Thursday 7th June 1917

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

The Battalion was formed up in their assault positions by 2.15am. Although there was bright moonlight this move was achieved without alerting the Germans and with no casualties. All of the men had been positioned as close to the front line as possible as it had been observed over the previous days that German artillery fire tended to fall in rear of the front line and this again proved to be the case. Ahead of the assault, as ordered, all the attacking troops crept out of their trenches and formed up, lying down in front of their trenches. At 3.09am the Battalion fixed bayonets and one minute later, at 3.10am, the explosion of nineteen mines heralded the start of the British attack and the Battalion, in common with other units all along the line began their assault on the German positions under the cover of a ferocious British artillery barrage. 

In the first wave 2Lt. Bob Perks DSO (see 2^nd June), in the absence of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 4^th June), led ‘A’ Company forward with Maj. James Christopher Bull (see 1^st June) in command of ‘D’. In a letter home written a few days later Perks described the way in which the day unfolded.

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to allow me to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence).

“We went over from the same trenches we had previously held.  As the papers tell you, we went over at 3.10 am.  It was a most marvellous business.  After great work and trouble we had got ourselves into position in lines in the order we were to go over.  My Company was first over the top.  It was about 2.30 a.m. then and a beautiful moonlit night , and except for a few of our guns trying to keep up an ordinary fire that would persuade the Bosche nothing extraordinary was on the cards, all was quiet.  We had to lie down on the ground to avoid being blown over by the shock of our own expected mines, and it was a most curious business waiting for you hardly knew what.  At five past three, I gave the order to fix bayonets, and the air was tense with excitement.  At ten minutes past exactly the earth shook twice and seemed to roll under us, and on our left there was a sudden shooting cloud of smoke and flame, and then two huge saucers brimming over with liquid flame.  Almost at the same moment there was one long streak of lightning behind us and as far as you could see - our guns starting altogether.  Then we were off into the noise and smoke in front of us with the devilish crackle of our machine guns behind and above us.  There followed a groping towards the Bosche in front of us in the dust.  Though it was almost impossible, and at any rate lacking, as we pushed on through the din and darkness until, suddenly it seemed, we found ourselves in daylight at our objective beyond the Bosche third line.  We had followed our shelling, which had gone steadily on.  They were still firing at a standstill now in front of us, but the infernal racket of the machine guns which had seemed to dominate it all, had ceased.

Many of us had gone too quickly forward into our own shelling and some, I suppose, had met Bosche.  But it was a triumphant party gathered there.  I found that my experience was pretty general.  I had only seen about two Bosche, who were not dead or running away well ahead of us.  However, we had no time to talk.  I had to report my position to the Commanding Officer and, more important, had to send out patrols to keep an eye on the Bosche and prepare a position to hold against any returning to the attack, for we were to be at least three hours before anyone else came up and went beyond us to form a protection between us and old Fritz.  It was hard work for us, too.  The excitement and hard work of the days of preparation and, most of all, the reaction after the excitement, din and work of the last hour told on us”.

As indicated by Perks’ account, the early stages of the Battle of Messines had gone almost exactly according to the British plan. All along the front troops achieved their first phase objectives on time and with relatively light casualties. This was true for 10DWR in their assault against the Caterpillar as reflected in the report written by Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 3^rd June): “Our barrage was perfect, and gave the infantry a great feeling of security. Men were heard to observe afterwards that they could have gone any distance behind that barrage. Our men advanced over "No-Man's-Land" and into the enemy's front line with very few casualties.” 

As planned the first wave had moved on through the first objective, ‘the red line’ and on to their second objective, ‘the blue line’, leaving isolated pockets of resistance to be dealt with by the second wave. The most notable resistance came from a German machine gun team located just beyond the Caterpillar, but this was “dealt with by rifle grenadiers and a few bold riflemen”. By 5.30am the ‘blue line’ was reported securely held.

Although the initial assault had faced rather limited resistance from the Germans when it came to consolidating the gains the men were faced with an intensive German bombardment and it was reported that, “we suffered several casualties at this period”. However, patrols were being pushed out beyond the blue line to establish strongpoints in preparation for the second phase of the attack. At least one of these strongpoints had subsequently to be abandoned as it came under fire from the British barrage which was not timed to lift beyond the black line until 6.50am. It was not possible to call for an alteration in the barrage because, according to Maj. Bathurst, "The Artillery Liaison Officer was with me, but he was unable to assist in any way. It seemed to me that throughout this officer was wasted. He had no means of communication with the Artillery, and we had no means of communicating with Brigade except by runner.”

This difficulty in altering the timing and location of the supporting barrage now created frustration for the men on the ground. The plan for the second phase of the attack called for a pause of more than three hours though Maj. Bathurst (like many others) reflected that, “In my opinion had we not had to pause in the blue line we could have secured the black line comparatively easily. The enemy was observed to be running away fast and was now putting up no opposition at all. Rifle fire and Lewis Gun fire were opened on him as he retired, and it was thought many casualties were inflicted on him.”

The planned pause was, however, duly observed and it was 6.50am before men of 9^th Yorkshires passed through the blue line to begin their assault. The delay had allowed time for the Germans to reorganise their defences and the resistance was much more stiff than that faced by the initial assault. However, in most places along the line the black line was successfully gained by the renewed British advance. One of the exceptions to this was at the southern edge of Battle Wood. Here 9^th Yorkshires found their advance blocked by strongly-established German positions which had been excavated deep into a mound of spoil thrown up by the excavation of the Ypres-Comines Canal. The dugouts and machine gun posts within the spoil bank provided the Germans with a strong defensive position and further progress proved impossible. One platoon and a Stokes mortar from 10DWR were despatched to assist 9^th Yorkshires but were unable to improve the situation to any degree, not least because the platoon lost their way and the Stokes mortar team had only limited ammunition available.

By the evening of the 7^th June 9^th Yorkshires had been unable to advance any further and 10DWR was now ordered to dig in along the blue line which was to be held at all costs in the event that 9^th Yorkshires should be driven back. They were to be assisted by men from the Royal Engineers and the Pioneer Battalions who had been brought forward to begin their work as early 10am. Maj. Bathurst duly positioned his men, along with all available Lewis guns and his remaining Stokes mortar in position so as to command all the low ground up to and beyond the black line. In spite of severe shelling by the Germans and a number of attempts by the Germans to counter-attack, the Battalion continued to hold these same positions through the rest of the day, which turned out to be extremely hot, overnight on 7^th/8^th, and into the following day. 2Lt. Perks recalled that, “It was getting hot, too, and we had then had no food since the night before, but we did carry on and also after the others had gone through us.  It was a very weary Company that held that line amidst the shelling that afternoon, but still cheerful and very pleased with ourselves, and the prospect of a triumphant return after relief that night.  But for some reason that was not to come, and we saw it get dark and light and dark again while we were still looking for signs of relief”.

Overall, the Messines attack had been a remarkable success and had secured the vast majority of its objectives at a lower cost in casualties than had been anticipated. However, casualties among 10DWR were still considerable. In total one officer and 22 other ranks were confirmed killed in action and a further 16 other ranks were reported as missing in action. 

