, widow of Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM (see 27th
July 1917), who had been killed in June 1916, was among a group of 66
soldiers and relatives who attended a ceremony held at Leeds Town Hall in the
course of which medals were presented to the men or their surviving relatives by
Lt. Gen. Sir John Maxwell.
 |
Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM
Image by kind permission of Sue Lugton
|
A payment of £2 6s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due
in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Joseph
Clough (see 3rd December
1917), who had died of wounds on 3rd December 1917
while serving with 2nd/7th DWR; the payment would
go to his widow, Mary. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects
comprising of “disc, letters, photos, pocket book, 3 religious books, watch
& chain, ring, cigarette case, pocket mirror, comb, purse, metal mirror, 6
defaced coins (1s. and 5 coppers), 6 coins”.
A payment of £5 9s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due
in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George
Hartell (see 20th
September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20th September 1917;
the payment would go to his mother, Edith.
A payment of £2 9s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due
in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Joe Kaye (see 5th December 1917), who had been killed in action on 7th June 1917;
the payment would go to his mother, Mary Ann.
The weekly edition of the Craven Herald published news of the death of Gnr. George
Thistlethwaite (see 22nd February).
AUSTWICK - DIED OF WOUNDS
It is with regret we record the death of another Austwick
lad, Gunner George Thistlethwaite, R.F.A., second son of Mr. and Mrs. J.
Thistlethwaite, Main Street, who succumbed to his injuries on Monday last.
Gunner Thistlethwaite, who was 20 years of age, enlisted in September 1914 in
the 10th Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Tunstill's Company), and after training
for a short time at Frensham Camp was discharged owing to ill-health. From that
time he followed his former work, as farm hand, and was also employed on
munitions. He was called to the Colours again in August 1917, and went out to
France in December last. Gunner Thistlethwaite was of a quiet, sympathetic
disposition, steady and reliable, and very highly respected, and the sympathies
of the people of this district are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Thistlethwaite and
family in their great loss.
A letter has been received by the parents from the Chaplain,
3rd Casualty Clearing Station, which states:- "You will have had the very
sad news of your son. He was brought here very severely wounded in the head,
and quite unconscious. In spite of every care, his condition remained
practically the same until yesterday afternoon, when he passed peacefully away.
We have laid his body to rest in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, where a cross
will mark his grave. His personal effects will be sent home by the authorities.
I know what a great blow it will be to you, but you must be very proud in the
remembrance of the loyal devotion with which your boy gave himself to the very
end. Today I trust he has found, in the larger life of God's Paradise, a
perfect rest after his labours, and I pray that the same God may be your
comfort and strength in your great sorrow”.
There was also news of of Pte. Alfred Carey; he was the
younger brother of Norman Carey (see 4th January) who had been
one of Tunstill’s original volunteers.
BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND - Presentation
On Friday evening last in the schoolroom, Lance-Corporal
Alfred Carey was the recipient of a present, the result of subscriptions in the
village, on the suggestion of the Local War Fund Committee. Mr. A.C.
Milne-Redhead, presided, and in making the presentation said the Local War Fund
Committee considered that some recognition should be made of Lance-Corporal
Carey's success in being awarded the Military Medal. There were many more from
the Parish who were fighting for their country, but he had been the first to
obtain distinction that had been recognised by the War authorities. The Local
War Fund Committee thought that as he was at present on leave, it was a fitting
opportunity to give him a silver wrist watch with suitable inscription. The
result of his efforts on the battlefield must have been satisfactory to
himself, gratifying to his parents, and it was an honour to the district; they
all appreciated his bravery and patriotism. He had great pleasure in presenting
the watch and hoped it would bring him luck. In supplementing the Chairman's
remarks, Mr. C.R. Lambert referred specially to three things by which
Lance-Corporal Carey had set an example to many others, viz., duty, courage,
and modesty. The Rev. C.C. Broadhurst said they were all proud of
Lance-Corporal Carey; he was an honour to Bolton, and hoped that many others
would follow his example. Lance-Corporal Carey apologised for not being able to
say much; with him speech-making was at a discount. His family had not been
long in the village, but during that time, people had been very kind to them.
In regard to the soldiers, the Committee had done well in looking after them.
He hoped it would not be long before they were altogether again. He thanked
them for the handsome present.
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