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Husband of Hannah Hood, of 9, Cambridge Place, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. William Henry Hood was born in 1874 at Goole to parents Charles Samuel Hood, occupation, a Master
Coach Builder, and Mary Hood. It would appear that the family
led a rather transient lifestyle and were residing previously to William's birth at Skipton. In the late 1870's the
family had relocated to Wetherby, the 1881 Census details recording that the family consisting of Samuel aged 10, William
aged 6 and John Charles aged 2 were residing in premises located at Scott Lane. In 1889, William's father unfortunately
died, the 1891 Census now recording that the family had moved to premises located in Westgate at this juncture. The family
had also increased with the birth of Lillian Vincent in 1882, residing with her fathers parents at Adel, and the birth of
Ethel Rachel in 1885. William is now recorded as occupation, Groom, whilst his brother had followed in his fathers footsteps
as Coach Maker. The 1901 Census records that the family had now relocated to Angel Court this yard being originally located
behind the Angel Hotel. With Lillian returning to Wetherby, their mother Mary is now recorded as blind, John finding work
as a House Painter, Samuel, carrying on the family business. Of William, by 1901 he was residing in Sheffield, firstly, in
the Brightside area of the City and then in 'The Wicker' area. It is whilst at Sheffield that William would attest
for military service with the Militia, aged 22 years and 10 months, occupation, a Labourer. (Authors note: His age on attestation
is clearly stated. Confirmation that this record is that of William Hood's military services is confirmed by the
recording of his mother as next of kin). Enlistment:
York & Lancaster Militia, Sheffield It
was on the 15th of August 1901 that William attested for service with the Militia at Sheffield. Attesting for a period of
service of six years, should his services be required, he then underwent a preliminary medical examination whereupon his physical
characteristics were recorded. Height, five feet four and a half inches, chest measurements, thirty-two and a half inches
(minimum), thirty-four inches (maximum expansion). His complexion was described as 'fresh' and eyes and hair brown.
Distinctive marks included a scar on his left shin and a wart located on the outside of his left knee. Religious demonitation
was recorded as Church of England. Considered 'fit' for service, he was then posted to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion,
York and Lancaster Regiment, Officer Commanding Colonel John Gerald Wilson C.B., and issued the Serial Number 9467. Based at Pontefract, William was deemed to have "Drilled on Enlistment" and after
a period of 49 days service with the Militia it was on the 7th of October 1901 at Sheffield that he attested for service in
the Regular Army, this being confirmed by the Adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, Captain Ernest James Woodley. The terms of his
attestation were of Short Service (3 years with the Colours, and 9 years in the Reserve,or, if the man completes his 3
years' service with the Colours while beyond the seas, then for a further period, not exceeding one year, with the Colours,
and the remainder of the 12 years in the Reserve). Posted to the Depot located at Pontefract and issued the Serial Number
6630, it was on the 26th of December 1902 that William was transferred to the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, York and Lancasters.
Granted Proficiency Pay in February 1904 it was on the 6th of October 1904 that he was then placed on the Army
Reserve, Section "B," military parlance for a soldier who had completed his terms of service. Discharged on
the 6th of October 1913 due to the Termination of Engagement, prior to his discharge from the Army Reserve, William
had relocated to Harrogate, his address being recorded as Number 8, Northumberland Court. Now a married man with one child,
we will explore the intervening years from the Army to a union of marriage. Harrogate: Marriage, Children & Employment
In the 1911 Census, William is now recorded as aged 38 years and had found employment as a Painter
with Messrs. Jessop & Cosgrove (Painters). Residing in lodgings at the house of one Thomas Baker, a Cab Driver, at Number
9, Ship Yard, Harrogate, it was also in this year that William entered a union of marriage with one Hannah Hutchinson on the
17th of April at St. Peter's Church, Harrogate, the newly married couple establishing their marital home at Northumberland
Court. Hannah had been employed as a Servant at the Refreshment Rooms located at the Railway Station in Harrogate, her friend
and fellow employee, Rhoda Hefferman, being one of the witnesses. In 1912, the couple were blessed with the birth of a child,
Emily, their only child, who sadly must have had just a brief recollection of her father for the remainder of her life. At some point after the birth of Emily, the family relocated to Number 9, Cambridge Place, Harrogate,
the family enjoying a wide circle of friends in the town as well as maintaining links with family and friends at Wetherby.
William would forge a close friendship with one Charles Ernest White, a Carter by occupation. A married man with two daughters,
the White family resided at Cross Union Street, Harrogate, "Charlie" being a veteran of the South African War having
served with the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. Their 'stories' are intertwined, ultimately, each man being
killed on the Western Front in 1915 but to commence this commemoration, we will now explore William Henry Hood's 'road
to war'. Enlistment Due to the absence of surviving service documents, it is now that we must turn our attention to the
serial number issued to William, 3/10123 respectively. Enlisting at Harrogate, an analysis of serial numbers issued in this
range points to the fact that he attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists), the terms of his attestation
being one years service, in August 1914. Having stated previous military service and that he was now Time Expired,
William was then mobilised and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, Officer Commanding, Lieutenant-Colonel
John O'Brien Minogue, at York. The battalion would witness service on the north-east coast of England as part
of the Tyne Garrison based at Whitley Bay. Initially serving with this battalion, William would be posted overseas on the
27th October 1914 to join the ranks of the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, 18th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division. I will now cover the first action of the battalion in some detail so as to provide an explanation
of to how and why William was posted to this specific battalion of the Regiment. 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment A Regular Army unit, the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment formed part of the 18th Infantry
Brigade, 6th Division, the brigade originally comprising of the following battalions:- 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion,
East Yorkshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Divisional Commander Major-General John Lindesay Keir C.B. Brigade Commander Walter Norris Congreve V.C., C.B., M.V.O.,
D.S.O. Mobilisation At 12.30 a.m. on the 7th August 1914 after receiving orders to mobilise, the 1st
Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, Officer Commanding, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis William Towsey, paraded in two parties
and commenced entrainment at Trent Valley Station, Lichfield, at 6.15 a.m. and 7.15 a.m. for Dunfermline. Arriving in the
late afternoon of the 8th, the West Yorkshire's and the remainder of the brigade now proceeded into billets until a move
was made to a camp located one mile distant on the 10th. With mobilisation more or less completed as early as the 8th, on
the 13th August, the 1st West Yorkshire's, in brigade, entrained once again in two parties, the strength of the battalion
being recorded as 25 officers and 991 Other Ranks. The destination of the 18th Infantry Brigade was now Cambridge where they
would be joined by their sister brigades, the 16th and 17th respectively who had been on miltary service in Ireland. The battalion,
arriving at Cambridge on the morning of the 14th August, now proceeded to camp on Midsummer Common in the centre
of the town, the remainder of the 6th Division also concentrating in both the Cambridge and Newmarket areas. The time spent in camp at Cambridge was that of a happy duration, the towns population
showing much kindness to the soldiers encamped in their locality. Appeals were made in the local press for instance for socks
and shirts for the soldiers and a number of recreation tents were established on the common for the mens entertainment and
comfort. Instances of drunkeness were few and far between if at all despite the local populace offering alcoholic liquor a
plenty but there were a few accidents incurred due to recreational activities and general mishaps. Private George Edward Graham,
8509, 1st West Yorkshire's, was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital shortly after arrival in camp after sustaining
a broken arm during a game of football, one Private Charles Howard, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, a broken ankle after falling over
a tent peg. France:
Embarkation For St. Nazaire At
7 a.m. on the morning of the 7th September, the 1st West Yorkshire's struck camp and proceeded by route of march to Newmarket
arriving at the latter town just after noon. Forming into two parties, the battalion commenced entrainment for Southampton
at 3.15 p.m. and 4.45 p.m. arriving at the port at 9.45 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. respectively. With the strength of the battalion
recorded as 27 officers and 959 Other Ranks, their complement also comprised of 57 horses, 17 vehicles and 9 bicycles. The
battalion were to embark on the S.S. Cawdor Castle, formerly owned and operated by the Union - Castle Line and requisitioned
as transport ship. In addition to the West Yorkshire's, the ship also carried the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Erle Benson, their strength being recorded as 27 officers, 958 Other Ranks
in addition to 58 horses, 8 four wheeled and 2 wheeled vehicles, and 9 bicycles in addition to 20 officers and 3 Batmen proceeding
to France to join various units of the British Expeditionary Force. Of the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, they would commence
embarkation at Southampton on the 8th September accompanied by the Brigade Commander and his Staff on the S.S. Georgian,
of the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, they would also embark on the 8th but in two parties, one on the City of
Benares, the other party on the Bellerophon respectively. The destination of the constituent units of the 18th
Infantry Brigade was St. Nazaire and after a quiet and calm crossing the Cawdor Castle proceeded to anchor at 9 p.m.
on the evening of the 9th September, the West Yorkshire's disembarking at 7 a.m. on the morning of the following day. The Military Situation There now follows a breif summary of events that led to the deployment of the
6th Division in France. Following the retreat from Mons and the subsequent action at Le Cateau, the British Expeditionary
Force (B.E.F.), Commander-in-Chief Sir John French, had continued their retirement southwards closely followed by the German
First Army (von Kluck) and the Second German Army (von Bulow) following on their right flank. Ultimately leading to an attempt
by the German Armies to push the French Armies in a south-easterly direction from Paris, this forced the enemy to fight a
series of engagements with the B.E.F. at Nery, Crepy and Villers-Cotteret, the B.E.F. eventually establishing a position south
of the Marne River. With the French Sixth Army now on their left flank (Maunoury) and the French Fifth Army on their right
(d'Esperay), von Kluck's First Army attempted to cross the front held by the B.E.F. but after a being dealt a striking
blow by both the French and the British, the right flank of the German First army was pushed back from the west to the Ourcq
River by the French Sixth Army and from the south to a position on the Marne River by the French Fifth Army. In addition to
this thrust by the French, the latters Sixth Army (Gallieni) also brought pressure on von Kluck, advancing as they were from
the north-east of Paris. There was only one course of action for the German Armies, a retirement of their First and Second
Armies, the latter being pressed by the French Fifth Army with the French Ninth Army (Foch) on their right flank forcing them
back upon the Marne River. Fighting
a rearguard action that would lead to the Battle of the Marne, by the 7th of September a wide wedge had developed between
the German First and Second Armies as elements of the French Fifth Army pushed northwards towards Chateau Thierry with the
B.E.F. also advancing northwards on their left flank. As the enemy retired to a line north of the Aisne River, bridges were
destroyed as they now took up a strong defensive position on the spurs of high ground along the length of the Chemin des
Dames overlooking the river. On the foggy night of the 13th of September, the B.E.F. forced a crossing of the Aisne River
over destroyed or hastily erected pontoon bridges establishing itself on the northern bank between Bourg-et-Comin on the right
flank and Venizel on the left east of Soissons. With the French Fifth Army crossing the river at Berry-au-Bac and the Sixth
French Army establishing a position to the west of Soissons, all combatants entrenched and it was into this sector of the
line that the 6th Division were now to enter.
| Extract From The Official History |
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| Battle Of The Aisne (First Day), Nightfall On The 13th September, 1914 |
The Journey To The Front After
disembarkation the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment proceeded to a Rest Camp. (Authors note: Possibly the same camp
that was occupied by the 1st East Yorkshire's and located at Chantier). As the 6th Division as a whole disembarked in
the days that followed, it was not without incident. A number of vehicles of the East Yorkshire's for example had either
been damaged upon loading or during the crossing. To compound matters further, some vehicles had to be unloaded by ship's
derricks due to the unavailability of dockside cranes, this delay ultimately leading to some battalions proceeding onwards
without their vehicles. At 11.45 p.m. on the 10th,
the West Yorkshire's paraded and began entrainment in one train, the train finally departing at 4.35 a.m. early on the
following morning. This entrainment was also not without difficulties for some battalions, the by now 'accursed' transport
vehicles and limbers having to be loaded onto their respective trains sideways by a system of moveable ramps and on to low
sided trucks. As the train departed St. Nazaire
and headed eastwards the men knew little of what lay ahead, the train, halting at various points during the journey for refreshments.