Among those killed was only one of Tunstill’s original recruits. Pte. Tom Greenwood (see 10^th July 1916) had served with the Battalion since its formation and in July 1916 had written to the family of Pte. Tommy Cartman to relay news of his death. Tom Greenwood, according to one of his fellow Earby recruits, was “struck on the head by a piece of shrapnel and died instantly”. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Pte. Tom Greenwood

The only officer killed was 2Lt. Arthur Calvert Tetley (see 19^th December 1916). He was buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, but the exact location of his grave was lost in subsequent fighting in the area and he, along with Ptes. Samuel Sharp (see 6^th June) and two others is commemorated on one of the special memorials in the cemetery which refer to men known to have buried in the cemetery but whose graves were subsequently destroyed by artillery fire.

Many of the other men confirmed killed in action were most likely buried by their comrades but now have no known grave and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. 

L Cpl. Leonard Green (see 5^th May); his remains were originally buried but the site of his grave was subsequently lost. 

Pte. Frank Beaumont (see 17^th October 1916).

Pte. Joseph Bernstein (see 19^th December 1916). 

Pte. James William Brennan (see 6th October 1916). 

Pte. George Brook (see 19th December 1916). 

Pte. George William Cook was 21 years old and from Halifax, where he had worked as a ‘tape sewer’ in one of the local textile mills. He had previously served with 9DWR and it has not clear when he had joined 10DWR. 

Pte. John Ellis (see 30^th March).

Pte. Joe Kaye (see 16^th January). 

Pte. Richard Nelson (see 16^th January).

Pte. Frederick Arthur Stead was 24 years old and from Brighouse, where he had worked in the textile mills; he had joined the Battalion in the Spring of 1916 (details unknown). CQMS Edgar Shuttleworth (see 9^th January) would write to Pte. Stead’s widowed mother, “We are all very sorry about the death of your son who was a really good lad. All in the company offer you their deepest sympathy and hope you may be given strength to overcome the loss of so brave a son”. 

Pte. Frederick Arthur Stead

From The Halifax Courier, 29th June 1917

Pte. Jacob Sweeting (see 28^th May) was originally reported wounded, having been struck in the head by shrapnel, but it was later confirmed that he had died on the way to a dressing station. An officer (unnamed) would later write to Pte. Sweeting’s widow and tell her, “He was cheery under the most adverse circumstances and, for courage and initiative displayed during the attack, your husband has made a record which will be hard to surpass”. 

Pte. Christopher Tinker Sykes was 25 years old and from Huddersfield, where he had worked as a baker before the war. He had originally served with 9DWR and had first gone out to France in July 1915 and had been wounded in February 1916; when and under what circumstances he had joined 10DWR is unclear. 

Pte. George Waterworth, aged 22, was from Thornton, near Bradford, where he had worked in the local textile mills; it is unclear when he had joined the Battalion. His brother, Pte. Richard James Waterworth, had been killed in action on 11^th May, while serving with 2^nd/6^th DWR.

Pte. Samuel Wilson (see 28^th May) was originally reported wounded, but later confirmed killed.

Pte. Thomas Wood (see 26^th May) had been with the Battalion for less than two weeks.

Some of those killed in action were buried at locations close to the front line and which were not lost in subsequent operations. The majority of these burials were made at what became known as Woods Cemetery, located at I.34.a.5.7. Pte. Fred Brown (see 6^th June 1916) was among those buried here; according to a report in the Clitheroe Times news of his death would be reported to his family by Pte. John Walton (see 19^th December 1916), the writer stating “that he and Private Brown were comrades. On the date mentioned they were together, and Private Walton went to procure a stretcher. When he returned, death had claimed Private Brown”.  Also buried at Woods Cemetery was Pte. Fred Greenwood (12115) (see 3^rd December 1915). Pte. Thomas Henry Hanson (see 11^th January) was originally reported wounded, but he was later confirmed as having been buried at Woods Cemetery. Pte. Richard Spencer Howard was 35 years old and married with one daughter; he was from Leeds and had worked as a Music Hall musician and luthier (Richard Spencer Howard’s story has been brought to life in the acclaimed musical performance, “Sam Sweeney’s Fiddle: Made in the Great War”, see www.madeinthegreatwar.com); Ptes. Lewis Sykes (see 10th July 1916) and Isaac Wells (see 16^th January) were also buried at the Cemetery. Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 28^th December 1916) would write to Pte. Well’s mother, “I very much regret to tell you that your son was unfortunately killed in action on 7^th June and I offer you my sincerest sympathy in your loss. Your son joined my platoon in December last year and I have always found him conscientious in his duty and good at his work. I feel his loss deeply. As a machine gunner he did that work exceedingly well. He was hit in the shoulder by a piece of shrapnel as the attack by the Battalion commenced but unfortunately, as he reached the dressing station, he was killed by a shell. The men in the platoon also send you their deepest sympathy. He was, I know, deeply beloved in the platoon and we all deeply regret his loss”. Pte. Reginald Parish (see 16^th January) died of wounds and was buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground.

Those reported missing were:

Cpl. John Matthewson Richard Grieves (see 17^th December 1916), reported wounded and missing. 

L.Cpl. Luther Pickles (see 29^th May).

Pte. Arthur Greenwood (see 16^th January).

Pte. Willie Bates (see 13^th May).

Pte. James William Clark (see 17^th October 1916).

Pte. John Coltman (see 17^th October 1916).

Pte. Harry Cowper (see 19^th December 1916).

Pte. John William Hardcastle (see 19^th December 1916); news of his death would be communicated to his widow in a letter from 2Lt. John Robert Dickinson (see 19^th December 1916), “It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you of your husband’s death. It came as a great shock to me as he was the backbone of the platoon, always cheering up the others. He was killed in the advance on June 7^th before we had arrived at the Boche front line. I cannot say where he was buried but that information can be obtained from the usual sources. Please accept the deepest sympathy from the NCOs and men of his platoon”.

Pte. Walter Horne (see 16^th January).

Pte. James Buckley Kenworthy (see 19^th December 1916).

Pte. Henry Marshall (see 19^th May).

Pte. Frederick Miller; he was 29 years old and the son of a German-born immigrant, Hermann Miller, who had himself worked as a waiter in London. Frederick Miller had originally served with 8DWR and had been posted to Gallipoli in September 1915; the date and circumstances of his transfer to 10DWR are unknown. 

Pte. Tom Close Naylor (see 17^th October 1916); CQMS Frank Stephenson (see 24^th December 1916) would write to his wife informing her that, “I am sorry to inform you that Private T.C. Naylor is officially reported missing from the 7^th. As you will probably be aware we have had severe fighting and it is yet possible that Tom may turn up. I shall be pleased at any time to give you any further information that may come to hand. We must hope for the best and put our faith in God. Sincerely hoping I will be able to send you better news in a few days”.

Pte. Hector Salembier (see 19^th December 1916). 

Pte. Charles Smith (29004) (see 5^th May). 

