Thursday 24th May 1917

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

The weather remained very warm and conditions were somewhat quieter. However, Pte. Selwyn Stansfield (see 16^th January) was wounded, suffering wounds to his left arm; the details of his treatment are unknown, but he would be evacuated to England five days later.

Following the deaths in action of several NCO’s, L.Cpl. Lionel Vickers (see 10^th April) and L.Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 5^th May) were both promoted Corporal.

 

L.Cpl. Lionel Vickers (standing far left) and other NCOs

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. George Hill (see 11^th January) reported sick, suffering from myalgia; he would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 19^th May), returned to duty from 71^st Field Ambulance at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, having been spent the previous few days being treated for pyrexia (raised temperature).

2Lt. Thomas Arnold Woodcock (see 7^th April), who had served with the Battalion for only three weeks before reporting sick on 7^th April, having been treated locally was now sent to no.14 General Hospital at Boulogne for further investigations and treatment.

Pte. William Henry Jordan (see 7^th October 1916), who had been serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was posted back to France and would join 9DWR.

Pte. Thomas Lloyd (see 30^th March), who had been wounded twice while serving with 10DWR in 1916, was posted back to France from 3DWR. He was originally due to join 9DWR but would instead to be re-posted to 2/6DWR, joining them on 14^th June after spending three weeks at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Clifford Midwood (see 14^th May) who had been in England under treatment for ‘trench foot’ since February was posted back to 3DWR at North Shields. 

Pte. Herbert Greenwood Audsley (see 27^th April) serving with the Wireless Depot Company at BEF Headquarters, was admitted to 20^th Field Ambulance, suffering from lenticular cataracts.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 5^th March), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, was sent to a rest camp near Alexandria for treatment to a minor injury to his right hand. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 20^th May), who had recently re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 13^th October 1916), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company before being transferred to 9DWR and had been wounded on the Somme in August 1916, 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”.  Rushworth’s last known occupation prior to enlisting was as a bricklayer, but what work he undertook under his new classification is not known. He was also awarded the Silver War Badge in recognition of his discharge being due to wounds suffered in action.

Pte. George Edward Western (see 24^th August), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of wounds; he was awarded an Army pension of 8s. 3d. per week.

A payment of £3 9s 3d was authorised, being an amount found to be still outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Herbert Bayfield (see 20^th February); the payment would go to his widow, Alice.

A further payment of 3s 8d was authorised, being an amount found to be still outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. William Hemp (see 20^th March); the payment would go to his mother, Miriam.

Wednesday 23rd May 1917

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

Another very warm day.

At around 5pm seven men from ‘A’ Company were killed when a German shell scored a direct hit on the front line trenches. The Divisional Trench Mortar Battery reported firing 17 rounds, “in retaliation for heavy trench mortars and rifle grenades”. Among those killed was one of the original members of Tunstill’s Company, Sgt. John Thomas Hall MM (see 5^th April). 2Lt. Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 14^th March) wrote to Sgt. Hall’s mother; “When he, along with six of his comrades were killed, I was in another part of the front, and received quite a shock when I heard of the great misfortune which had overtaken my platoon. By the death of your son I lose one of the smartest and most cheery sergeants in my platoon.” The other men killed were Sgt. John Hudson (see 9^th April); Cpl. George Benson Heap (see 28^th March); and Ptes. Albert Edward Carter (see 19^th December 1916); Harold Illingworth Cawthra (see 9^th February); Joe Dyson (see 12^th November 1916) and Harold Firth (see 13^th May). An unnamed ‘comrade’ would write to the sister Pte. Firth, “I feel it my duty to write you a few lines of sympathy at the loss of your brother Harold. He was killed on Wednesday afternoon at about 5 o’clock. He fell a victim to a German shell, along with six others in the platoon, death being instantaneous. I never met your brother until a few weeks ago at the Base and then we were posted to this Battalion and he shared the same dugout as me and another one or two. I always found him to be very cheery and, like myself, it was his second time in France. The platoon would like you to accept their deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement”.  All seven men were buried the same evening at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. 

2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt (see 22^nd May), who had been wounded the previous day, died at no.10 Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings; he would be buried in the adjacent Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.  

2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt

L.Cpl. Fred Atkinson (see 16^th May) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from conjunctivitis; he would be discharged to duty after ten days.

Pte. John Blackburn (see 16^th January) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe; he was suffering from ‘myalgia’.