Coulommiers was reached early on the morning of the 12th of September whereupon the battalion detrained and proceeded by route
of march to Croupet, north-east of Coulommiers, which was reached at 4.30 p.m. The 6th Division now began to concentrate in
a wide area to the north-east, west and south of Coulommiers whereupon they proceeded to billet. On the 15th September the 6th Division began to assemble, the 1st West Yorkshire's
(in Division) proceeding by route of march to Chateau-Thierry, a distance of over 20 miles to the north, "C" Company
acting as the battalion rearguard marching to the rear of the Ammunition Column. The battalion set forth from Croupet at 7.30
a.m. and after crossing the Marne River, the battalion halted for three hours at Charly-sur-Marne where teas were taken. Continuing
their march, Chateau-Thierry was reached at 10 p.m., "C" Company arriving at 5.40 a.m. on the morning of the 16th
where the men, no doubt footsore, billeted. At 6 a.m. the battalion paraded and resumed their march continuing northwards
to Tigny, south of Soissons, the battalion halting at 1 p.m. for the duration of an an hour and a half. Arriving at Tigny
at 6 p.m., the battalion billeted after a march of over eighteen miles. (Authors note: "C" Company were now relieved
as the rearguard by one company of the 1st East Yorkshire's). The 18th Infantry Brigade assembled at 8 a.m. on the morning of the 17th and marched a short distance, four miles,
to Chacrise which was reached at 10 a.m., one company of the Sherwood Foresters now performing the rearguard. The West Yorkshire's
once again billeted however a party or parties were sent forth to collect tools from the village of Nampteuil (Nampteuil-sous-Muret)
which were duly sent on to the Headquarters of the 5th Division at Serches, the division itself holding the line opposite
Sainte Marguerite and Missy-sur-Aisne to the east of Soissons. It is of interest to note how ill prepared the B.E.F. were
for what had now become static 'trench' as opposed to 'open' warfare.' Due to a shortage of suitable tools
for the construction of rudimentary trenches and dug-outs, it was common place for these to be sourced from the local population. Enemy "Treachery?" As the 18th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division, continued their journey to the
front, upon the Chemin des Dames, the men of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, witnessed an act of enemy treachery.
In what appeared to be an act of surrender on the 17th, the men of the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, observed
a party of the German's approaching their front line positions. The War Diary of the unit (T.N.A. WO95/1271/1 records
the incident:- "An unfortunate incident
occurred in which 2 officers + many of our men were killed. The enemy showed the white flag + some few surrendered but it
was a trap + when our men were exposed they fired under cover of the Flag (sic)." A more detailed observation of this alleged breach of the rules of war is
recorded in the pages of the War Diary of the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Rifle Corps, also of the 2nd Infantry Brigade,
(T.N.A. WO95/1272/1):- "About 4.30 p.m.
a party of Germans came forward towards C Company with two Officers advancing at about a distance of 20 to 30 yards in front
of their men. The whole party, Officers and men, advanced with their hands raised about their heads, seemingly as a token
of surrender, but with their rifles slung over their shoulders. Lieutenant Dimmer (Lieutenant John Henry Stephen Dimmer)
of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and Captain Savage (Captain John Ardkeen Savage) of the Northants Regiment
went forward to meet them. On nearing them however, Dimmer heard the bolt of a rifle being opened and closed and suspected
treachery. He called out the (sic) Captain Savage, and himself dropped down in the turnips. The Germans immediately
opened fire from their hips and Savage, checked by his sword as he was in the act of dropping down, was instantly killed,
while many of the Riflemen who had been standing up in their trenches beckoning the Germans to come in, fell victims to the
same ruse. Immediately after this instant a large body of about 300 to 400 Germans were seen advancing in a similar manner
(arms raised and rifles slung) on our left towards the Chemin des Dames. Our Brigade Major, Captain C.F. Watson (Captain
Charles Frederick Watson), of the Queen's, came up and rode out towards the German troops, ordering our men to cease
fire as he went pass them, as he thought the Germans intended surrender but, after speaking to the enemy he galloped back,
whilst the Germans continued to advance towards a company of the Northants who were dug in on the south side of the road.
They, like the Riflemen stood up in their trenches, expecting the Germans to surrender but Lieutenant Percell (Raymond
John Hugo Purcell), in command of our Machine gun detachment, turned his guns on them as he did not trust them. The Germans
continued their advance, and when they reached the Chemin des Dames, they opened fire on the Company of the Northants in the
same manner. The Northants, taken by surprise, fell back 40 or 50 yards, but our machine guns at once opened fire on the Germans,
who turned tail and fled, being mowed down as they ran across the flat. They were also exposed to Rifle fire from our trenches
to the north of the road, and very few if any of them escaped." The
Northampton Mercury dated the 25th of September 1914 reports the perpetrators of this act as the German 53rd Reserve Infantry
Regiment. Without conclusive evidence however, the exact identity of the German unit cannot be confirmed beyond reasonable
doubt. The dispositions as regards the frontage occupied by the Seventh Reserve Corps and their respective divisions as they
moved into the line on the 13th of September confirms that the 14th Reserve Division, comprising of the 28th Infantry Brigade
and that of the 27th Reserve Infantry Brigade in which I.R. 53 were contained, were in positions above Troyon. One may surmise
therefore that in addition to the 53rd, the 16th Reserve Infantry Regiment (I.R. 16) also of the 27th Brigade were present
in some capacity either in the line or in support positions. There are further newspaper articles of varying quality in existance
that convolute matters still further; the displaying of a 'White Flag' during the incident in addition to accounts
of numerous alleged atrocities performed by the retiring German Army. It is also of interest to note that General
von Zwehl, commander of the Seventh Reserve Corps, laid similar accusations against the British, recording specifically that
those forces opposing the I.R. 16, 27th Brigade, had 'pretended' to surrender and then opened fire.
It was at 2.30 p.m. on the afternoon of
the 18th September that the 18th Infantry Brigade set forth from Chacrise on a march to Bourg-et-Comin to the east. Bivouacking
at Braine for the night, in cold and heavy rain the brigade marched on to Bourg whereupon the Aisne was crossed by means of
a Pontoon Bridge, Bourg being reached early on the morning of the 19th September where the men proceeded to occupy billets.
In the days previously, the British line had been subjected to a series of infantry attacks proceeded by heavy bombardments
and it was during the course of this day that the 2nd Division found themselves heavily engaged, repulsing two enemy attacks.
It was at this juncture that the French Commander-in-Chief,
General Joffre, had formulated plans for the formation of a new army that would operate on the left flank of Manoury's
Sixth Army. With the latter occupying the line west of Soissons to Choisy, north of Compiegne, Joffre's intention was
to turn the right flank of von Kluck's First Army and it was these plans that he laid before Sir John French on the 18th.
Although battle would have to be protracted, this would provide time for the British Commander-in-Chief to form a reserve
and in turn organise a system of relief for the exhausted men in the front line. The 6th Division had originally been placed
in General Reserve to Third Corps and placed to the south of the Aisne River however the opportunity now arose due to Joffre's
newly formulated plans to utilise the infantry of the 6th Division for this purpose.
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| Destroyed Bridge At Bourg-et-Comin (Courtesy Of The Geneanet Community) |
Now forming part of First Corps under the command of Lieutenant-General
Sir Douglas Haig, early on the morning of the 19th, Commanding Officers and Company Commanders made a reconnaisance of the
line to be taken over in this sector. It was now that the men made final preparations for the impending move into the forward
line located to the north on the Chemin des Dames in the vicinity of the village of Troyon. At noon, Bour was shelled
by enemy artillery however an analysis of the various unit War Diaries record that during this bombardment no casualties were
suffered by the brigade. With orders to relieve various units of the 1st Division, the men of the 18th Infantry Brigade, 6th
Division, now moved up into the line during the course of the afternoon. Under an enemy bombardment, the respective battalions
of the brigade proceeded to march uphill in platoons at intervals via the village of Vendresse and onwards towards Troyon.
At some point on the road, Private John Arthur Hipkiss, 7736, of "A" Company, 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment,
was hit by enemy artillery fire and was unfortunately killed. A native of Hockley, Birmingham and a married man, John has
no known grave and is now commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France. The 18th Infantry Brigade were now moving into the firing line opposite the
Seventh Reserve-Korps under the command of General Johann von Zwehl. Recently attached to the Seventh German Army under the
command of General Josias von Heeringen after seige operations at Maubeuge, the Seventh Korps comprising of the 13 and 14
Reserve Infantry Divisions moved into the line from the east of Cerny-en-Laonnois to the west of Ailles respectively. Taking
up this position on the eastern flank of von Kluck's First Army on the 13th September, von Zwehl's arrival was timely
indeed and closed a worrying gap that had developed between the First and Second Armies. With a breakthrough by the British
being narrowly avoided, the situation in the days to come would be finely balanced with attacks by both sides being pressed
home and equally repulsed. Orders were issued however for a general attack by the whole of Seventh Corps on the 20th, this
attack being made in conjunction with a composite force, the Gersdorrf Detachment (Generalmajor Georg von Gersdorff),
comprising of the 63rd Infantry Brigade and artillery of the 32nd Infantry Division, Twelfth Korps, Third Army. Holding The Line: The "White Flag" Incident Upon reaching Troyon, the 1st West Yorkshire's now moved into the line
after dark to commence a relief of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards and at 11 p.m., all reliefs were completed. The battalion
now found itself holding the extreme right flank of the British line, to their right, the 1er Bataillon du 1er Tirailleurs
Algerians of the 38e Division d'Infanterie, French Fifth Army held the line in positions above Paissy. "A" and
"B" Companies of the West Yorkshire's under the command of Major Alexander Wighton Ingles now moved into the
firing line with Battalion Headquarters and "C" and "D" Companies placed in support trenches, the latter
two companies echeloned in the right rear of the two front line companies respectively. Battalion Transport was placed in
a position at the foot of the hill, presumably south of Troyon. Both the firing and support lines were subjected to artillery fire before the battalion had completed the relief,
the night being spent by the men improving their positions and in the construction of overhead cover. The 'trenches'
were however just meagre excavations in the ground with no communication 'trenches' extending to the rear, communication
to the firing and the support lines being maintained by telephone. It was at 3.30 a.m. on the morning of the 20th of September that the West Yorkshire's received orders to Stand-to-Arms.
Shortly after these orders were issued, enemy artillery placed a heavy bombardment on the locality and at 4.15 a.m. it soon
became apparent that the French troops on the right flank were being subjected to a maelstrom of both shell and rifle fire.
Suffering heavy casualties in both officers and men, the 'Turcos' were observed retiring over the Paissy
Hills on the right at about 5 a.m. To ascertain the situation on this right flank, an officers patrol of the West Yorkshire's
under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Gilliat Meautys, Battalion Machine Gun Officer, was duly sent out but on moving foward
this patrol came under fire forcing it to return. With the right flank 'in the air' and the situation unclear, Colonel
Towsey ordered "D" Company under the command of Captain Percival Edward Hurst Lowe to move forward and take up a
position in the open facing right but on doing so they came under heavy rifle fire from the right. In the confusion of battle,
it soon became apparent that this rifle fire originated from the French troops on the right, the order for "D" Company
being issued to return to the trenches at once. The situation by now had become obscure to say the least, Towsey himself going
out to reconnoitre the flank returning a few minutes later. "D" Company were once again ordered to move forward
to the advance and after opening fire and moving forward about 300 yards, none of the enemy were observed whereupon they once
again returned to the line. The battalion had however suffered casualties at this point, one man being reported as killed
in addition to twenty six being wounded. Amongst the latter was one Lieutenant George Vyvyan Naylor-Leyland, Royal Horse Guards,
attached to the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. A rather ambiguous newspaper article reported that Lieutenant Naylor-Leyland
had been seriously wounded whilst carrying messages from the front line to Headquarters, possibly on horseback. Unfortunately
succumbing to his wounds on the following day, Naylor-Leyland is now buried in Vendresse Churchyard.
| Positions Of The 18th Infantry Brigade |
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| Positions Schematic Only (Author) |
Despite the situation, the men found time to eat a rather hurried
breakfast but it was at 8 a.m. that heavy rifle and artillery fire once again erupted onto the firing line, the Colonel accompanied
by Lieutenant Meautys once again proceeding forward in yet another attempt to ascertain and evaluate the situation. Crossing
the open ground and under fire, the following is an extract of a letter published in The Globe dated the 27th October
1914:- "The colonel
(sic) and Meautys ran forward over the exposed ground under fire to see what was taking place. The colonel came back in
about an hour's time and said Meautys had been wounded. He had told Meautys to look for a place for his machine guns,
and to signal him with his hat if he found one. He saw Meautys return to the trench, but he did not signal, and fell forward into the trench, apparently wounded.
He was hit in the stomach and lay in the trench all that day and late into the night. It was impossible to recover the wounded
owing to the heavy fire from artillery and rifles. However, during the darkness he was brought back to the hospital at Troyon."