Pte. Francis Seed (see 12^th February).

Also reported missing was L.Cpl. George Andrew Bridge (see 3^rd May), who had originally served with 10DWR but had been transferred to 8^th Yorks and Lancs.  Subsequent enquiries through the Red Cross would result in the following: "I deeply regret to say that our enquiries concerning Lance-Cpl. Bridge have had a very sad result. We have seen a man who tells us that he witnessed his death. This is Pte. Joseph Dolman, York and Lancs., now in No. 2 Woodlands Hospital, Wigan, who gives the following account: "I saw G. A. Bridge killed on June 7th. It was dark when I saw him. I was about 10 yards off him at the time. That was the last I saw of him. When we came out of the trenches I heard that he had been buried. We were advancing at the time." We cannot help fearing that this a true account, since Lance.-Cpl. Bridge has been missing so long without news. At the same time we are still going on with our enquiries, and shall let you know if we are able to learn anything further." Although L.Cpl. Bridge was apparently buried by his pals, the site of his grave would subsequently be lost. However, in 1921 his remains would be recovered and, having been identified by his identity disc, he would be re-interred at Bedford House Cemetery.

In addition to those confirmed killed in action or reported missing in action, two other men were confirmed as having died of wounds. The circumstances under which Sgt. George Peacock (see 1^st March) was wounded were described in a letter to Peacock’s parents from his (unnamed) platoon officer who told them that he and Sgt. Peacock, “went over the top side by side and out into No Man’s Land. Before reaching the German trenches he (Peacock) was wounded and on returning to the dressing station was killed. A cross was put over his grave”. He added that, “He is a great loss to me; in fact, he was my right hand man. To all the officers and men of this Company he was very popular. He died fighting for his country and in the defence of England’s shores. But greater than this, your home. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your bereavement”. Sgt. Peacock was originally buried near the hamlet of Verbrandenmolen, south-east of Larch Wood (I.28.d.7.7); however, the cross marking his grave would be lost in subsequent fighting and the site of his burial lost. His remains would be exhumed in 1922 and identified by means of his identity disc before being re-interred at La Brique Military Cemetery No.2 (I am greatly indebted to Andy Wade and ‘menofworth’ for the additional information and image of Sgt. Peacock). Pte. Frederick Charles Davies had suffered severe wounds to his left arm and died of wounds at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Remy Sidings and would be buried at the adjacent Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He was 22 years old and from Bradford. He had originally served with 2DWR and had first arrived in France in July 1915; exactly when and under what circumstances he had had joined 10DWR is unclear.

Sgt. George Peacock

The total number wounded in the actions of 7^th June is not known but at least nine officers and more than thirty other ranks have been identified as among the wounded. However, the total number of wounded is estimated to have been in excess of one hundred, but the absence, or partial nature,  of many service records makes it difficult to identify many of them with certainty. 

Only two original members of Tunstill’s Company are known for certain to have been among the wounded. Pte. Tom Darwin (see 5^th June) had only re-joined the Battalion on 20^th May after spending ten months in England recovering from wounds suffered on the Somme in July 1916. He was again wounded during the attack at the Caterpillar. He was at first reported missing in action but was subsequently found to have been evacuated 4^th London Field Ambulance, to 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, and from there to 3^rd General Hospital at Le Treport, where he was treated for shrapnel wounds to his left arm and shoulder. Pte. Joe Feather (see 17^th March) suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his left thigh; he was evacuated to England and admitted to hospital at Walmer, Kent. It is likely that a number of other original members of the Company were also wounded, but, in the absence of many service records, this cannot be confirmed.

The officers known to have been wounded were:

Maj. James Christopher Bull (see above), who had led ‘D’ Company in the first wave of the assault, suffered wounds to his right shoulder; “while attacking he sustained a through and through shrapnel bullet wound of right shoulder and a fracture of accronoid end of clavicle and splintering of accronion process”. He was evacuated to 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings.

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 12^th May) suffered bullet wounds to his left foot and leg. A bullet passed through his foot, leaving a compound fracture of the scaphoid bone and another bullet struck him just below the left knee, causing only a superficial wound. He was evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Remy Sidings.

Lt. Robert Oswald Milligan (see 26^th May) suffered severe injuries to his left arm and was evacuated to hospital in France (details unknown) for treatment.

Lt. Philip Howard Morris (see 18^th February) suffered wounds to his left arm and was evacuated to 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, where an operation was carried out to remove the shell fragments. 

2Lt. John Davis MM (see 20^th November 1916) “whilst in trenches consolidating after the attack” was hit in the right arm by a fragment of a high explosive shell which caused a penetration wound and fractured the humerus. He was evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Remy Sidings, where the fragment was removed from his arm the same day.

2Lt. John Davis MM

2Lt. George Patrick Doggett (see 23^rd January), who was temporarily attached to 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, suffered severe wounds to his right thigh; he was evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Remy Sidings and from there to a hospital in France (details unknown). His injuries were so severe that his right leg would be amputated.

Lt. Arthur Halstead (see above) suffered a minor wound to his knee but remained at duty.

2Lt. Godfrey Isaacs (see 6th March) was slightly wounded. A machine gun bullet struck and passed through his helmet, leaving “a slight abrasion to left of vertex about middle of head. He was thrown down but did not lose consciousness”; he was “giddy and had a severe headache’ but remained at duty. 

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO (see above) suffered a minor wound, but remained at duty.

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Also wounded was the Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfred Leveson Henderson (see 26^th January); he would be awarded the Military Cross for his conduct. “Closely following up an attack, he worked without ceasing under very heavy shell fire for many hours, bandaging and succouring the wounded. Whilst carrying a wounded man back to the dressing station he was blown up by a shell and severely wounded in both thighs and back. His courage was exceptional and his example did much to ease the sufferings of the wounded.” Rev. Henderson suffered severe wounds, including a comminuted fracture of his left femur and multiple other injuries. He was evacuated to the Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet.

A substantial number of the wounded men have also been identified.

CSM James Davis MM (see 15th May), who had been awarded the Military Medal for his conduct at Le Sars in October 1916, was severely wounded and evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Remy Sidings.

CSM James Davis MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

CSM David Frederick McKrill MM (see 4th March) was wounded (detals unknown) and would be evacuated to England.

Sgt. John Thomas Matthews (see 16^th March) suffered severe wounds to his left leg; he would be admitted via 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne.

Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 24^th May) was wounded in the buttocks; he was admitted to 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendighem and transferred from there to 56^th General Hospital at Etaples.

1.       L.Cpl. Fred Atkinson (see 23^rd May) suffered a relatively minor shrapnel wound; he would be treated locally and would soon re-join the Battalion.

L.Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 5^th May) suffered wounds to his left leg; he was admitted via 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendighem to 8^th Red Cross Hospital at Paris-Plage.

L.Cpl. Louis Feather (see 5^th May) suffered a relatively minor wound to his left arm; he was evacuated via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 22^nd General Hospital at Camiers.

L.Cpl. Norman Moorhouse (see 5^th May) was wounded (details unknown) and evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Remy Sidings. 