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green (see 20^th May), who had been wounded three days previously, underwent an operation at 3^rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. Shortly afterwards he wrote home to his family, telling them that he was “going on as well as could be expected … I got wounded on Sunday night, with a machine gun bullet and arrived at the hospital on Tuesday morning. I went under X-rays and the operation on Wednesday. They managed to get the bullet, which had entered the left thigh and gone into the hipbone. It seems strange, but I told my mates two months ago that there was a 'Blighty' waiting for me sometime in May".

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green

A review of the pension award which had been made to James Hatton Kershaw (see 22nd December 1916) who had been discharged from the Army in July1916, suffering from tuberculosis, resulted in his pension being increased to £1 16s. 8d. per week.

Tuesday 22nd May 1917

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

There was much artillery activity, from both sides, again during the day. There was an especially ferocious German bombardment in the early hours during which three men from ‘C’ Company were killed. Ptes. Michael Gallagher (see below), Arthur Gill (14920) (see 5th January) and John Smith (13382) (see 29^th July) would all be buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. Pte. Gallagher’s (unnamed) platoon officer would write to his family, “It is my painful duty to inform you that your son was killed by a shell while standing in the trench. As his platoon officer I should like to pay tribute to his unfaling cheerfulness and willingness under all circumstances. He was one of the best lads in my platoon and an example to all and I, as well as his comrades, will miss him sorely. Please accept my deepest sympathy on your bereavement. Your son will be taken back and buried in a quiet little cemetery behind the lines and in due course you will be informed of its locality”. Michael Gallagher had been an original member of the Battalion; he was 23 years old and one of ten children of Anthony and Mary Gallagher. His father was originally from Ireland but the family was settled in Keighley where Michael had worked before the war at a local engineering firm. 

Pte. William Boodle (see 19^th December 1916) wrote to Arthur Gill’s family with details of exactly what happened; “about 2.50 am 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 onto a stretcher and saw him out of shellfire, as I was for hospital myself.” According to stretcher bearer Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 4^th August 1916), “Arthur was in a dugout which they knocked in with a shell, and he was very badly wounded and died nearly right away”. 

Among those wounded on the same day, though whether in the same incident is uncertain, was 2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt (see 25^th August 1916). He was evacuated to 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, Lijssenthoek and a telegram despatched to his parents reporting him to be “dangerously wounded, shell wound, head”. Also wounded was Pte. Fred Addy (see 9^th February); he suffered shrapnel wounds to his face and right hand. He was evacuated via 4^th London Field Ambulance at Brandhoek and 17^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek to 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station also at Remy Siding. Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 13^th May), who had only joined the battalion ten days previously, suffered a wound to his left hand and was treated first at 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill, before being transferred, next day, to 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek; from there he would be transferred (24^th May), onboard No.2 Ambulance Train, to 32^nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. Pte. Fred Morrell (see 16^th January) suffered shrapnel wounds to his left thigh; he was evacuated via the same route as Pte. Taylor.

2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt

Pte. Leonard Briggs (see 16^th January) reported sick, suffering from ‘myalgia’ and was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe. Pte. Thomas Manuell (see 20^th February) also left the battalion; he was suffering from ‘trench foot’. He was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe.

Overnight 22^nd-23^rd ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies moved into the front line, relieving ‘B’ and ‘D’ who went into close reserve. In the continuing exchanges of shelling the Divisional Trench Mortar Battery reported firing 71 rounds, “in retaliation for heavy trench mortars and rifle grenades”.

After almost five months away from the Battalion, having been taken sick, Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 30^th December 1915) re-joined 8DWR; he had been discharged from hospital on 13^th May and then spent two weeks at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Monday 21st May 1917

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

Another very warm day, with artillery active on both sides throughout the day. Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 12^th May) visited the Battalion’s sector, in company with temporary CO Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 18^th May). The Divisional Trench Mortar Battery was again in action, firing 78 rounds, “in retaliation heavy trench mortars and rifle grenades”. 

Cpl. Harold Best (see 8^th May) suffered minor facial wounds and was treated at 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill before being transferred, next day, to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe; he would return to duty five days later.

Pte. Martin Reddington (see 16^th January) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill and from there, on the same day, to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe; he was suffering from “pyrexia, NYD” (high temperature, not yet diagnosed).

Capt. Dick Bolton (see 14^th April), commanding ‘A’ Company, departed for England on ten days’ leave. In his absence, command of ‘A’ Company, in their preparations for the forthcoming Messines attack, would pass to 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 20^th May).

  

Capt. Dick Bolton

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. Benjamin Fawcett (see 5^th August 1915) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Having spent twelve days being treated for inflammation of the larynx and boils, Pte. Joe Fawcett (see 9^th May) was discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, and returned to duty.