We will return to the
fate of Meautys later during the course of this commemoration but with his Battalion Machine Gun Officer wounded, Colonel
Towsey now ordered forward "D" Company to reinforce the firing line. As heavy firing continued all morning, it was
observed that the French on the right had also commenced yet another retirement at about 1 p.m. Upon receiving a report of
this retirement and that of the West Yorkshire's, two companies of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, 2nd Infantry
Brigade, 1st Division, were rushed forward from caves located at Paissy to stem the flow of an enemy attack that had now developed
on the Paissy Hills. In addition to the Sussex, the 18th Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 1st Cavalry Division, had already
established themselves at 3.30 a.m. in support of the French at Paissy. At about midday, the Hussars then moved up to the
plateau to the north of the village in support of the 'Turcos,' "B" Squadron under the command
of Major Charles Henry Leveson D.S.O. moving forward apace and dismounted in an attempt to retake the second line of trenches.
So what events had transpired
that had witnessed the forward positions of the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment being overun? The first inclination
that an attack was underway was when a man ran back from the firing line at about 1.30 p.m. reporting that the companies in
front had been captured and that the enemy were advancing. The enemy it was ascertained later from the wounded apparently
approached the front line under a White Flag, a recognised sign of a truce, a ceasefire or even surrender. Private
Alfred Midgley, 6511, a married man of Henry Street, Leeds, recounted his experiences to his wife in a letter wrote at the
4th Scottish General Hospital, Glasgow, the latter being published in the Yorkshire Evening Post dated the 7th of October:-
"I have never read
about a more cruel war than this. The battle at which I was hit was supposed to be the worst since the war started. It was
called the battle of Piassy (sic). The morning I was hit, we had just started marching up the field, when our officer
got his field glasses out and saw some Germans in a big wood, so we got the order to load our rifles and fix our bayonets.
We started firing at them. There only looked to be about 100 of them, and we charged them. They showed the white flag, telling
us they were going to surrender and when we got up to them they started firing on us. There would be about 700 of them, all
hiding. They made our company and another prisoners, and those that were wounded and killed they left. I was placed in a hole they call a trench with two of our fellows and
was left there, and I saw nobody else until I was carried away on Sunday night by three of the Dragoons." Private J. Thompson of the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, wrote a
letter to a friend at Monkwearmouth from hospital at King's College, Chelsea, describing his experiences of the incident.
The following is an extract of the letter published in the Sunderland Daily Echo on the 12th of October 1914:- "One of their cowardly tricks was played on the West Yorkshire Regiment.
They were lying on our right, next to us. We were firing from our trenches when an order came along to cease fire. We wondered
what was up, and then we heard the officers shouting "The Germans have surrendered." We let the Germans come in
with their white flag and their rifles above their heads. About 200 of them got to our men and stood still. Our men were going
to take their rifles off them when suddenly the Germans seemed to spring from nowhere and opened fire with rifles and machine
guns. Good God, it was wilful murder; and if we had not got reinforcements I would not have been here to tell the tale."
The Response
Of the 18th Infantry Brigade:- Defend The Right Flank At All Costs
Although the chronology of events that transpired during the course of the
afternoon are difficult to determine, on the left flank of the West Yorkshire's, the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry,
Officer Commanding, Colonel Bernard William Lynedoch McMahon, now began to be enfiladed by an enemy machine gun causing numerous
casualties. Due to the right flank of the battalion being pinned down and suffering considerable losses, one company plus
half a company were ordered to advance from the left flank of the battalion front. Upon rising and advancing to the attack,
they too were hit by this enfilade machine gun fire and after gallantly trying to press on, they returned to their original
trenches after enduring severe casualties in both officers and men. Due to the retirement of the French, the enemy had been able to manoeuvre his force around the right flank above
Paissy, the West Yorkshire's suffering numerous casualties in men killed, wounded or missing. At 2 p.m., Colonel Towsey
gave the order for "C" Company and Battalion Headquarters to advance immediately towards the front line trenches
in an attempt, if possible, to save the forward companies. Fixing bayonets and advancing at the double, they were met with
both heavy fire from the front and the right flank however fire was opened to the front and two platoons were detached to
the right to form a defensive flank. With Colonel Towsey now wounded, the alarm was now raised and the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood
Foresters who were in reserve positions at Troyon under the command of Colonel Cyril Randell Crofton-Atkins, now rose to the
attack. Upon observing a column of the enemy marching prisoners off to the rear, "A" and "C" Companies
under the commands of Captains Robert Stewart Popham D.S.O. and Charles Colville Parkinson M.V.O. respectively, moved forward
at a moments notice and upon assuming a position at the head of the Paissy Valley, they were there joined by Major Philip
Leveson-Gower. The Foresters were met by intense heavy machine gun fire from both the front and the right flank as they attempted
to deploy, the terrain being deviod of cover and confined due to the topography of the landscape. Their advance was initially
checked until the remaining two companies of the battalion were brought forward to reinforce the line, a general advance then
being ordered which was conducted with "great dash" and despite heavy losses, the battalion re-took the
forward line. Between 2 and
3 p.m. during the afternoon, "B" Squadron of the 18th Hussars were re-enforced by two Squadrons of the 4th (Royal
Irish) Dragoon Guards, also of 1st Cavalry Division who held their line against repeated attacks. It is now that we turn our
attention to the extreme left flank of the 18th Infantry Brigade, that held by the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.
The battalion had left their trenches in support
of the attack made by the Durham's and upon advancing eastwards up the rising ground and crossing the spur, they were
at once hit by machine gun and artillery fire. Before they could retire to their original trenches, Colonel Benson and four
officers were wounded in addition to two officers and countless men being recorded as missing or wounded. The final action of the day as recorded by the War Diary of the 1st Battalion,
West Yorkshire Regiment, states that at 3 p.m., Major Godfrey George Lang was sent forward to reconnoitre and ascertain the
positions out front. Signalling an advance, Headquarters and "C" Company moved forward and after joining up with
the East Yorkshire's on their left flank, the trenches previously held by "A" and "B" Companies of
the battalion were reoccupied. With the dead and wounded of the 18th Infantry Brigade strewn across the battlefield, the West
Yorkshire's were eventually relieved by the 2nd Sherwood Foresters in the line at about 8 p.m. and the battalion, or what
remained of it, proceeded into reserve at Troyon arriving at 5 a.m. on the morning of the 21st of September after burying
their dead and collecting the wounded. Their Roll Call to say the least was pitiful, numbering just five officers and an estimated
250 Other Ranks. (Authors note:-Major Lang now assumed command and compiled the War Diary for this period on the 1st October.
There are therefore, some inaccuracies as to the strength of the battalion after the actions of the 20th September. Five officers
is a conservative estimate, and one may surmise after an analysis of the Army List dated August 1914 that amongst their number
were also the Adjutant, Captain William Henry Astley De la Pryme, Captain Alfred Morey Boyall D.S.O., Lieutenant John Lawson-Smith,
Honorary Lieutenant and Quartermaster Ernest George Butler, Second-Lieutenant Jasper Carew and Second-Lieutenant Frank Lowndes
Wright. The full composition of the battalion however warrants further study).
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| 18th Infantry Brigade Front, Troyon, 20th September 2014 (Author) |
The Losses: Killed, Wounded & Missing An
analysis of the War Diary of the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment records that on the 20th September 1914, 7 officers
had been killed, 3, wounded including Lieutenant-Colonel Towsey, and 7 posted as missing. In Other Ranks, 71, were reported
as killed, 110 wounded and 436 missing. The officers and their true fates are recorded as follows:- Major Alexander Wighton Ingles, killed, commemorated, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre
Memorial Captain Mortimer Fisher, killed, commemorated,
La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial Captain John Francis
I'Anson, killed, commemorated, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial Lieutenant William Lawrence Eliot, killed, commemorated, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial Lieutenant Offley Charles Wycliffe Thompson, killed, commemorated, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre
Memorial Lieutenant Thomas Gilliat Meautys, died
of wounds, buried, Vendresse British Cemetery Second-Lieutenant
Eric Western Wilson, killed, commemorated, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial Captain Percival Edward Hurst Lowe, missing, subsequently reported as a Prisoner of War Captain Eustace Foster Grant-Dalton, missing, subsequently reported as a
Prisoner of War Captain Percy Spencer Fryer, missing,
subsequently reported as a Prisoner of War Captain
Henry Harington, missing, subsequently reported as a Prisoner of War Lieutenant Kenneth Saumarez Seton Henderson, missing, subsequently reported as a Prisoner of War Lieutenant Leslie Alfred Davies, missing, subsequently reported as a Prisoner
of War Second-Lieutenant William Henry Langran,
missing, subsequently reported as a Prisoner of War Second-Lieutenant
Bertram Louis Ratcliffe, missing, subsequently reported as a Prisoner of War The Wounded Of
the wounded, at this point will return to Lieutenant Thomas Gilliat Meautys who had been severely wounded in the stomach and
removed to the village of Troyon. Educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, a fellow officer of the battalion writing home
described his last hours in a letter forwarded to The Globe by the College's Headmaster, St John Basil Wynne
Willson and published on the 27th of October 1914:- "I
saw him about 5 a.m. the next morning; he was lying in a cave, which was used as a hospital. He seemed very tired and weak,
and I did not stop long, but he wanted to know all about the regiment and what had happened the previous day. Again that afternoon
I went to see him, and, although he was in pain, he told me all that happened in the trench where he lay that day. He seemed
to me to be better, and the doctors had some hopes. About five a.m. next morning I went into the hospital and went to his
bed, but was told by the attendant he had died at 12.30 p.m. He was not allowed to eat or drink after he was hit. It was a
great shock to me to find he was gone. I was very fond of him and I admired his bravery during the fight. He was an excellent
officer and we were all very sorry indeed to lose him. He was buried beneath the hospital at Troyon in the village and his
grave was marked with a wooden cross. One can well say, 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.' He died a soldier's
death on the field of honour. He was a very gallant fellow." Originally buried in Troyon Churchyard in Grave Number Three, after the war had ceased, the village, church and graveyard
had been virtually erased from the map. The wooden cross had been destroyed but Meaultys' burial plot was fortunately
identified through French burial records and his body was subsequently exhumed in April 1925. Thomas Gilliat Meautys now lies
in Vendresse British Cemetery along with Private William Richardson, 8045, a native of Warwick and a resident Harrogate who
died of wounds on the 25th, and Colour Sergeant James Missett, 6564, of Hunslet, Leeds, who also died of wounds received on
the 20th. Both men are now commemorated on Special Memorials having being known to have been buried in Troyon Churchyard.
The Missett family would also receive one more telegram informing them that John Edward, the nephew of James, had also fallen
in action in action on the 20th of September. John, a resident of Zulu Street, Burmantofts, Leeds, is now commemorated on
the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. Sergeant John
Featherstone Woodcock, 9243, a native of Burley, Leeds, lay out in the open for over a day. Writing a letter to one Miss Maria
Rogers of Lichfield from his hospital bed at the 1st Scottish General Hospital, Aberdeen, the following is an extract describing
his experiences:- " I was knocked over
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon (Sunday, 20th September), and I was picked up at midnight on Monday, having lain there
wounded about 34 hours. I was pretty near done for, but I have the cap of the German who shot at me, and he was a bad shot
or else very frightened, as he could only hit me in the leg at seven yards. I managed to improve greatly on his shooting.
Well, all those hours I laid there wounded
I wondered if I should ever see you again, and I really began to think I should not, as I made sure they would come and finish
us during the night. However, we were lucky enough to get out of it, and were put into a train and sent down country, a three
days' journey, in cattle trucks. Words cannot describe it. We arrived, the, at St. Nazaire, and here we were taken to
a decent hospital, where we stayed about five days, and were then taken on board the hospital ship, "Carisbroke Castle"
(sic) (which is very comfortably fitted up), and brought to Southampton, where we were put into hospital trains fitted
up like palaces, and where we were treated like kings, until we arrived at this place. This is a great hospital, and we are
very well looked after indeed."