Pte. Sam Appleyard (see 13^th May) suffered a fractured left shoulder and other wounds. 

Pte. Ernest Binns (see 6th October 1916) suffered wounds to his right arm; he would be treated in hospital in France (details unknown). 

Pte. Harold Walker Bray (see 5th January) was also wounded, although the details of his injuries are unknown. 

Pte. John Broadbent (see 4^th October 1916) suffered wounds to his left hand and would be evacuated to England and treated successively in hospitals in Shearness, Chatham and Sevenoaks.

Pte. Herbert Butterworth (see 19^th December 1916) was initially reported missing but was then confirmed as having been admitted, via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport; he had suffered wounds to his right leg.

Pte. Ernest Arthur Carter (see 14^th December 1916); the details of his injuries are unknown.

Pte. John William Clark (20782) (see 19^th December 1916) suffered a compound fracture of the left leg; he was evacuated, via 4^th London Field Ambulance, to no.12 Casualty Clearing Station, and from there to 9^th General Hospital at Rouen, where his left leg would be amputated. 

Pte. Arnold Crossley (see 17^th July) suffered severe chest wounds and was evacuated, via 4^th London Ambulance, to no.17 Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings. 

Pte. Harry Exley (see 23^rd November 1916) suffered wounds to his right leg; he was admitted, via 4^th London Field Ambulance and 12^th Casualty Clearing Station, to 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. 

Pte. Thomas Henry Fearn (see 11^th February) suffered a relatively minor wound to his right arm; he was admitted, via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 12^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport. 

Pte. Thomas Fielden (see 19^th December 1916) suffered a relatively minor wound to his left forearm; he was admitted via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendighem and from there to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport. 

Pte. John Oldfield Greenwood (see 28^th May) suffered facial wounds and would be evacuated to be treated in France, although the details are unknown. 

Pte. George Hayes (see 11^th May) was wounded and would be evacuated to England; the nature of his injuries and treatment are unknown.

Pte. Arthur Heeley (see 16^th January) suffered severe head wounds and was evacuated to 83^rd General Hospital at Boulogne.

Pte. Thomas Hemingway (see 16^th January) suffered relatively minor wounds to his left arm and face; he was admitted via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport.

Pte. Willie Hey (see 5^th July 1916) suffered shrapnel wounds to his neck; he would be evacuated to England on 13^th June and would be admitted to the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury, near St. Albans.

Pte. Herbert Farrand Hogley (see 31^st January) suffered a relatively minor wound to his right hand; he was admitted to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to 55^th General Hospital at Wimereux.

Pte. Arthur Holt (see 8th July 1916) suffered shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and head and would be evacuated (details unknown) to England, where he would spend time in hospital in Sheffield. 

Pte. James Hotchkiss (see 19^th March) suffered a relatively minor wound to his left hand; he was admitted via 12^th Casualty Clearing Station to 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. After two days’ treatment he was transferred to 34^th Infantry Base Depot also at Etaples.

Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 25^th April) was initially reported missing but was confirmed as having suffered severe wounds to his head, shoulder and left side; he was admitted to 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and then transferred the St John Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples.

Pte. William Kay (see 16^th January) was initially reported missing but subsequently confirmed as having suffered severe wounds to his abdomen and right thigh; he was admitted to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport.

Pte. Herbert Crowther Kershaw (see 23^rd February) suffered shrapnel wounds to his right thigh; he was admitted first to 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, and from there transferred to 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendighem and finally to 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples.

Pte. Joseph Livesey (see 26^th March) suffered a relatively minor wound to his left leg; he was admitted via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 12^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport.

Pte. John Thomas Mason (see 16^th January) suffered a relatively minor wound to his shoulder; he was treated locally before returning to duty. 

Pte. Joseph McDermott (see 5^th May) suffered serious wounds to his right leg; he was evacuated to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport. 

Pte. Basil Middleton (see 16^th January) was wounded, but the details of his injuries are unknown; he would be treated in France in the first instance.

Pte. John Mooring (see 28^th May) suffered gunshot wounds to his right leg and thumb; he was admitted via 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport and from there would be evacuated to England on 12^th June.

1.       Pte. James Moran (see 6^th February); the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown but he would shortly re-join the Battalion.

Pte. James Charles Eugene O’Callaghan (see 17^th October 1916) suffered a severe wound to his leg; he would be treated locally in the first instance, but the details are unknown.

Pte. Harold Peel (see 26^thMay) suffered wounds to his mouth; he was initially admitted to 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, and from there transferred to 12^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and finally to 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples.

Pte. Harold Precious (see 1^st June) suffered severe wounds to his right thigh and back; he was admitted to 17^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and then transferred to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport.

Pte. Claude Prosser (see 17^th October 1916) suffered a compound fracture of his left arm and a dislocation at the elbow; his injuries were so severe that his arm would be amputated above the elbow.

Pte. Alec Radcliffe (see 11^th February) suffered relatively minor wounds to his right leg; he was admitted, via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 12^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport.

Pte. Harry Read (see 20^th February) was severely wounded and evacuated to 69^th Field Ambulance.

Pte. Michael Henry Rourke (see 4^th April) suffered wounds to his right arm; the details of his evacuation and treatment have not been established.

Pte. John Edward Scott (see 28^th May), who had only joined the Battalion ten days previously, was initially reported missing; he was then confirmed as having suffered wounds to his right thigh which saw him admitted, via 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers.

Pte. Ernest Smith (29167) (see 16^th January) suffered wounds to his head and thigh; he was evacuated to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, and from there to 26^th General Hospital at Etaples.

Pte. Herbert Smith (200022) (see 13^th May) suffered shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and thigh; he was evacuated to 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station.
Pte. Albert Sunderland (see 16^th January) suffered severe wounds to both thighs; he was evacuated, via 4^th London Field Ambulance, to no.12 Casualty Clearing Station, and from there to 26^th General Hospital at Etaples.

Cpl. Herbert Walker (12315) (see 4^th April) suffered multiple, severe wounds; he would be treated at first in France (details unknown).

Pte. Smith Stephenson Whitaker (see 19^th December 1916) suffered wounds to both legs; he was evacuated, via no.12 Casualty Clearing Station, to 56^th General Hospital at Etaples. 

Pte. Jabez Wintersgill (see 23^rd February) was initially reported missing, but was then confirmed as having suffered a minor head wound and admitted via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendighem and from there to 56^th General Hospital at Etaples.

Pte. Jabez Wintersgill (see 23^rd February) was initially reported missing, but was then confirmed as having suffered a minor head wound and admitted via 97^th (County Palatine) Field Ambulance, to 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendighem and from there to 56^th General Hospital at Etaples.

Also wounded was Pte. Tom Stocks (see 17^th December 1916), who was serving with 69^th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps; he suffered shrapnel wounds to his arms and back and would be admitted, via 46^th Casualty Clearing Station, to 56^th General Hospital at Rouen.