Pte. Joseph Clough (see 14^th May), who had been wounded a week previously, was evacuated from 32nd Stationery Hospital at Wimereux to England for further treatment. Having arrived in England he would be transferred to Edinburgh War Hospital.

Pte. James Pickering (see 4^th July), who had been transferred to Army Reserve Class W ten months’ previously and released to resume his former work at Tinsley Park Colliery, Sheffield, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at 3^rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. The findings of the Board are unknown, but there was clearly some doubt as to his fitness for work.

Pte. Herbert Ormanroyd (see 8^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 wounds; his disability was assessed as being 40% and he was awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension.

James Wilkinson, landlord of the Coach and Horses Inn, Bolton-by-Bowland, died; he was the father of James Wilkinson jnr. (see 10^th January 1916), who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits, but had been rejected on medical grounds. James jnr.’s elder brother, Harry, was serving with the ASC.

A payment of £3 10s. 7d. was authorised, being an amount found to be still outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Julian (see 29^th July 1916), who had been killed in action in July 1916; the payment would go to his father, George.

Pte. Arthur Julian

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenofWorth

Sunday 20th May 1917

The weather continued hot and sunny. Three men from the Battalion were among a draft of 20 from the Brigade who were attached to the Divisional Machine Gun Company. One of those from 10DWR was Pte. Ronald Bray (see 23^rd March); the other two have not yet been identified.

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

The weather continued hot and sunny. Three men from the Battalion were among a draft of 20 from the Brigade who were attached to the Divisional Machine Gun Company. One of those from 10DWR was Pte. Harold Bray (see 23^rd March); the other two have not yet been identified.


There was further German shelling and the Divisional Trench Mortar Battery reported firing 15 rounds, “in retaliation for a few heavy trench mortars sent over near Grand Fleet Street”. A number of men were wounded; among them was Pte. Jacob Carradice Green (see 7^th March) who was struck in the left thigh by a machine gun bullet and evacuated via 4^th London Field Ambulance at Brandhoek to 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, Lijssenthoek; from there he would be evacuated, on 21^st, onboard No.5 Ambulance Train to 3^rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. Also wounded was Pte. John William Midgley (see 19^th December 1916), who suffered wounds to his head and both legs; it is not clear where he was treated, but he would be evacuated to England a week later. On arrival he would be transferred to hospital in Dundee. Cpl. George William Keeling (see 15^th May) suffered only a minor wound and remained at duty.

Pte. Jacob Carradice Green

Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 18^th May), currently second-in-command of the Battalion, was promoted Temporary Major.

Lt. John Edward Lennard Payne (see 21^st March) was promoted Captain and again took command of ‘D’ Company, following the departure of Capt. Edgar Stanton (see 11^th May).

Pte. Richard Harrison (see 17^th October 1916) was reported by Cpl. George Jellett (see 29^th July 1916, it is not known when he had been promoted) for ‘hesitating to obey an order’; on the orders of 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 11^th May) he was to be confined to barracks for six days.

Pte. Thomas Ward (see 28^th April) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from scabies; from there, next day, he would be transferred to 50^th Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouck.

Pte. Frank Wood joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot where he had been since arriving in France on 3^rd May. He was a 20 year-old textile worker from Marsden, near Huddersfield.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 3^rd May), who had recently returned to France having being wounded on the Somme in July 1916, now re-joined the Battalion. Pte. Jacob Sweeting (see 6^th April) also re-joined; like Darwin he had been wounded in July 1916. Both men had been posted back to France, from 83^rd Training Reserve, on 3^rd May.

Pte. Richard Palliser (see 17^th April), who had been in England for the previous month, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Saturday 19th May 1917

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

The weather again became very warm. There was heavy shelling throughout the day by both sides. The Battalion War Diary reported simply that, “Much work was done during this tour to improve the trenches and large ammunition, bomb, rations and water stores were formed in view of impending offensive. Owing to enemy retaliation for our heavy bombardments, the Battalion suffered casualties”. 

Although no specific mention is made in the Battalion War Diary, the first of these casualties were incurred on the first day, with two men killed. Pte. Richard Field (see 11^th January), who had only been with the Battalion for four months, and Pte. Thomas Kay (see 7^th May) were both buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. Among those wounded was Pte. Joseph Barnes (see 7^th April); he suffered relatively minor injuries to his eyes and was evacuated via 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill and 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek, and from there, on 21^st, onboard No.5 Ambulance Train, to 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. He would stay only a day in hospital before being transferred to 1^st Convalescent Depot, also at Boulogne. Pte. Walter Pedley (see 16^th January) suffered shrapnel wounds to his head, right arm and left leg and was admitted via 4^th London Field Ambulance at Brandhoek and 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek, before being transferred, on 24^th, onboard No.2 Ambulance Train, to 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne. Pte. Ernest Needham (see 5^th February) suffered relatively minor facial wounds; he was treated at 69^th Field Ambulance at Vlamertinghe Mill before being transferred, on 20^th, to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe; he would return to light duty with the battalion on 26^th. Pte. Henry Marshall (see 8^th April) was also wounded by a shell concussion but was treated locally and remained with the battalion. The Divisional Trench Mortar Battery fired 26 rounds in total, “in retaliation for 3 heavy trench mortars and 2 rifle grenades”.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 18^th May), who, the previous day, had been awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1, having been absent without leave, was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from pyrexia NYD (raised temperature; not yet diagnosed).