Having received a gun shot wound to his right thigh, John now concludes his letter to Maria describing the extent of
his injuries:- "Now comes the painful
part of my letter - I dread to write it almost. When the bullet went through my leg the main artery was severed, and it has
so affected my foot that they are going to take part of it off and leave me a cripple for life. I shall have to leave the
Army, although I shall get a small pension." Bringing in the wounded was both impossible and problematic due to the heavy machine gun and artillery barrage
that was sweeping across the battlefield. In trying to do so, there were many heroes amongst the ranks of the men of the 18th
Infantry Brigade. One man of the West Yorkshire's, Private Charles Bell, 7558, a resident of Morley near Leeds, set out
to bring in the survivors of his company after a charge was made on the enemy line. (Authors note: One may surmise the charge
of "C" Company). Bell assumed that due to the heavy losses during the charge, there were only three men surviving
in his midst, himself, a Sergeant, and Private Robert Gee, 7236. Gee disappeared and it was unbeknown to Bell that he had
in fact fallen wounded. It was then that the unidentified Sergeant also fell wounded whereupon Bell bandaged him up as best
he could and crawled away with the N.C.O. on his back. Under fire, Bell it was reported crawled for over two hours until a
wood was reached, presumably the wooded slopes below Troyon, whereupon the Sergeant was handed over to the Battalion Transport.
Surprisingly, Bell would receive no award for gallantry and after a long recuperation spent at a number of hospitals, he led
what could be best described as a rather 'colourful' life before returning to the Western Front. Subsequently serving
with the 10th (Service), 21st (Service) Battalions of the Regiment before returning to his original unit, the 1st Battalion
respectively, he would be discharged in January 1918.
| The Graphic, October 31st, 1914 |
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| Artist: Ernest Prater |
The Missing, The Dead & The Prisoners The casualty lists of those missing, dead and presumed Prisoners of War are to say the least extensive in both the
local and national press. To try to record all those who were engaged in the action of the 20th September would require unlimited
research, therefore, the Author will attempt to provide a cross-section of the men engaged and their ultimate fates. News was received in mid October of the death in action of Private Fred Boyington,
7797, a Reservist and a married man of Halton, Leeds. Prior to being recalled to the Colours, Fred was employed by the Aire
and Calder Navigation Company. His brother George, also a Reservist and serving in "A" Company of the battalion,
was later reported as a Prisoner of War. George would unfortunately die in captivity at Doberitz Camp in April 1917 and before
the war was employed as a Carter by Messrs. Vaux, Leeds. George now lies in Meza (Nikolai) Cemetery, Latvia. Sarah Esther Croft also received the news of the death of her husband, Private
Albert Croft, 7610, of Recreation Grove, Holbeck, Leeds. Prior to the war, Albert was employed by Messrs. Joseph Watson and
Sons, Soap Works, ("Soapy Joes"), of Whitehall Road, Leeds. Shot through the head, he is now commemorated on the
La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial along with Fred Boyington. Lance-Corporal Harry Appleby, 7236, born at Market Weighton and a Cooper by trade, was residing at Victoria Terrace,
Tadcaster. A Reservist recalled to the Colours, prior to the war he was employed by John Smith's Brewery. At Bridlington, Mrs Violet Biggins had received notification from the War
Office that her husband, Lance-Corporal Elijah Biggins, 5481, a Postman at Bridlington Post Office, had been reported as missing
since the 22nd September (Authors note: Red Cross Prisoner of War records confirm his place and capture as Bourg-et-Comin,
20th September). The Leeds Mercury dated the 22nd of October reported that the couple had three small children, the eldest
being only three and a half years old, the youngest being born whilst Elijah had left home to join the Colours. Fortunately
for Violet and her young family, Elijah was eventually confirmed as a Prisoner of War at Doberitz Camp, Germany. The Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League team had also suffered the loss of
a member of the squad. Charles Brain, 7374, a native of Harrogate, had originally enlisted into the Regiment in 1904. A Forward
with an impressive record, Charles was recalled to the Colours and posted as missing on the 20th September but notification
was received that he was in fact a Prisoner of War at Doberitz by the Club Secretary on the 6th of November. Four other members
of the team would also serve at the front during the course of the war, Pierre Boltman, Arthur Moore, who would have a finger
amputated, William Sandham and D. Lewis. (Source Yorkshire Evening Post dated 31st of October 1914). In relation to Wetherby men contained in the ranks of the battalion, there
is only one man who can be positively identified as being present during the action of the 20th of September, Sergeant Edgar
Leonard Adkin, 5845. Edgar enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1900 and would witness service with the 2nd Battalion,
West Yorkshire Regiment in South Africa. With the Adkin family moving from Guisley to Wetherby, Edgar would be married at
Saint James Parish Church in the year 1905. Completing his service and being subsequently placed on the Army Reserve as per
his service obligation, he would take up the duties of Town Postman at Otley in 1909, the family residing at 39, North Parade.
Prior to mobilisation in 1914, Edgar was employed as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist at Bedale Post Office, North Yorkshire.
Captured during the action he would be imprisoned at Cassel, Germany, before being repatriated via Holland in December 1918.
I will conclude this stage
of the commemoration of William Henry Hood by including one more man who was captured on the 20th of September, my mother's
grandfather, Lance-Corporal James William Drane, 7063. A resident of Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, James had enlisted at Leeds
in 1903. Completing his three year service obligation with the Colours in 1905, he was then placed on the Army Reserve until
being mobilised in August 1914. Unofficially reported as a Prisoner of War at Parchim, Germany, in October 1914, James was
later transferred to Gustrow in northern Germany before being repatriated to England via Switzerland in 1917. Never fully
recovering from his experiences, James would die aged 58 years in 1942 at Leeds General Infirmary. Rebuilding The Battalion The survivors of the battalion were now formed up as Headquarters, one company
("C" Company) and one platoon. Standing To! on several occasions throughout the course of the 21st, at
6 p.m. on the 22nd, the composite battalion proceeded into support positions for the 2nd D.L.I. Here they remained until 6.30
p.m. on the 24th when they took over the firing line from the Durham's whereupon they then began to construct new trenches
throughout the course of the night. It was on the 25th that the trenches held by the West Yorkshire's were shelled, this
resulting in the deaths of 9 men and the wounding of a further two. (Authors note: Ten men are recorded by the Commonwealth
War Graves Database as having become casualties on this date. Soldiers Died In The Great War also records that
of their number, two died of wounds received). Private James Manning, 7792, aged 28 years. A Reservist, prior to the war James was employed by Mr. Charles Lightowler,
Printer, of Joseph Street, Leeds. Married just eighteen months prior to his death, his widow and child residing in their marital
home located in Burton Street, off Dewsbury Road, Leeds. Denied a known grave, James is now commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre
Memorial, Seine-et-Marne in addition to being commemorated on the War Memorial located on the former site of St. Peter's
Church, Dewsbury Road, Leeds.
From the north-east of England there was Private George Knott, 7349, aged 30 years. In an announcement of his death published
in the North-Eastern Daily Gazette dated the 20th of October 1914, the latter records that he too was a Reservist and before
the war he was employed as a Porter at the South Bank Station. A married man, George succumbed to wounds and although the
exact plot of his grave is unknown, he is now known to be buried in Braine Communal Cemetery, east of Soissons. Private Thomas Brown,10074, a native of Leeds aged 20 years. Upon the death
of his father in 1907 at the Leeds Workhouse, the Brown family were now plunged deeper into poverty. By the year of 1911,
'Tom' had found employment as a Paper Seller, residing as a Lodger at premises located in Meadow Lane, Leeds. Enlisting
in the City in February 1914 into the ranks of the West Yorkshire Regiment, his body would be buried near Paissy in a grave
also containing the remains of Bandsman George Peake, 7924, a native of Huddersfield. A photo and a school certificate removed
from his body prior to his burial were sent home to his grieving mother who was residing in the 'Bank' area of the
City but his and that of his comrades grave would be subsequently 'lost'. Discovered in 1934, 'Toms' remains
were identified by his serial number stamped on his boot, that of George, by his number stamped on his spoon. Exhumed, both
men are now buried in Montcornet Military Cemetery, Aisne, France.
| The Photograph Sent To His Mother |
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| Thomas Brown: Leeds Mercury Dated The 17th of October 1914 |
Later in the day, the battalion, in brigade, were relieved in
the trenches at 8 p.m. by the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, the West Yorkshire's along with D.L.I., the Sherwood's and
Brigade Headquarters reaching Pargnan to the east of Bourg about midnight. Placed in Reserve to the 1st Division, the Sherwood's
arrived about two hours later at 2.30 a.m. to find the town under heavy artillery fire from German gun positions located to
the north of Vendresse, this fire subsequently wounding five men. Of the East Yorkshire's, they were to placed at the
disposal of the 2nd Brigade, if required, and upon relief by the 1st Northampton's, they marched the short distance to
Moulins whereupon they proceeded to billet. Due to the shelling of Pargnan, at 12.30 p.m. the battalion accompanied by the
D.L.I. and the Sherwoods moved to a wooded slope located one mile to the north of Bourg and bivouacked. Now placed in Reserve
to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, the first reinforcements began to arrive to replace losses, Lieutenant Bruce Duftus Costin
and 96 men joining the battalion on the 27th. With one company on outpost duties at night, akin to a number of men who had
succumbed to wounds in the previous days, Corporal Percy Pestell, 8971, a native of Luton, died of wounds received in action
at a medical facility established at Braine. Remaining under canvas, it was at 6 p.m. on the following day that the West Yorkshire's
marched to support trenches located to the north-east of Troyon, establishing themselves on the extreme right of the British
line, close to the location of the fateful events that transpired on the 20th. Placing 100 men in the firing line, during
the night they dug a 'new' trench to secure the right flank of the line, the positions being inspected on two occasions
during the following day by the G.O.C. These improvements continued, trenches being constructed to extend to their right and
connect with the French, however these were only occupied during the night due to the danger of artillery fire during daylight
hours. The position though was covered through the day by French troops further to the right, both the 1st and 2nd Tirailleurs
occupying the front line and the Plateau de Paissy respectively.
October On the 1st of October, the West Yorkshire's were relieved by "C
and "D" Companies of the Sherwood Foresters under the command of Major Robert James Frederick Taylor. Upon their
relief, the battalion, Officer Commanding Major Godfrey George Lang, moved into billets located at Moulins, east of Vendresse.
The battalion, in brigade, now received orders that they were to be relieved by the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, and upon their
relief they were to proceed to billets located at Vauxtin and Vauberlin and be placed in Reserve. As a consequence, it was
at 8 p.m. that evening that the 18th Infantry Brigade Headquarters along with the West Yorkshire's and the Foresters were
relieved by the 1st Gloucester's, the East Yorkshire's and the D.L.I. being relieved about one hour later at Vendresse
by the 1st South Wales Borderers. Marching to their respective billets, the night was cold and lit by a bright moon, the first
party reaching their destination at about 11.30 p.m. followed by Brigade Transport, the East Yorkshire's and the D.L.I.
who arrived about an hour later. Both at Vauxtin and Vauberlin, the billets were crowded and found to be most unsuitable but
early on the morning of the 2nd, orders were received for the 18th Brigade to rejoin the 6th Division later in the afternoon
at Jury. Marching via Braine, reinforcements were picked up at en route at Braine Railway Station, the 1st East Yorkshire's
being joined by Captain Edmund Wilmer Walker and 91 Other Ranks, the 2nd Sherwood Foresters by Lieutenant Edward Nathaniel
Drury-Lowe along with 93 N.C.O.'s and men, and the West Yorkshire's by Lieutenant Arthur Alexander Geddes and 92 Other
Ranks respectively. (Authors note:- Figures of reinforcements as per Battalion War Diaries. It must be noted that there are
some variancies recorded in the War Diary of the 18th Infantry Brigade). Upon arrival at Jury, the men billeted, however the 2nd Durham's were ordered to proceed
to Ciry (Ciry-Salsogne) to take over a defensive line occupied by the 4th Division Cyclists. The latter had taken over these
positions from the 2nd West Riding's and the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers of the 5th Division, pending the arrival
of the D.L.I. Establishing themselves north of Ciry in outpost lines opposite the Fort de Conde and in the Le
Gobinne Wood north of the Vesle river, the line was well covered by the enemy. On the 3rd, the G.O.C. visited the
battalion and duly noted that too many men were employed on various duties, alternative arrangements therefore being required
to relieve the amount of their labours. The billets at Jury for the remainder of the brigade were found to be dirty and overcrowded
as the cold weather continued and the nights lit by a bright autumnal. Blankets were issued and due to second batch of reinforcements
received by the West Yorkshire's, "A" Company was reformed, the battalion also sending two platoons on the 3rd
to Ecuiry to act as 3rd Army Corps Guard. (Authors note:- As recorded in the 1st East Yorkshire's War Diary). On the 5th,
a third batch of reinforcements arrived to bolster the ranks of the battalion, the latter being joined by Captain Frederick
Joseph Lemon and Captain Edward Theodore Welchman D.S.O. with 326 Other Ranks and as a consequence of their arrival, "B"
Company was reformed. Brigade
Orders were subsequently issued shortly after lunch on the 6th that dictated the movement of the 18th Infantry Brigade to
billets that evening located in St. Remy (Saint-Remy-Blanzy). Minus the D.L.I., the brigade commenced their march southwards
at 7.15 p.m. and journeyed via Serches, Mont de Soissons, Nampteuil (Nampteuil-sous-Muret), Muret (Muret-et-Crouttes), Droizy,
Hartennes (Hartennes-et-Taux) finally reaching St. Remy at 12.15 a.m. on the 6th/7th of October. Of the Durham's, their
relief had been delayed until the arrival of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, 4th Division, at 2 a.m., early on the morning of
the 7th. Proceeding by route of march through a clear and cold night, they finally reached St. Remy at 9.15 a.m., no doubt
foot sore and thoroughly exhausted. On
this date, the 7th of October, one man of the West Yorkshire's is recorded as "Died/Deceased," Private
James Manby, 6615, a native of Leeds. A resident of Bayswater Avenue, Harehills, Leeds, James had originally enlisted in Leeds
in December 1902, occupation, Labourer. Placed on the Army Reserve, he was recalled to the Colours in August 1914 and departed
with the battalion the following month for France. Aged 30 years, the circumstances surrounding his death are unknown, his
name appearing in one of many casualty lists confirming that he simply 'died'. Denied a known grave, James is now
commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial.
| La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, Stone 10 |
|
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| Author:- April 2008 |
Shortly after the arrival of the Durham's, Divisional
Operation Order No. 7 was issued at 10.45 a.m. This preliminary order dictated that the brigade must be prepared to march
'west' early on the evening of the 7th, destination, Largny (Largny-sur-Automne), 3 miles west of Villers-Cotterets.