Rev. Henderson was one of three officers who would be awarded Military Crosses for their part in the actions of 7^th June. The other recipients were Lt. Arthur Halstead (see above) who, despite suffering a minor wound to his knee, “personally lead an attack with great gallantry and promptitude against a hostile machine gun, capturing the gun and its team” and Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see above) who had led ‘C’ Company in the second wave of the attack. Harrison, “although wounded in the knee, continued to command and direct his company until all his objectives were obtained. By his devotion to duty he helped his battalion to secure its objectives and set a magnificent example to his men.”

Fifteen other ranks serving with the Battalion are known to have been awarded the Military Medal for their conduct in action.

Cpl. Josias Bailey (see 9^th April).

Ptes. Joseph Binns (24162) (see 17^th October 1916), Arthur Lee (see 23^rd November 1916) and Frank Mallinson (see 17^th July 1916); it was reported that, “part of our Battalion was held up by a German machine gun. Without hesitation these three men dashed forward and killed the enemy gunners. They then turned the machine gun around and fired into the retreating enemy. Their brave act greatly facilitated our advance”.

Pte. John Edward Bartle (see 19^th December 1916).

Pte. Michael Cooney; he "showed splendid courage under heavy shell fire. During the operation he set a fine example by his hard work, fearlessness and cheerfulness, thereby keeping up the spirits of the remainder of the gun team. He has constantly proved himself a cool and trusted man under shell fire”. He was 23 years old and from West Hartlepool and had originally served with 8DWR and had been wounded at Gallipoli in August 1915; the date and details of his transfer to 10DWR are unknown. 

Pte. Harold Frost; he “worked with exceptional determination and skill in dressing the wounds of men under very heavy shell fire. His work was of great value to the wounded”. He was a 25 year-old textile worker from Mossley; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when, or under what circumstances he had joined the Battalion.

Pte. Arthur Charles Elkington; he was 30 years old and had worked as a warp dresser in Bingley before enlisting. He had originally served with 2DWR, going out to France on 15^th April 1915 (he had married Ellen Foster in Bingley on 16^th January 1915), and subsequently with 8DWR; the date and circumstances of his joining 10DWR are unknown).

Pte. Tom Feather (see 2^nd August 1916); he had previously been recommended for a Mention in Dispatches for his conduct as a Battalion runner on the Somme in 1916, but the award seems never to have been sanctioned.

Pte. John Smith Hodgson (see 30^th March); he ‘led his Company forward under heavy shell fire and set a magnificent example and devotion of duty to the remainder of the men’.

Pte. John Smith Hodgson

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Pte. William (Billy) Hoyle (see 17^th December 1916); “Throughout the whole day of June 7^th during our attack south of Hill 60, we had no telephone communications. This man showed exceptional bravery and devotion to duty by continually carrying messages under heavy enemy shell fire. On previous occasions this man has shown similar bravery and devotion to duty”.

Pte. James Arthur Markinson (see 16^th January).

Pte. Victor Race (see 17^th October 1916).

Pte. Enoch Wilson Rhodes (see 3^rd August 1916), he was one of the Battalion stretcher bearers and had been recommended for the DCM in July 1916 but had not been granted the award. 

LCpl. William Walker Rossall (see 6^th February); he was also promoted Acting Corporal.

Pte. Herbert Smith (11837) (see 12^th July 1916), who had been transferred from 10DWR to 69^th Brigade Pigeon Station, was also awarded the Military Medal; again emphasising the key role of maintaining communications during the actions. Notice of the award would subsequently appear in The Halifax Courier (21^st July 1917); “Official intimataion has been received that Pte. Herbert Smith, West Riding Regiment, whose home is at North View, Elland, has been awarded the Military Medal. The message, which is signed by Capt. H.C. Owen, states that Pte. Smith ‘has done invaluable work in charge of the Brigade pigeon supply. On June 7^th, during an attack on Hill 60, he was detailed to carry pigeons forward to the rear of the attacking line of the Brigade forward post. Though the rest of the party were scattered or became casualties, he reached his objective and waited there alone with his pigeons for over an hour under heavy shell fire. Finding no-one arrived, Pte. Smith returned through the barrage and reported to headquarters. He has on previous occasions shown coolness under fire. At Contalmaison, on July 10^th 1916, by his means the first news of the captivity of the village was sent off and again at Le Sars on October 7^th 1916 he did very commendable work’”.

Pte. Herbert Smith (11837)

Image from The Halifax Courier, 21st July 1917

There was also to be recognition of the conduct of by CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 14^th January); he would receive a commendation from Major General Sir J. M. Babington KCMG, commanding 23^rd Division, “Your Commanding Officer has informed me that you have distinguished yourself by conspicuous bravery in the field from 7^th to 11^th June. I have read their reports and, although promotion and decorations cannot be given in every case, I should like you to know that gallant action is recognised and how greatly it is appreciated”.

The award of the Military Medal to Hoyle, Feather and Smith also illustrate the fact that, although all had largely gone to plan, as anticipated, communication between the attacking troops and Battalion HQ and from Battalion back to Brigade HQ had quickly become difficult. All telephone lines to Brigade were soon broken by German shelling and communication could only be maintained by using runners. Similarly, information from the assault troops was limited and at 3.30am it had been decided to move Battalion HQ forward to the old German reserve line. On arrival there it had been established that all first phase objectives, as far as the blue line, had been gained by 3.45am and work was already underway to consolidate and secure the new positions. Transmission of these vital messages between the front line, Battalion and Brigade HQ was highly dangerous and required great courage on behalf of those involved. 

In his subsequent report on the action Maj. Bathurst would highlight two areas which he felt required urgent attention. He was clearly frustrated by the difficulties of communication which he had experienced, “The Signalling arrangements struck me as being the most difficult problem to solve. The P.B. and Amplifier seem to be far too delicate for the purpose. Even three days after the attack, we were only in telephonic communication with Brigade HQ by an ordinary D.3 telephone and wire. This wire was of course continually broken, and for the most part we had to rely on runners as our sole means of communication. No less than two P.B.s were tried and neither of them was a success. I am certainly of opinion that lines should be run out from BHQ to Companies as soon as possible after an attack. The system of runners is slow and most exhausting to the men. If lines were run out and linesmen properly organised into groups, each group being responsible for a certain length of line, it seems to me it would be more satisfactory. In the recent attack we had no wire to run out to Companies, and had to rely absolutely on runners.”

He was also concerned about the difficulty and delay in evacuating wounded men from the field; “I had no less than 24 extra stretcher bearers in addition to the 16 allowed in Establishment, making a total of 40. Even with these numbers, the wounded, both the enemy and our own troops, had to go through much additional suffering through exposure. If the RAMC bearers cannot come up to the battlefield until the battle is over, it seems that additional men should be supplied from other units not actually employed in the attack. Though the stretcher bearers were working hard all day long and during the night, some of the wounded were not removed until 24 hours after they had received their wounds. As an alternative to this, if the Regimental Aid Posts could move forward it would save the stretcher bearers long carries which would greatly save the delay in collecting all the wounded.”

Cpl. Ronald Jeckell (see 1^st June) was promoted Acting Sergeant.