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill (see 19^th May) who had been in charge of 69^th Brigade School on secondment from 10DWR was transferred to become second-in-command, 11^th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. 

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill

Pte. John William Dean (see 5^th March) who had suffered gas poisoning in August 1916, was discharged from a Convalescent Hospital in Blackpool and given ten days leave before reporting for duty with 3DWR at North Shields on 29^th May.

Pte. Thomas Delaney (see 26^th February) was discharged from 1^st Western General Hospital in Liverpool; he would have ten days’ furlough before reporting for duty, on 29^th May, at Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News reported news of the wounding of Pte. Gilbert Bell (see 24^th April) who had originally served with 10DWR but had been posted to 9DWR after suffering shellshock on the Somme in July 1916.

“Mrs. A. Bell, of 76 Chip Hill, Bogthorn, Keighley, has been notified by the Infantry Record Office, that her son, Private Gilbert Bell, of the West Riding Regiment, was wounded on April 25^th. He joined the forces at the commencement of hostilities, and had been at the front a considerable period”.

Friday 18th May 1917

Scottish Camp, south-west of Brandhoek

There was an improvement in the weather, which again became fine and bright. Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 15^th May) was taken ill and admitted to hospital. Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 7^th April) took temporary command of the Battalion, with Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 4^th May) as second-in-command.

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer

Capt. James Christopher Bull

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

In the evening the Battalion moved up to the front line, relieving 10^th Northumberland Fusiliers in the same positions that they had held a month earlier (see 14^th April) in the front line trenches in the Hill 60 sub-sector, opposite the Caterpillar, south of the railway cutting.  The relief was a difficult one as, from 6.15pm the Germans bombarded the sector, and especially the point known as SP9  (I.28.a.6.4) with guns of calibres up to and including 21cw. Several dugouts were blown in. The relief finally began but was delayed owing to the late arrival of the Lewis gun sections and was not finally completed until 2.30am (19^th May). On arrival, two Companies, ‘B’ and ‘D’ went into the front line from the railway cutting south west to I.34.b.7.8. ‘C’ Company was in close support in the sunken road at I.28.d.3.3 and ‘A’ Company was held in reserve at SP9 (I.28.a.6.4).

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 17^th May), who had been absent without leave for more than 40 hours before returning to duty the previous day, was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1.



L.Cpl. James Arthur Heap (25^th February) was reported by Sgt. Joseph Bona (see 14^th May) and Cpl. William Hutchinson (see 26^th January) as having been “drunk whilst proceeding to the trenches on the night of 18^th/19^th”; on the orders of Maj. Bathurst (see above) he was to be reduced to the ranks and to undergo 21 days Field Punishment no.1.


Lt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 28^th April) who had been in an officer’s convalescent hospital following an operation to remove his appendix, resumed light duties with 3DWR at North Shields.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried news of Cpl. Fred Swale (see 2^nd May), who had returned to England to begin his officer training.

AUSTWICK

COMMISSION FOR LOCAL SOLDIER

Corporal Fred Swale, younger son of the late Mr. N.S. Swale, Main Street, has been offered and accepted a commission. He is at present at home on a month’s leave prior to entering into training. He joined the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment at Settle in September 1914, and went to France the following year, where he has been up to the present time. Corporal Swale is one of few left of Captain Tunstill’s hundred.

Cpl. Fred Swale

There was also news in the West Yorkshire Pioneer of Johnny Bradley (see 7^th June 1915), younger brother of Pte. Willie Bradley (see 22^nd October 1916).

COWLING

WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Pte. Johnny Bradley of the West Riding Regiment has been wounded whilst fighting with the Army in France. He is at present in the Leeds General Infirmary, and is suffering from a shrapnel bullet wound in the left arm. Pte. Bradley, who has two brothers serving in France, enlisted in June 1915 and has visited France on two occasions, in addition to a short spell of service with the forces in Ireland.

Pte. Willie Bradley