As well as the constituent units of the brigade taking to the march, they would also be accompanied by the 38th Field Company,
Royal Engineers, of the 6th Division, located in billets at Coutremain, south of Braine. There departure was however delayed
by one hour, the 18th Brigade departing St. Remy at 6 p.m., the Brigade War Diary recording rather laconically that "they
followed on behind eventually". On the following day, a 'warning order' was issued at 10 a.m. stating that
the brigade was to be prepared to move by twelve noon however these orders were subsequently cancelled and after further changes,
movement was ordered to take place at 2 p.m. As is normally the case, the men would have taken a meal before departure but
due to the various delays, it was not until three hours into the march that the men finally halted to eat, being served with
a repast of raw meat. Marching
to the west, St. Saveur (Saint-Saveur), south of the Foret de Compiegne was reached at 8 p.m. however both the East Yorkshire's
and the Sherwood Foresters had departed the brigade at Orrouy to the east at 5.30 p.m. Orders were now to entrain but due
to a lack of available transport, orders were now issued for all units to billet, the entrainment of the 6th Division, forming
part of Third Corps, due to commence on the following day. Duly on the 8th, the West Yorkshire's marched the distance
of about four miles to Le Meux to the north and commenced to entrain along with Brigade Headquarters. On this day also, the
battalion received six new officers, Major Herbert Theodore Cliff, Captain Frank Pickford Worsley, Captain Hugh Blenkinsop
Spence and Second-Lieutenants Oswald Moncrieff Tennent, Guy Nelson Stockdale and Joseph Gill. Despite this reinforcement of
officers, the battalion, numbering three companies and containing thirteen officers and 848 Other Ranks, still required another
thirteen officers and 130 Other Ranks to bring it up to its War Establishment. At 1 p.m. on the afternoon of the 9th of October, the battalion marched the
distance of about four miles to Le Meux and began to entrain. The 6th Division, contained in Third Corps, were now bound for
Saint Omer in northern France however the entrainment process had been completed with some difficulties that could have been
avoided. Followed by Brigade Headquarters, the train was due to depart Le Meux Sation at 4 p.m. but due to loading taking
over three hours, the time for departure was rescheduled to take place at around 5 p.m. It appears that the Railway Transport
Officer allocated for these duties was not as efficient as the 18th Brigade Headquarters would have liked. Loading was performed
from a 'bank' whereas if several ramps had been utilised simultaneously, the task would have been shortened and performed
more efficiently, suffice to say, the train departed the station at 5.20 p.m., the men all ready twenty minutes previously.
Heading northwards, the train
passed through the rural backwaters of France. Arriving at Amiens in Picardy, a scheduled halt was to made of a duration of
forty minutes for a meal but the men, no doubt thoroughly exhausted after their numerous route marches, were found to be asleep.
Journeying to the coast and to Etaples, Arques was reached at about noon on the 10th whereupon detrainment, one company of
the West Yorkshire's were placed on the bank of the Canal de Neufosse to cover the detrainment and the billets
of the brigade. Reports were received that enemy forces were in and about Hazebrouck about twelve miles distant in addition
to many refugees fleeing the German advance. Upon further information being received, the company of the West Yorkshire's
was withdrawn, further communications being received by the brigade that the East Yorkshire's and the Sherwood Foresters
had detrained at Saint Omer at 2 p.m. and at 4.15 p.m. respectively. Proceeding by route of march to Arques, upon the arrival
of the East Yorkshire's who were just about to move into billets, the battalion then received orders to proceed to Racquinghem
to the south-east, some four miles distant and move into billets. In this area, the 87th French Territorial Division were
holding the bridges over the Canal de Neufosse at Campagne (Campagne-les-Wardreques), Wardreques and Blaringhem,
the East Yorkshire's, if required, in a position to provide support. With 18th Brigade Headquarters now established at
Arques and the arrival of 6th Divisional Headquarters at Saint Omer, the 19th Brigade, in Reserve to Third Corps and with
no specific attachment to a division, also detrained at the latter. To cover the flank of the 18th Brigade, the 1st
Cameronians were sent out on an outpost towards Renescure, the remainder of the 19th Brigade completing their detrainment
by midnight. To the east, "C" Squadron of the 19th Hussars, 6th Divisional Mounted Troops, O.C. Captain Hubert O'Shaughnessy
Fearnly Tanner, were sent forward to Lynde to reconnoitre the countryside towards Hazebrouck however no enemy activity was
observed during the course of the day. Other forces in the area comprised of the 2nd Cavalry Division at Aire and a number
of French cavalry units contained in de Mitrys Cavalry Corps, the French 6th Cavalry Division to the north holding Cassel.
On Sunday the 11th of October,
Divisional Orders were received at 12.45 a.m. stipulating that the brigade were to move to the south-east and to Wardrecques
in preparation for an advance further eastwards. Consequently in the early morning, Wardrecques was reached whereupon the
brigade proceeded to billet and ordered to remain until further notice. At noon, the G.O.C. of Third Corps, Temporary Lieutenant-General
William Pulteney C.B., D.S.O., visited the brigade and stated that a move that day was unlikely however at 4.30 p.m. it was
proposed that the brigade should march to the east of Hazebrouck to cover the detrainment of the 4th Division. This 'idea'
was subsequently abandoned and orders were issued to prepare for movement early on the morning of the following day by route
of march. These orders were modified and instead of marching the men were to depart Wardrecques in a fleet of French motor
buses that had been scheduled to arrive between the hours of 8 and 9 a.m., transport etc. being ordered to proceed by the
more 'traditional' method by march in column. The buses were delayed by a thick mist and did not arrive at the rendezvous
until 11.45 a.m., the brigade already lined up along the roadside ready to 'entrain' in this fleet of iron horses.
Eventually and despite the delay, the convoy of buses, numbering three groups of sixty, arrived at 11.45 a.m. Each bus carried
between 20 - 25 men and 'entrainment' took some time until finally at about 12.30 p.m., the convoy departed at a leisurely
pace of 12 - 15 miles an hour and Hazebrouck was reached at 1.30 p.m. whereupon the men 'detrained' in the Market
Square (Grande Place).
| Hazebrouck, 1908 |
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| Courtesy Of The Geneanet Community |
The afternoon was spent finding the men billets in the town but
upon the arrival of the East Yorkshire's, they received orders to proceed eastwards and to take up an outpost line stretching
La Motte (La Motte-au-Bois) and along the northern edge of Aval Wood to a point west of the Station at the Mont de Merris.
With two companies establishing positions in this outpost line, Headquarters, the Machine Gun Section and the two remaining
companies took up position at Grand Sec Bois respectively. Upon their arrival at 5.30 p.m. in the line, information was soon
ascertained that the 1st Cavalry Division had not advanced beyond this line despite attacking enemy held farms to the east
of Vieux Berquin. With the latter being shelled by enemy artillery, the church of Saint-Barthelemy was struck causing damage,
the ground to the north-west also coming under the attentions of hostile artillery fire. A 'quiet' night was passed
by the East Yorkshire's but the following day would witness the first actions of the 18th Infantry Brigade since the stalemate
that had become offensive operations on the Aisne. At this juncture we will explore the situation of the B.E.F. and opposing
enemy forces as it stood prior to the actions of the 13th of October 1914. The Tactical Situation It was on the 8th of October 1914 that Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief,
British Expeditionary Force, visited General Foch at his Headquarters located at Doullens, Somme. With Foch in command of
all French forces north of Noyon, joint plans of operations were arranged as follows:- Second Corps (Smith-Dorrien) containing
the 3rd and 5th Divisions, were to arrive on the line Aire-Bethune on the 11th of October with the objective of connecting
with the right of the French 10th Army (Maud'huy). Pivoting on their left flank, Second Corps were then to attack in flank
enemy forces opposing the French 10th Corps on this front. On the northern flank of the Second Corps, the Cavalry were to
support the Corps attack until the arrival of Third Corps (Pulteney), who, as we have previously witnessed, would commence
detrainment at Saint Omer. Once this Corps has arrived in the field, the Cavalry were then to clear the front and act in a
similar manner on the northern flank of Third Corps until the arrival of First Corps (Haig) from the Aisne. The 3rd Cavalry
Division and the 7th Division under the command of Temporary Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Rawlinson were at this juncture,
operating in support of the Belgian Army and its withdrawal from Antwerp. As soon as this situation had stabilised after a
long German siege leading to the fall of the City, Rawlinson was ordered to co-operate in operations as soon as the opportunity
arose. On the 11th of October,
the Second Cavalry Division (Gough), made contact with enemy cavalry forces in woods north of the Bethune-Aire Canal. Upon
these woods being cleared, the cavalry now subsequently linked up with the 6th Divisional Cavalry who in turn had also joined
hands with that of de Mitrys French Cavalry Corps until being relieved by the 5th Division. With Third Corps comprising of
both the 4th and 6th Divisions having almost completed their detrainment at Saint Omer, the Corps proceeded eastwards to Hazebrouck
as we have witnessed and here they remaind throughout the course of the 12th of October. On the following morning, 19th Infantry
Brigade, the Advanced Guard of Third Corps and the Reserve, began to concentrate at Rouge Croix (La Rouge Croix) east of Hazebrouck,
in preparation for attacks by both 4th and 6th Divisions on the line Vieux Berqin - Meteren - Berthen. Opposing both the Second, Third Corps and Cavalry Divisions were a myriad
of enemy forces. Described in Wyrall's History of The West Yorkshire Regiment in an abridged format, the opposing
forces were no doubt indentified from the Official Despatches dated the 20th of November 1914 and other sources. (Original
text adapted by the Author). "The
enemy opposed the Second and Third British Corps and Cavalry Corps of two Divisions, with the 13th Wurtemburg and the 19th
Saxon Corps which were being pushed forward to the River Lys behind a screen formed by three Cavalry Corps, the First, Second
and Fourth. These five Corps formed the right wing of the 6th German Army, the formation of which was: 7th, 13th, 14th and
19th Active Corps: First, Second and Fourth Reserve Cavalry Corps: 25th and 48th Reserve Divisions: Garde Cavalry Division:
Bavarian Cavalry Division: 2nd, 3rd 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th Cavalry Divisions". It is of interest to note that Wyrall reminds us of the composition
of a German Cavalry Division at this juncture. A division not only contained the cavalry themselves but horse artillery batteries,
two or three infantry battalions, two or more machine-gun batteries and two or more companies of Cyclists. Advancing
towards the River Lys behind a screen provided by three Cavalry Corps and forming the right wing of the Sixth German Army
under the command of the Crown Prince of Bavaria, the 1st West Yorkshire's (in brigade) now received orders to attack
the enemy held line from Neuf Berquin, Bleu, les 3 Fermes, with the brigades left flank being established on the railway.