Pte. Donald Stewart (see 17^th December 1916), serving with 69^th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Pte. Herbert Greenwood Audsley (see 24^th May) who had spent two weeks at 20^th Field Ambulance, under treatment for lenticular cataracts, was discharged to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 1^st January) was posted from the Inns of Court OTC to no.20 Officer Cadet Battalion based at Fleet, Hampshire. Once commissioned, he would serve with 10DWR.

Pte. Albert Saville (see 25^th May) who had been absent without leave from 298^th Labour Company, based at Ripon for the previous two weeks, handed himself in the Police in Bradford. On returning to Ripon he was awarded seven days’ detention and forfeited 14 days’ pay.

Pte. Percy Geldard (see 6^th October 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 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 40% disability and awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension of 11s. per week, to be reviewed after six months.

Pte. Frank Harrison (3/11632) (see 30^th January), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to the Army Reserve, Class P. This classification of the reserve had been introduced in October 1916 and applied to men “whose services were deemed to be temporarily of more value to the country in civil life rather than in the Army”. This was due to the continuing issues with the immobility to his right elbow, arising from a pre-war injury. However, as the injury had been made worse by his wartime service, he would be awarded an Army pension.

A payment of £6 9s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. Sam Phillips (see 5^th January); the payment would go to his widow, Ada.  

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Cecil Rhodes (see 16^th January), who had been killed in action in October 1916; his mother, Annie, was awarded 8s. per week.

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.

Tuesday 5th June 1917

Railway Dugouts

A very hot day. There was considerable German shelling throughout the day.

There was no doubt among the men about the significance of what they were about to do as illustrated by a letter written by Pte. Samuel Woodhead (see 17^th October 1916) to his wife, "It is a beautiful day and you wouldn't think there was a war on, but all the same, the Huns are going to get hell - one of the most terrible battles in the history of the world. If I should get knocked out I hope this reaches you all right."

Pte. Samuel Woodhead

The Battalion drew iron rations as required by Brigade orders in preparation for their final move into the front line, relieving 11^th Northumberland Fusiliers. However, this was delayed by German shelling and would not actually begin until the early hours of 6^th June. 

Pte. Harry Clay (see 12^th November 1916) departed for England on ten days leave.

Pte. Alfred Spencer (see 19^th December 1916) was admitted to hospital suffering from shellshock; the details of his treatment are unknown, but at some point he was transferred to duty at the permanent base of IV Corps at Albert.

2Lt. George Henry Roberts (see 1^st January), formerly of 10^th Battalion, but currently on sick leave from 3DWR following compound fractures of his left tibia and fibula, appeared before an Army Medical Board. The Board found that, “The wound is soundly healed and an excellent result has been obtained; union of bone being perfect. He walks with a very slight limp, but is able to negotiate 2 miles with comfort and says he is improving each day and should again become an excellent officer. We have told him to return to his home and await instructions from HQ”.

Pte. George Smith (20340) (see 7^th April), who had been in England since reporting sick two months’ previously, was sufficiently recovered to be posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 1^st June), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, returned to duty following a short period of treatment for tonsilitis. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 1^st June), who had recently re-joined 10DWR.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Frederick William Jesson (see 12^th April), who had been killed in action at Le Sars in October 1916; his mother, Sarah, was awarded 8s. 6d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Frank Oddy Waddington (see 24^th April) who had died of wounds in November 1916; his father, Craven, was awarded 5s. per week.

Monday 4th June 1917

Bivouac between Brandhoek and Ouderdom.

Another fine, hot day. In the afternoon the Battalion was addressed by Brig. Genl. Lambert, commanding 69^th Brigade, before the bulk of the Battalion moved again to the area known as ‘Railway Dugouts’, just a mile and a half behind the front line. However, as was the case ahead of any major attack, “Several officers and a proportion of NCO's and men were left behind at the Reinforcement Camp”. These men would form the nucleus around which the Battalion would be ‘rebuilt’ in the event of heavy losses in the coming action. It seems that Capt. Dick Bolton (see 31^st May), having only just returned from leave on 31^st May, may have been one of the senior officers charged with this task as he did not lead ‘A’ Company when they went into action a few days later.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Military Cross to Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips (see 3^rd June). This award was not related to any specific action, but on the basis of Phillips’ general service.

Pte. Joe Arthur Bentley (see 16^th January) was admitted to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from “P.U.O” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin).

Pte. William Boodle (see 26^th May), who had been wounded on 22^nd May was evacuated to England. Once returned to England and sufficiently recovered from his injuries, he would be transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

2Lt. Thomas Arnold Woodcock (see 24^th May), who had served with the Battalion for only three weeks before reporting sick on 7^th April, was transferred to England from no.14 General Hospital at Boulogne. He travelled onboard the hospital ship St. Patrick and on arrival in England would be admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

2Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 1^st March) arrived in France en route to joining 10DWR.

A payment of £4 11s 6d was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Moore (see 19^th March); the payment would go to his mother, Harriet. 

Sunday 3rd June 1917

“Scottish Lines” in the Boeschepe training area, near Watou.

Another hot and dusty day. There was the usual church parade at 10am before a further eight miles march took the Battalion to fields between Brandhoek and Ouderdom where they bivouacked for the night.

In the continuing absence of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 18^th May) there were a series of temporary promotions to provide for the command of the Battalion in the coming operations. Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 2nd June) was confirmed in temporary command of the Battalion, and was temporarily promoted Lieutenant Colonel. Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 27^th May) was promoted Temporary Major and Second-in-Command and Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips (see 9^th May), who had previously been Acting Adjutant, was now confirmed in his post.

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

LCpl. Edwin Lightfoot (see 10^th April) was promoted (unpaid) Corporal.

Pte. Frank Easterby (see 8^th December 1916) was admitted to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his right foot; he would be discharged to duty after seven days.

Capt. James Watson Paterson (see 5^th August 1916) was transferred away from the Training Reserve and posted instead to the West Riding Regiment; he would, in due course, be posted to 10DWR. 

L.Cpl. Frank Bounds (see 6^th July 1916) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds; he was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 13s. per week for life.

Saturday 2nd June 1917

“Scottish Lines” in the Boeschepe training area, near Watou.

Another hot, windy and dusty day.
Sgt. William Allen Sayer (see 15^th May) and Cpl. Walter Appleby (see 5^th May) were severely reprimanded by temporary CO Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 21^st May), having been found to have been “absent from billet”.

Pte. Trayton George Harper (see 10^th March) was reported as having been “late on 10am parade”; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 31^st May)  he would be confined to barracks for four days.

Pte. Albert Edward Everitt (see 22^nd February) was admitted, via 71^st Field Ambulance at at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, to 50^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mont des Cats; he was suffering from scabies.

2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 1^st June) wrote home to his father:

My Dear Dad

I have suddenly remembered that to-day is your birthday.  I am very much afraid this will be too late to wish you Many Happy Returns but I hope not too late to tell you that I did wish you the best of times on the day itself. Til yesterday I have not had time to write a letter for days and have hardly written a letter for the last 12 days.  I have had to arrange a number of things extra to the ordinary routine including practically reorganising the company for a glorious future during which glorious future, I am again to command the Company.

It might please Mr. Kitchen to know that throughout the past week I have ridden a horse with great success, so much so that I quite trusted myself on a horse which strongly desisted standing still and did not very much like passing motors. I rode about 8 miles to see Bolland (see 1st June) yesterday evening and had a lovely ride back in the moonlight with willing horses who had to be reined in.

Our Captain (Capt. Dick Bolton, see above) is back now and has brought back three records which we are now trying, but I fear it is about the last time we shall hear it for a time.  We move nearer the line to-morrow (Sunday move as usual).

Please thank Mother for her letter of 28^th just arrived.  Bravo the pig! I expect you spend most of this lovely day having a birthday holiday, pottering round the animal and the garden generally.  Where do you keep her? And whoever looks after it?  I suppose it is meant to be the forerunner to a village full of pigs.  Everytime I hear from the Shoesmiths I am told about the wonderful hens Mr. Shoesmith keeps.  Now I can reply.

Thanks very much for the body shield.  Really thanks - as you know I regarded them as more likely to kill one by their weight than save life but this is quite light and although it may be hot, is quite a protection.  This we doubted until one of our revolver bullets failed to penetrate at 4 yards!  Then I said I have got a new waistcoat.

Love Bob

 

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Image and extracts from Bob Perks' correspondence by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. Thomas Hockey (see 15^th October 1916), serving with 2DWR, was discharged from 6^th Convalescent Depot at Etaples and posted to ‘Details Camp A’; the reason for his having been in convalescence are unknown. He would subsequentl (date and details unknown) be transferred to the Royal Engineers, Waterways and Railways Division.

Albert Isherwood, who had died the previous week, aged 17, was buried at Slaidburn Church; he was the younger brother of Ptes. Edwin (see 11^th April) and Walter Isherwood (see 17^th October 1916), both of whom had been among Tunstill’s original recruits and both of whom had died in service.

 

Pte. Edwin Isherwood

Friday 1st June 1917

Boeschepe training area, near Watou

Training continued

At 8am on another fine, warm day the Battalion departed on a six-mile march to a new camp at Scottish Lines in the Boeschepe area where two nights were to be spent. After arriving at Scottish Lines Pte. Thomas Thompson (see 8th December 1916) was presented with the ribbon of the Medaille Militaire, which he had been awarded following the actions at Le Sars, by the Divisional Commander, Major General Sir J.M. Babington KCMG. There was to have been a Yukon Pack competition between 10DWR and 11^th West Yorks, but this was cancelled due to the move. The Yukon Packs would be much used in the forthcoming offensive. Both the medal ceremony and the cancelled Yukon Pack competition were referred to in a letter home to his wife Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 28^th May). He also gave her a hint as to the coming return to action. He told her, “The medal presentation by the French C-in-C, General Petain, did not come off yesterday, so General Babington presented them today after we had moved. He made a very nice little speech about Barker (CO of 11^th West Yorks.) and myself and we had an audience of two of the battalions. The other two were too far off to bring in. It has been another very hot and dusty day but I fear we shall be getting a thunderstorm or a change to wet soon. We are in for a strenuous time again after our rest and I am glad to get the medal before we go in … Intended to have a great competition for carrying loads today but had to postpone it til tomorrow. I had arranged for 18 per battalion to carry stores in ‘Yukon Packs’ which are not unlike the things the Swiss carry loads etc. in. Each man has to carry nearly 100 lbs and marks are given for quickness in loading and unloading as well as for marching.”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Cpl. Albert Bradley (see 20^thFebruary) was promoted Lance Sergeant.

Just three days after his first promotion, L.Cpl. Willie Nichols (see 29^th May) was now promoted Corporal.

Ptes. Fred Sutcliffe (see 17^th October 1916) and Harold Precious (see 25^th May) were reported by L.Cpl. Robert Holdsworth (see 10th July 1916) and Cpl. Ronald Jeckell (see 29^th January) respectively as having been, “improperly dressed on parade”; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull (see 25^th May) both would be confined to barracks for two days.

Pte. Leonard Briggs (see 22^nd May) re-joined the battalion; he had spent the previous ten days at 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, being treated for ‘myalgia’.

Pte. George Hill (see 24^th May), who had spent a week at 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe after reporting sick, suffering from myalgia, was transferred to 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station; two days later he would be transferred to 7^th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne and, on 7^th June, from there to 10^th Convalescent Depot at Ecault.

2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 31^st May) rode around eight miles to meet his former fellow 10DWR officer Capt. Leslie Guy Stewart Bolland MC (see 16^th July) who was now serving with 8DWR, who were in camp at Bailleul.

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. Albert John Start (see 26^th March), serving with a Base Details Battalion at Abbeville, departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Pte. Arthur Gill (14980) (see 9^th May), who had been serving with 2DWR, was evacuated to England from 24^th General Hospital at Etaples; he had been suffering from ‘D.A.H’ (D.A.H. was Disordered Action of the Heart' otherwise known as 'Soldier's Heart' or 'Effort Syndrome') and would be admitted to Norfolk War Hospital.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 24^th May), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, was sent to 54^th Casualty Clearing Station, having been diagnosed as suffering from tonsillitis. He had been at a rest camp near Alexandria where he had been recuperating following treatment to a minor injury to his right hand. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 24^th May), who had recently re-joined 10DWR.

Pte. James Edward Simpson (see 17^th April), who had been in England since having been wounded in April, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Herbert Willis Pickles (see 29^th April), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was discharged from hospital in Lichfield and re-joined his Battalion; he had been suffering from syphilis.

Pte. Ernest Nichol (see 4^th October 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 1916, was was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds; he was assessed as having suffered a 40% disability and would be awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension. He would subsequently be involved in a protracted exchange with the authorities regarding the issue of his medals which arose from confusion as to his regimental number.  

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried a report on the death of Pte. Edward Fawcett of the Northumberland Fusiliers, which confirmed that news of Fawcett’s death had been passed to his family in a letter from Sgt. Allan Wharton (see 3^rd November 1916), who was now serving with the same Battalion. It has not been established when Wharton had been transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers, although it would appear to have taken place once he was recovered from wounds suffered on the Somme in July 1916.

ANOTHER GARGRAVE SOLDIER KILLED

As briefly announced in our last issue, Pte. Edward Fawcett, of the Machine Gun Section of the Northumberland Fusiliers, met with his death instantly in action on April 28th last, aged 28 years. His parents have not as yet had any official intimation the event, but an Earby youth named Allan Wharton, who formerly lived in Gargrave, sent the news to his mother, who has passed it on here. Wharton is in the same regiment as deceased. Prior to enlisting at Keighley on May 6th, 1916, Pte. Fawcett was manager of Messrs. Fred Green and Son's warehouse at Clapham, and was a member of the Gargrave Mechanics' Institute and of the local Oddfellows' Friendly Society. Rev. A. C. Blunt, vicar, feelingly referred to his sad death at the evening service on Sunday last at the Parish Church, and the congregation stood while Mr. E. Burlend (organist) played the 'Dead March.'