Third Corps were to attack this line whist the 17th Infantry Brigade were to launch their attack along the line Outtersteene,
Bailleul, to the south of the latter with its right flank on the railway. With the enemy fighting in effect a rearguard action
until reinforcements could arrive, the attack was scheduled to take place at 1.30 p.m. on the afternoon of the 13th of October.
| France, Second Edition ("B") Series |
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| Sheet 36A N.E. O.S.O. 1915 |
Bleu:- 13th October 1914 At
7.30 a.m. on the morning of the 13th, the West Yorkshire's, forming part of an Advanced Guard to the 18th Infantry Brigade,
departed their billets. Under the command of Major Lang, the 6th Division would march eastwards in two columns, the right
column and Advanced Guard comprising of the Platoon Cyclists (less one Section, O.C. Captain Stephen Hamilton Dix), one Battery
of 38th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (O.C. Brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Fanshawe Fox D.S.O.), one Section 38th Field
Company, Royal Engineers (O.C. Major Frederick Macdonnell Browne), and the West Yorkshire's. Units of the Artillery and
Engineers allocated to the Advanced Guard were to report to Major Lang at the Church at Grand Sec Bois at 7 a.m. The Main
Body of the advance contained the 18th Infantry Brigade Headquarters (G.O.C. Temporary Brigadier-General Walter Norris Congreve
V.C., C.B., M.V.O., one Section of Cyclists, 2nd Durham Light Infantry (O.C. Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard William Lynedoch McMahon),
2nd Sherwood Foresters (O.C. Lieutenant-Colonel Cyril Randell Crofton-Atkins), 38th Brigade, R.F.A. (less one Battery), 38th
Field Company (less one Section and Pontoon and Trestle Wagons), 1st East Yorkshire's (less one Platoon of "C"
Company who were to join the Column at Grand Sec Bois) and the Brigade Reserve Small Arms Ammunition. With the East Yorkshire's
forming the rear of the Column, this was in turn followed by the 18th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, (O.C. Lieutenant-Colonel
Andrew Alexander Watson, Special Reserve), Brigade Tool Carts, 38th Brigade R.F.A. Ammunition Column (O.C. Captain Conway
Rowlay Hill), Pontoon and Trestle Wagons (R.E.), 'Grouped' First Line Transport and the Platoon of East Yorkshire's
due to join at Grand Sec Bois. Commencing their
march at a road junction south-east of Hazebrouck at Au Souverain, the Right Column proceeded via Point 23 to Petit
Sec Bois and onwards to Vieux Berquin which was reached about noon. (Authors note: The Advanced Guard were however held up
at Vieux Berquin at 10 a.m. that altered the route of march of the East Yorkshire's). Upon their arrival, the brigade
relieved "C" Squadron, 19th Hussars, in the village, the 38th Brigade, R.F.A. establishing their three batteries
to the west of Vieux Berquin in preparation for offensive operations. With Third Corps containing the 17th Infantry Brigade
advancing against the enemy to the north, the objectives of the 18th Infantry Brigade were Bleu and les 3 Fermes to the west
of Vieux Berquin, the left of the attack resting on the railway. The attack which was set for 1.30 p.m. would be conducted
by the West Yorkshire's, their right flank being directed on the cross roads north of Bleu located between Ferme Labis
and Haute Maison, whilst the East Yorkshire's were to launch their attack to the south with the objective of ejecting
enemy forces from the village of la Couronne. Each attacking battalion would occupy a frontage of 500 yards with two companies
in support, the East Yorkshire's tasked with defending the right flank of the attack whilst the Durham's were to advance
on the Ferme Labis les 3 Fermes in an easterly direction to the north of Bleu, two companies occupying a frontage of 600 yards
and with two companies in support respectively. The Brigade Reserve would comprise of the Sherwood Foresters who would arrange
themselves in a column of fours in Vieux Berquin, the Brigade Ammunition Reserve being established at a cross roads, south
of the village of le Paradis. The Field Companies of the 38th R.E. were to remain in their present positions and in Reserve
whilst the 18th Field Ambulance were to establish a Dressing Station at Petit Sec Bois furnishing one Stretcher Bearer Section
of "A," "B" and "C" Sections with each of the attacking battalions respectively. With "Zero"
hour set for 1.30 p.m., this was later amended for some unknown reason to 2 p.m. With guns ready with stocks of Lyddite, Howitzer
Shrapnel and 18 Pounder rounds, the attack went in just as it started to rain. Attack! Little
is recorded of the actual attack itself other than a short narrative contained in the pages of the 18th Infantry Brigade War
Diary (WO95/1614/1). Due to the weather conditions, the day became unseasonably dark with observation for the supporting artillery
batteries becoming increasingly difficult. Despite the conditions, the West Yorkshire's advanced over the flat lands towards
Bleu, advancing as they were across muddy fields that slowed their progress. Information as to what was actually occuring
during the course of the advance was nigh on impossible by 'Runners,' they too hampered by the muddy terrain as they
attempted to take their vital messages back to Brigade Headquarters. Bleu was captured about 4.30 p.m. but the brigade had
attacked over a frontage far too long for its strength. The attack of the East Yorkshire's on la Couronne did not come to fruition however the hamlet had indeed been
occupied by "D" Company. Due to the hold up of the Advanced Guard at Vieux Berquin, the battalion had been ordered
to move via Seclin, to the east of the Bois d'Aval, and Verte Rue, but on their arrival at the latter place it was found
that "D" Company had occupied la Couronne some time previously and were in the process of entrenching themselves.
As the remainder of the battalion arrived, it soon became apparent that the enemy were holding Bleu Farm, a quarter of a mile
south-east of la Couronne and Pont Rondin although French cavalry were holding positions to their right. Chronology of the
East Yorkshire's War Diary is difficult to determine with some degree of accuracy but for this battalion the events unfolded
as follows:- With their left flank resting on the right of the West Yorkshire's, the battalion commenced their advance
with two companies, "A" on the right flank, "C" on the left flank respectively, with both "B"
and "D" Companies in support. No doubt due to an exposed right flank, the Battalion Machine Gun Section were placed
in this position as both the leading companies captured their objective (Bleu) at about 4 p.m. Due to the presence of enemy
infantry and machine guns at Bleu Farm, two half companies had to be held back at la Couronne but these were reinforced at
5.20 p.m. by two companies of the Sherwood Foresters, one company being withdrawn later to Vieux Berquin. The remainder of
the battalion now proceeded to Bleu, Ammunition Carts and horses being ordered to move by a circuitous route via Ferme Labis
and Ferme Hullebert. Turning our attentions to
the Durham Light Infantry, they also attacked their objectives at 2 p.m., Ferme Labis and les 3 Fermes respectively. The enemy
occupied a strong position leaving the attackers open to both enfilade fire from artillery and machine guns. Lieutenant Walter
Evelyn Parke, Officer Commanding the Machine Gun Section, was unfortunately killed early in the attack whilst trying to lift
a machine gun over a hedge near les 3 Fermes. Second-Lieutenant Harry Hilton Storey who had joined the ranks in 1894 was shot
through the head and killed whilst leading his platoon forward whilst Second-Lieutenant Cecil Evans-Smith was wounded. In
Other Ranks the battalion sustained eleven men killed and sixty wounded, revised casualty numbers extracted from the Commonwealth
War Graves Database recording that on the 13th of October, twelve men were killed whilst a further three men succumbed
to wounds at the 18th Field Ambulance during the course of the following day. Men such as Lance-Corporal James William Lucas,
9206, who had originally enlisted in the year of 1905. A native of Stockton-on-Tees, James had been recalled to the Colours
from the Army Reserve in July 1914 and sustained a wound to the head during the attack that had resulted in a fractured skull.
Succumbing to his wounds on the 14th, James, aged 26 years, now lies buried in Sec-Bois Communal Cemetery, Vieux Berquin.
Of those who were killed in the attack, amongst their number was Private Charles Shaw, 8462, a native of Derby. Enlisting
at Derby in the year of 1903, Charles had served for a considerable length of time in India before being recalled to the Colours
from the Army Reserve. Killed in action on the 13th aged 33 years, akin to all the enlisted ranks who were killed on this
date, his body was not identified after the war, therefore, he is now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. With the battalions ordered to dig in and hold the line "at all
costs," the East Yorkshire's had suffered four men killed and eighteen wounded. Amongst those numbered in the
dead was Acting Lance-Sergeant Albert Richard Stillwell, 9320, a native of Hove, Brighton. Enlisting in 1909, his body was
exhumed from the battlefield in 1920 and interred at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension along with a number of men who
fell in the area. Private John Sheran, 8349, a native of Sheffield, was killed whilst about a mile into the advance. Enlisting
in 1906, Private Harry Marriott, 9013, described the manner of his death in an article published in the Sports Special ("The
Green 'Un".) dated the 21st of November 1914. About 300 yards into the advance, Marriott came across a wounded German
whose wounds he dressed and who was subsequently evacuated by the Field Ambulance Stretcher Bearers. Continuing to advance,
a shell burst, a fragment of which struck his rifle and tore open the back of his right hand, Private Sheran, standing next
to him, receiving a fatal blow to the face by a piece of shrapnel that killed him instantly. A resident of Radford Street,
John Sheran is now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Another man to fall was Private Tom Boddy, 8170, a resident
of Hornsea. Enlisting in 1905 and serving both at home and in India, Tom was mobilised upon the outbreak of the war. A soldier
with "D" Company, he was killed whilst trying to cover the evacuation of wounded men near la Couronne aged 26 years.
Denied a known grave, Tom is also commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. In Other Ranks, the West Yorkshire's had suffered nine men killed and thirty two wounded. Major Cliffe had been
mortally wounded during the course of the day whilst both Captain Hugh Blenkinsop Spence and Second-Lieutenant Frank Lowndes
Wright had also sustained wounds during the action. An analysis of the C.W.G.C. Database now reveals that on the
13th of October, ten men fell on this date, amongst their number being one Private Thomas Grayson, 9618, a native of Holbeck,
Leeds. A resident of Rydall Terrace, Tom had enlisted at York in 1911 and prior to service with the military, had been employed
as a Brick Makers Labourer. Killed in action, his body was exhumed in 1920 and interred at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery
Extension. Another soldier from Leeds was one Private John McLean, 8027, a resident of Otter Street, Kirkstall. Aged 27 years
and a Reservist, prior to the war John had been employed Messrs. Frank Horsell and Co., Ink Manufacturers, of Victoria Road,
Holbeck. Denied a known grave, John is now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Private Ivan Lewin Croxton,
10165, a resident of Liscard, Wallasey, aged 19 years. Having previously served with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Territorial
Force, Ivan had enlisted at Liverpool in June 1914 and had numbered amongst the first reinforcements to join the battalion
after the "White Flag" incident. Killed in action, Ivan is also too now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial
having been denied a known grave. Private Herbert
Johnson, 5850, a resident of Grafton Square, Wetherby. Enlisting in 1900 aged 18 years, his occupation was recorded as that
of an Engine Cleaner. Witnessing action in the South African War and serving in India, after various re-engagements with the
Colours, i.e. extending his military service, Herbert was mobilised at York in the August of 1914. Posted overseas on the
24th of September 1914, he joined the battalion as part of a draft numbering 1 officer and 96 men on the 27th of September.
Wounded in the hand during a later engagement, Herbert was evacuated to England and received treatment for his wounds at Lincoln
Hospital. Writing home to his mother of his experiences during the events of the 13th, an extract of his letter home was published
in the Skyrack Courier dated the 6th of November 1914:- "We have had a very hard time since I came out, marching and fighting night and day, and on Tuesday, the
13th October, we came on the enemy strongly entrenched, and so the Durhams and East Yorks had to take the position at all
costs. Our company, under Lieut. Wright, had to go and see what was in the village near. We got to the entrance of it, and
the French cavalry were in it. Lots of them lay in the streets killed and wounded, horses too, so we had to stay there. Our
officer sent me and an N.C.O. to a gateway across a field to see what was there. A turnip field further on was full of the
enemy, with big guns as well. We reported to the officer, but he seemed to doubt it, as he and the N.C.O. went out again.
They had not gone far before we were minus the officer, so we stayed where we were till the battalion came up. Then we were ordered to advance across in companies in extended order.