There was also news of another of Tunstill’s original Company, Pte. Johnny Smith (see 22^nd April):

IN A TORPEDO ATTACK

Mr. and Mrs. F. Smith, have received word from their son, Private Johnny Smith, who was on the transport torpedoed on Sunday April 15^th. He writes, “You will be glad to know I was one of the lucky ones amongst the saved from the big boat (SS Cameronia, sank  150 miles east of Malta) torpedoed on Sunday night, April 15^th, at half past five. There were over 3,000 on board and I cannot tell you how many were saved, but thank God I am. I have been in bayonet charges, but they were nothing compared with the sight I saw when the boat was going down and I don’t want to see another. I am now safe and sound at Malta. We were 18 hours sailing after we were torpedoed and I’ve never had such a long 18 hours in all my life”.

In a further letter he adds, “They did not give us long at Malta to get over our shock, but never mind, we are now safe in Egypt. It only took us about 70 hours, but I can tell you they seemed like 70 days to me. There is nothing to grumble at here; it is very hot and dusty, but I think I can stand that all right. We are here for equipment, then I expect we shall go forward to Mesopotamia”.

Pte. Johnny Smith

There were also reports on the deaths of Sgt. John Hudson (see 25^th May) and Pte. Arthur Gill (14920) (see 26^th May).

ANOTHER BRADLEY SOLDIER KILLED – ONE OF THE FIVE

News was received on Wednesday morning by Mrs. Hudson, of Pear Tree Terrace, that her youngest son, Sergeant John Hudson, of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, was killed in action on May 22nd.

Sergeant Hudson was one of the five Bradley lads who enlisted at the commencement of the war, and went to France in July 1915. He was wounded in the hip and shoulder on December 19th the same year. In July 1916, he was wounded in the arm and was in hospital eight weeks. He had just got back into the fighting line when he had his equipment blown away without any injury to himself, and had to take the clothes off a dead gunner. He was mentioned in despatches in July and October 1916, and again in April this year. He was 22 years of age and an old scholar of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School. Prior to enlistment he was employed by Mr. T. Chapman, builder, Skipton. The deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Hudson and family. The following letter was received by Mrs. Hudson from Geo. Drake, one of the five lads mentioned above:-

May 24th, 1917

"Dear Mrs. Hudson, - It is my painful duty to inform you that your son was killed on the 22nd, along with another six, by an enemy shell which fell in the midst of them. I can assure you that he suffered no pain whatever, his death being instantaneous. He was buried the same night, along with his comrades, in a cemetery halfway between Ypres and the line. In the course of a few days a cross will mark the place. He was a good pal and everyone in the Company liked him; he did his duty nobly and was a brave soldier. It was about five o'clock when he was killed. Had he lived a few more hours he would have gone out of the trenches the same night to seek billets for the battalion.

Jack Hargreaves, who comes from Farnhill, was one of the party who buried him. He told me they were buried decently, and a parson read the Burial Service. All the Company and the non-commissioned officers and men join in tendering you their deepest sympathy in your sad loss. He was my best pal, and I was nearly heartbroken when I heard about it. You have my deepest sympathy, but he has died in fighting for the freedom of Old England and the banishing of Prussianism. We are out of the trenches at present.

Jack's old pal, GEORGE DRAKE."

Sgt. Jack Hudson

SKIPTON SOLDIER REPORTED DEAD

We regret to state that news has been received from an unofficial source that Private Arthur Gill, West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Gill, Newmarket Street, Skipton, has died from wounds received on the Western Front. The sad news is contained in a letter written to his wife by a Skipton stretcher-bearer of the West Riding Regiment named Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 26^th May), whose home is in Nelson Street. Pte. Atkinson says:- "Private Gill was seriously wounded and died almost immediately." 

Twenty years of age, Private Gill enlisted in December 1914, and went out to France in May the following year. He had been wounded twice previously in the left leg on the 1st July 1916, and in the left leg and right arm on the 1st January following. In civil life he was a butcher in the employ of the Skipton Co-operative Society, and was connected with the Skipton Baptist Church and a member of the local Liberal Club.

Since the above was written, Mr. Gill has received a letter from Pte. J.W. Atkinson, in which the latter says:- "You will no doubt have heard all about the death of your loving son Arthur, as I wrote to my wife and mother asking them to let you know. Well, the Germans gave us a terrible bombardment on the 22nd inst. I am sorry to say Arthur was in a dugout which they knocked in with a shell, and he was very badly wounded and died nearly right away. It is with deepest sympathy that I am writing this letter, but I thought it my duty to let you know as early as possible. He was very well respected by all, and we have lost a good soldier, but he died like a hero, doing his duty to the last. I hope our Heavenly Father will be a comfort to you in this awful hour of trial and trouble."

Pte. W. Boodle, West Riding Regiment, has also written to the bereaved parents as follows:- "I am sorry to tell you that your son was killed on May 22nd, about 2-50 a.m. He had just got into a dugout to have a sleep after being on patrol all night, and he had not been in it an hour when the Germans opened a very heavy bombardment upon us. The first shell knocked the dugout in and buried five of us. We got out all right, but suddenly found that your boy was still under, being covered with the remains of the dugout. I at once started to dig him out, and after working for an hour succeeded. I then got him on to a stretcher and saw him out of shellfire, as I was for hospital myself. His last wish as we parted was that I should write to you. We have been chums ever since we came to the Battalion, and I shall miss him very much. I can quite understand your feelings at the sad news which this letter brings you, and if ever I have the good luck to get over again I will come and see you and explain how it happened, as I live in Leeds myself."

Second Lieut. R.O. Milligan writes:- "You have probably by this time been informed officially of the extremely sad death in action of your son. Gill had been in my platoon from the time he joined this battalion and was always a favourite amongst his fellows. His cheery spirit made him popular wherever he went, and he was one of the men on whom I could always depend. Some months ago I chose him as my 'runner,' that is, my constant attendant in action, and it was his lot to be by my side during many a lonely watch and in many an exciting hour. He received his unfortunate wound whilst resting. Only a few hours before his death, during a very heavy bombardment, we both escaped miraculously from a shell which burst within six feet of us. And so, having my self realised his worth, I can in some small way realise how great is your loss. Please convey to his mother my deep sympathy, and be assured that I hope and pray that you all may have strength to bear your great loss, and to feel the pride of having sacrificed so much for the great cause."

Sergeant Dolding, of 'C' Company, West Riding Regiment states:- "I am writing to let you know how sorry the lads and myself are at having lost your., son Arthur. He was loved by everyone in the platoon, and he died doing his duty. He was always cheerful, and had a good word for everybody. He never once gave me an anxious moment, as his Platoon Sergeant. I can speak as I found him. I know it seems very hard for so young a boy to be cut off - but I believe he will receive a just reward for the good life he lived. I hope you will accept our deepest sympathy. Your, son was a good boy."

 

Pte. Arthur Gill