They then started to open fire. It was murder, shells dropping always. Many a good man went under that day. One was Major
Cliff, from Leeds: a shell dropped right on his head. It was a sudden death for the poor fellow. We took the position, but
I was glad when it was dark. We stayed in the trenches all night, wet through, and cold, and tired out. We chased them on
and on". The senior
officer casualty, Major Herbert Theodore Cliff, had originally joined the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Militia)
as a Second-Lieutenant in October 1900 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in April 1901. Promoted to the rank of Captain
in August of that same year, Cliff would serve in Malta during the Second Boer War and receive the Mediterranian Medal. Upon
the battalion being disembodied in October 1902, Cliff was then appointed Instructor of Musketry in March 1907. Serving in
the Special Reserve, he would enter a union of marriage in September 1912 at Walton-on-Thames, the bride being one Miss Alice
Mary ("Molly") Trinder, the daughter of Mr. Arnold Trinder, a Solicitor, of River House, Walton-on-Thames. (Authors
note:- The Best Man was one Captain Charles Peter Marten, Adjutant of the 3rd Battalion. Marten would be killed on the Somme
in September 1916 whilst commanding the 18th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps). Establishing their marital home at
the Manor House, Barmby Moor, in August 1913, their one and only child was born, Antony Dewhirst Cliff. Returning to the Colours
and joining the 1st West Yorkshire's on the 9th of October, accounts vary as to the circumstances surrounding his death.
Apparently wounded during the morning, "he fought gallantly and refused to give in" until he was killed
later in the day by the fall of a shell. An accomplished cricketer who frequently played for the Yorkshire Gentlemen, Major
Cliff was also a keen follower of the Bramham Moor, York and Ainsty and Lord Middleton's Hounds. Aged 39 years and buried
on the battlefield, his body was exhumed in 1920 and interred in Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension.
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| The Sphere Dated The 7th Of November, 1914 |
The Advance Continues It was on the 14th of October that Lieutenant-Colonel Towsey returned and took over command of the battalion. Continuing
to advance against a German rear guard that comprised of cavalry and machine guns, the 18th Infantry Brigade, acting as the
right flank guard to the 6th Division, headed on towards le Verrier, north of Doulieu. With the 1st West Yorkshire's acting
as the Advanced Guard, a line was eventually reached from le Verrier - la Becque after an advance over a distance of four
miles. One wagon, six bicycles and some correspondence had been left behind by the enemy and during the course of a thoroughly
wet night, the West Yorkshire's remained on outpost duty. During the advance, Second-Lieutenant Jasper Carew had unfortunately
been killed along with Sergeant Charles Aris Bentley, 8261, and Second-Lieutenant Joseph Gill and four Other Ranks wounded.
Second-Lieutenant Carew it
was recorded in the pages of De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, "fell while gallantly leading his platoon in an advance
guard action near Hazebrouck. It was quite instantaneous, and he suffered no pain and never moved. He was beloved by every
one, always cheery and bright under all circumstances, and we had some trying ones. A most promising officer, absolutely fearless,
and had done so well". Both
Second-Lieutenant Carew and Sergeant Bentley, a resident of Whitstable, Kent, who had enlisted in 1906, were initially buried
in Doulieu Churchyard. Both their bodies were exhumed in 1923 and interred at "Y" Farm Military Cemetery near Bois-Grenier.
During the night and under cover of darkness, the enemy had retired
once again. Upon the brigade moving to Steenwerck, it was at 7 p.m. on the evening of the 15th that the brigade acting as
the Right Column of the 6th Division, marched on Sailly-sur-la-Lys to the south. Marching via the hamlet of le Petit Mortier
and with the 2nd Sherwoods as Advanced Guard, the latter battalion arrived at the River Lys at 8.30 p.m. only to find the
bridge over the river destroyed. Crossing over the river via the remnants of the bridge, they found the town evacuated by
both the French and the Germans whereupon they proceeded to occupy the outer edges of the town at 11. p.m. Outposts were then
placed in position, whilst the remainder of the battalion billeted, the 2nd Durham's also joining them and setting up
Outposts south of the town. As these two battalions settled down on what was described as damp and frosty night, the West
Yorkshire's billeted at le Petit Mortier whilst the 1st East Yorkshire's, who halted on the road at le Chien Blanc,
moved into billets near le Cruseobeau at 1 a.m. At 3 p.m. on the afternoon of the 16th of October, both the East and West Yorkshire battalions joined the remainder
of the 18th Infantry Brigade at Sailly. Upon reaching the town, the West Yorkshire's were ordered to take up a line of
Outposts along with the Sherwood Foresters at the Rouge de Bout, south-east of Sailly, the East Yorkshire's taking
up positions extending from the Rouge de Bout eastwards along the Rue Biache. Now in touch with the French
Cavalry under the command of General Conneau at Laventie and with the 17th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division, who were holding
Outpost positions along the Rue Biache and the Rue Delpierre north-east of Fleurbaix. On the morning of the 17th at 7.30 a.m., the 18th Infantry Brigade in parallel
with the 17th Brigade continued the advance. The 17th Brigade in accordance with Operation Orders marched to Chapelle d'Armentieres,
south-east of Armentieres, and encountered no opposition. Billets were then secured for the battalions whilst positions were
prepared between la Vesee north-east of Bois-Grenier, and the railway just to the north of Chapelle d'Armentieres. Outpost
lines were then established on the line Rue du Bois, north of la Houssoie, the Boulogne - Lille Road, and a position
at Chapelle d'Armentieres. The 18th Brigade now marched a distance of five miles to Bois-Grenier which was reached at
about 9.30 a.m. without encountering any opposition. Upon their arrival, the East Yorkshire's were ordered to "make
good" the line from Wez Macquart, south-east of Chapelle d'Armentieres, to la Fleur d'Ecosse to the south,
the road running south-west from Wez Macquart being secured towards le Quesne, south of la Houssoie. The 2nd Durham's
were also sent forward to prolong the line to the south, occupying le Quesne, le Touquet, south-east of Bois Maisnil. As both
battalions withdrew at dusk to a line Rue David, running south-east from la Croix Marechal - le Touquet - Grande Flamendrie
Ferme, south-east of Bois-Grenier, to la Guernerie, to the north-east of the latter, the remaining battalions of the
brigade billeted at Bois-Grenier. The Tactical Situation As of the night of the 17th/18th of October 1914, the Third Corps, of which the 6th Division were contained, had
advanced with relatively little opposition. Second Corps to the south, containing the 3rd and 5th Divisions, had however been
heavily engaged, 3rd Division losing their G.O.C., Major-General Hubert Ion Wetherall Hamilton, C.V.O., C.B., D.S.O., on the
14th of October. Orders issued from the German General Staff on this date dictated that their 6 Armee, under the
command of the Crown Prince Rupprecht, were to remain in a defensive and static position along the line from the north to
south, Messines, Armentieres and La Bassee. These orders, were in essence a 'masquerade' to cover the arrival of the
newly formed 4 Armee under the command of Albrecht, Duke of Wurttemberg, who were to attack the left flank of the
Allies at Ypres. To the south, it was on the 15th that the 3rd Division of Second Corps continued their advance with
great determination, forcing the enemy to retire from the Estaires-La Bassee Road and thus establishing a line north-west
of Neuve Chapelle from Pont du Hem to Croix-Barbee, north to south respectively. With Antwerp surrendering on the 10th of October, it was on the 16th that
the force protecting and covering the retirement of the Belgian Army were freed from withdrawal operations. Under the command
of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Rawlinson, this force, comprising of the 7th Division under the command Major-General Thompson
Capper C.B., D.S.O, and the 3rd Cavalry Division, Major-General Hon. Julian Hedworth George Byng C.B., M.V.O., were now ordered
to form the left column in an advance eastwards. As a consequence, the 7th Division took up a position east of Ypres and established
a line, from south to north, Zandvoorde - Gheluvelt - Zonnebeke. Taking up positions on their left flank were the 3rd Cavalry
Division, who took up the high ground from Langemarck to Poelcappelle. Thus, at midnight on the 17th/18th October, the dispositions of Third Corps were as follows:- 6th Division 16th Infantry Brigade, Rouge du Bout, east of Laventie, and eastwards to Croix Blanch, south of Fleurbaix, and then
on to Bois-Grenier 18th Infantry
Brigade, Bois-Grenier - la Vesee, to the north-east 17th Infantry Brigade, la Vesee - Chapelle d'Armentieres 4th Division (G.O.C. Major-General Thomas D'Oyly Snow C.B.) Supporting operations were mounted by the Cavalry Corps on the left flank of the 4th Division whilst the French Cavalry
Corps under the command of General Conneau were placed in a position between the Third and Second Corps respectively. In terms
of the dispositions of enemy forces, the 6 Armee held the line, from south to north, Radinghem, Premesques, Perenchies,
le Temple, Frelinghien, and then a line stretching alon the eastern banks of the River Lys to Wervicq. The exact strength
of the enemy force was an unknown quantity as was the precise line that he held. To this end, Operation Orders were issued
to 3rd Corps to "test strength on line la Vallee - Perenchies," the 18th Infantry Brigade being tasked
with an advance on the line la Vallee - le Paradis. In conjunction, the 17th Infantry Brigade would advance on the line Mont
de Premesques - Perenchies. Instructions for the 16th Infantry Brigade stipulated that they were to perform a reconnaissance
with one battalion on the line la Vallee - Hau de Bas - Becquart. Allocated for this duty were the 1st Battalion, East Kent
Regiment, but as a precaution, the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment were to cover their right flank with one company
who were to proceed to Bridoux. Advance
Of The East Yorkshire's And The Durham's The advance would be carried out by both the East Yorkshire's and the Durham's with both the West Yorkshire's
and the Sherwood Foresters in Reserve at Rue du Bois and Grande Flamendrie Ferme respectively. The advance was scheduled
to take place at 7 a.m. however this was delayed until 8 a.m. as the Durham's reported that they were "not ready".
The Durham's would advance and attack through Ennetieres (Ennetieres-en-Weppes) with their first objective being
the Fort d'Englos to the east of the town, the East Yorkshire's attacking through Capinghem with their first
objective being the Ferme St. Martin. Prior to the advance, both battalions would move forward to occupy the line
held the night previously, the attack being supported by the guns of the 38th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
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| Belgium And Part Of France, Edition 6, Sheet 36 |
The guns of the 38th Brigade, R.F.A. had remained in action during
the night but at 8.15 a.m. on morning of the 18th, the 24th Battery took up 'new' positions at Grande Flamendrie
Ferme, west of le Quesne. The battery now proceeded to lay out lines of fire in the direction of Radinghem to supporth
the line of advance of the Durham's. Once this battery was in position, the 34th Battery were advanced to a position at
Rue du Bois so as to create a zone of fire around le Paradis to support the advance of the East Yorkshire's. On the left
flank, the East Yorkshire's advanced and met little opposition and by 10 a.m. "D" Company advancing on the left
of the battalion frontage had reached high ground at le Paradis. "A" Company advancing on the left finding itself
a little to the rear of "D" Company eventually secured high ground south of le Paradis however great difficulty
was experienced on this flank maintaining contact with the Durham's on their right. Of the Durham's, little is recorded
of their initial advance however Ennetieres was gained by mid morning as both battalions awaited orders from the brigade.
Orders had been issued and
then rescinded but by 1.40 p.m., further orders confirmed that both battalions were to proceed on towards their first objectives,
the attack being scheduled for 2 p.m. To support this further advance, the Sherwood Foresters were moved forward at 11 a.m.
to le Quesne, the West Yorkshire's being moved forward to support the East Yorkshire's at 2.30 p.m. at le Paradis.
38th Brigade R.F.A. also adjusted the positions of their batteries prior to the infantry moving forward; Brigade Headquarters
moving forward to le Quesne along with the 87th Battery who established an Observation Post (O.P.) on high ground located
at le Touquet, due west of Radinghem. With information received at about midday that both Radinghem and Escobeques were held
by enemy forces, 24th Battery engaged targets at Escobeques whilst 87th Battery opened fire on Radinghem. On the frontage held by the 16th Infantry Brigade, the 1st East Kent's
commenced their advance, debouching at about 10.30 a.m. from Grande Flamendrie Ferme. Proceeding to advance to a
line Hau de Bas - la Vallee, orders dictated that they were not to get too entangled with the enemy, "B," "C"
and "D" Companies advancing with "A" Company in Support. Receiving heavy fire, the line was secured at
about 2.20 p.m., verbal orders then being issued for the battalion to attack along the line Radinghem - Escobecques. Meeting
no opposition, Radinghem was reached but it was then that a fierce volley of fire was met from the direction of the Chateau
de Flandres to the south, the advance continuing with the support of the Yorks and Lancs as both took and established
a line in a wood that encompassed the Chateau to the north. As regards the advance of the Y & L, "A"
Company took Radinghem without too much opposition about 2.40 p.m. but the line of advance was subsequently held up by fire
from both French and British artillery. With the companies of the East Kent's, the attackers now debouched from the village
at about 3.30 p.m. from the eastern aspect whereupon the advance now reached a plateau about 300 yards in width with the Chateau
Woods providing a formidable position for the enemy to the rear. Now coming under heavy shell fire from the south, the
advance continued with a line being established on the Radinghem - Fromelles Road, the right of the line coming under a deadly
crossfire of both machine guns and shrapnel. Caught in the open, the line was forced to retire back to the Road but at this
point in time, the remaining companies of the Yorks and Lancs under the command of Major Gerald Edward Bayley having now gained
a foothold in the woods of the Chateau from the west rose to the advance. Three attempts were bravely made however
on each occassion the men were driven back by a crossfire of machine guns located at the southern boundary of the Wood
as well as rifle fire and shrapnel. As no further progress could be made without suffering more losses, the battalion,
in conjunction with the East Kents, took up a position on the Radinghem - Fromelles Road. By 5.10 p.m., this line had been
generally taken up and entrenched with a line of defence established to the rear, one company of the Yorks and Lancs under
the command of Major William Fletcher Clemson and made up of men who had been rallied by their officer, positioned to the
right rear of the battalion. Fortunately, the rifle and machine gun fire of the enemy had ceased but the men still came under
the attentions of enemy artillery who fired shrapnel into the positions. The situation still hung in the balance despite the enemy having retired earlier due to the threat of being outflanked.
A request was now sent to the Divisional Headquarters for the line to be reinforced by either the Leicesters or the Shropshires
and at 6 p.m, what was feared commenced, an enemy counter-attack from the direction of the Chateau de Flandres. This
attack however was repulsed, the orders for reinforcements subsequently being cancelled. It was at 6.20 p.m. that orders were
received by the brigade, from the division, to fall back from Radinghem to the Rue du Bois and handover the village
to the French cavalry. Just ten minutes later, a French cavalry officer arrived stating that he had only 150 men available
to hold the village, far from inadequate to hold the position as ordered. With the situation reported to the division, these
orders were rescinded, both the East Kents and the Yorks and Lancs being ordered to maintain position. To bolster the rear,
both the 1st Leicesters and the 1st King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry were ordered forward to the Rue du Bois and
placed in Divisional Reserve. With the men battle weary, by the early hours of the the 19th of October, the brigade had established
contact with the right of the 18th Infantry Brigade at the railway crossing east of les Bas Champs Ferme and with
French cavalry forces to the west of Radinghem at Feterie. Casualties to the East Kents during the course of the day numbered
3 officers wounded, 18 men killed, 55 wounded, and 5 missing. Casualties of the York and Lancasters numbered 2 officers wounded,
13 men killed, 93 wounded, and 27 missing. (Authors note: During the course of building work in 2009 south of Radinghem, the
bodies of 15 men of the York and Lancaster Regiment were discovered. Tracing surviving relatives, DNA testing identified 11
men who fell on the 18th of October, all being reburied with full military honours at "Y" Farm Cemetery, Bois Grenier,
in 2014). Returning to the
18th Infantry Brigade, their advance had also proved to be successful. Meeting what was described as "considerable
opposition," the Durham's occupied Ennetieres at about 5 p.m. but the advance of the East Yorkshire's was
hampered by the inability of the 17th Brigade on their left flank to capture the Mont de Premesques. During the hours
of darkness, a line was established and entrenched, the East Yorkshire's then being relieved by the West Yorkshire's,
the former, minus "C" Company who remained in the line, then proceeding to billets at la Fleur d'Ecosse.
Losses of the East Yorks numbered one officer killed, Captain Arthur Henry Wilson, and a further 2 officers wounded, 12 men
killed, 52 wounded and 8 men missing. The Durham's had suffered 2 officers wounded, 4 men killed, 74 wounded and 29 missing,
the battalion then being relieved by the Sherwood Foresters. The line as it now stood was too extended for the strength of
the brigade, the position on the right flank being particularly weak due to the position occupied by the 16th Brigade to the
rear of Radinghem. To this end, Brigadier-General Congreve then visited Divisional Headquarters and explained the tactical
situation. Ordered by Third Corps to hold the position, in order to do so the line was extended eastwards of Ennetieres and
strengthened by trenches and barricades. Retiring the centre of the line and holding the latter, touch was gained on the left
flank with the 2nd Leinsters of the 17th Brigade at a crossroads to the south-west of the Mont de Premesques. As
the men of the brigade settled down as best they could for the night, the Sherwood Foresters occupying positions to the right
of the West Yorkshire's were attacked by rifle and shell fire at 9 p.m. This fire eventually ceased at 1 a.m. but not
without causing the wounding of 20 N.C.O.'s and men. The West Yorkshire's also suffered casualties no doubt due to
this four hour 'hate,' Captain Frank Pickford Worsley receiving a wound to his left shoulder which necessitated his
evacuation to England in addition to the wounding of 13 Other Ranks. To close the actions of the day, I will provide a brief summary of the activities of the 17th Infantry Brigade. Advancing
on the line Perenchies - Mont de Premesques, north to south respectively, little opposition was met on the right
flank at first but on the left a withering fire was experienced from trenches located at both la Fresnelle and la Prevote
north-west of Perenchies. In the face of this fire, the right attack of the 3rd Rifle Brigade was held up to the south of
la Fresnelle, their left flank, as a consequence, being left unsupported, ordered to fall back. In support, the 1st Royal
Fusiliers came up to the attack at 2 p.m., one company having previously been placed at the disposal of the Rifle Brigade
at 12.30 p.m. With orders to advance on the line la Fresnelle - le Temple, it was when the environs of l'Epinette
were reached that the battalion came under intense fire, forcing them to entrench in the position. Now dark, it was vital
that touch had to be obtained with flanking units, the companies of the battalion eventually finding secure in a ditch, half
of "C" Company then being placed in a ditch to the rear as a Reserve. During the night, touch was obtained with
the 1st Royal Warwicks of the 4th Division but it was a cause for concern that there were gaps in the line on either flanks,
these only being partially filled. The advance of the 2nd Leinsters on the right however proved to be more successful. Advancing
at 7.30 a.m., by 10 a.m. "D" Company had occupied Premesques but it was found that the enemy were strongly entrenched
in a position to the south-east of the village in the vicinity of the Mont. Making good their positions, touch was
obtained on both flanks, the left flank occupying positions about Bas True, the right, in touch with the 18th Brigade at the
crossroads to the south of the Mont. One man was however reported as killed in action, Private John Quinn, 6608. A married man and a native of Rotherham,
prior to the war he was employed as a Miner at Silverwood Colliery, Thrybergh, South Yorkshire. Enlisting in December 1902,
after serving his terms of engagement, he was recalled to the Colours from the Army Reserve in August 1914. Witnessing the
actions on the Aisne and the 'White Flag Incident,' the notification that John was killed did not actually
appear in the lists of casualties until July 1915. With a no known place of burial, he is now commemorated on the Ploegsteert
Memorial to the Missing in addition to being commemorated on the Silverwood Colliery War Memorial. On the morning of the 19th of October, it was at 5.30 a.m. that the West
Yorkshire's 'Stood to Arms'. There had been a considerable amount of enemy shell fire throughout the course of
the night, this being primarily directed against the left flank of the 18th Infantry Brigade. There was also a change in command
when Lieutenant-Colonel Francis William Towsey, who was invalided to England, was replaced by Major Godfrey George Lang. As
the men improved their positions throughout the course of the day, the situation of the 17th Infantry Brigade remained unchanged,
the 2nd Leinster Regiment of the brigade coming in for particular attention from enemy artillery during the course of the
night. As regards the 3rd Rifle Brigade, they reported 'concerns' as to the positions on their left flank leaving
them exposed. The situation as it stood on the 20th of October was as follows: The enemy had been steadily increasing his forces along a line that stretched from the Belgian coast to the right
of the positions held by Second Corps. The German Fourth Army under the command of Albrecht, Duke and Crown Prince of Wurttemberg,
had commenced offensive operations to the north with the objective to push on to Ypres. In conjunction with this advance,
the whole front held by the Allies from Nieuport on the Belgian coast to positions near Bethune was to be attacked simultaneously.
The line held by the 6th
Division stretched for about five miles in distance and was, to say the least, very thinly held. During the night, there had
been artillery activity but all remained relativley quiet until about 8.40 a.m. when the 18th Infantry Brigade reported that
the enemy had been observed advancing in a large formation to the south and west of Escobecques on positions held by the 16th
Infantry Brigade. Holding Radinghem to the west were the 1st Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment) who had been 'Stood
to Arms' for a long period throughout the course of the night. At 9 a.m., orders were received for the remaining battalions
of the brigade, the 1st Leicesters, 1st King's Shropshire Light Infantry and the 2nd Yorks and Lancs respectively, to
prepare a position along the line Rue du Bois - le Quesne - Bois Blancs (north to south), as a precautonary measure should
the 6th Division be forced to fall back from the line Radinghem - la Vallee. The Buffs had been under heavy artillery fire
from 7.40 a.m. as it increased in intensity as the morning wore on. Major (Brevet Colonel) Julian Hasler, Officer Commanding
Front Line, came back wounded at 11.30 a.m. with a broken collar bone caused by the explosion of an enemy artillery round.
Holding on to Radinghem, it was at 2 p.m. that the enemy attacked both right and left of the Buffs positions. The 12th Brigade,
Royal Field Artillery, observing the enemy advancing on the right, immediately began to shell the massed ranks of infantry,
fire being directed by Forward Observation Officers (FOO'S). Due to this effective fire, several advances made by the
enemy in the vicinity of the Chateau de Flandre were subsequently held up but the situation was becoming more critical
by the hour. Under increasing pressue, the Buffs withdrew into Radinghem itself late in the afternoon, attempts being made
to establish contact with the 18th Infantry Brigade occupying positions on their left flank. Now at serious risk of being
cut off, a 'verbal' order was received by the 2nd Yorks and Lancs at 5 p.m. stating that they were to proceed at once
to Radinghem to reinforce the dwindling numbers of the Buffs. Shortly before their arrival, the enemy had broken through the
line to the east of the village at Point 29, at a point on the railway east of les Bas Champs Ferme.
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| Extract Of The Official History |
Despite repeated orders to hold their positions at all costs, as darkness
began to fall, Temporary Brigadier-General Edward Charles Ingouville-Williams, C.B., D.S.O., gave the order to retire from
Radinghem. Retiring company by company, the retirement point was the Ferme Grande Flamengrie, located to the south-west
of Bois Grenier, this strategic withdrawal being covered by the guns of the 12th Brigade. Casualties to the Buffs, recorded
in the War Diary numbered 4 officers killed, 4 wounded. In Other Ranks, 17 killed, 57 wounded and 62 missing. An analysis
of the Commonwealth War Graves Database now reveals that 47 men were in fact killed in action on the 20th of October, all
these men, and their officers now being commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. As the line was drawn back and established
on the line Touquet - le Quesne - Rue due Bois, it is now that we will look at the actions of the 18th Infantry Brigade, positioned
at Ennetieres and positions both north and south-west of the village. The line was held in this sector by the 1st East Yorkshire's, occupying positions on the right of the 17th Brigade,
the 1st West Yorkshire's, in the centre at Ennetieres and the 2nd Sherwood Foresters holding and improving positions at
the south and to the east of Ennetieres. The position held by the Foresters effectively formed a salient. Having had no rest
for two nights and a day and under rifle, sniper and shell fire, the men, as one could imagine, were virtually exhausted.
It was about 7.10 a.m. on the morning of the 20th that Major Philip Leveson-Gower, Officer Commanding, reported that the enemy
had been observed on his front being reinforced, further reports being received at 8 a.m. from his right flank that large
numbers had also been observed moving along a ridge towards Escobecques to the south and onwards. With these movements by
the enemy being reported at both at 8.20 a.m. and again at 9.45 a.m., the Major had in the meantime reinforced his right positions
using up what little reserves of men he had at his disposal. It was at about 9.45 a.m. that an enemy artillery battery to
the south opened fire and from that time onwards, all the positions occupied by the Foresters were subjected to shell fire
from both the north, east and the south, the battalion, occupying this salient in the line, being effectively enfiladed. As
a reserve to the Foresters, "C" Company of the 2nd Durham's was sent forward under the command of Major Edward
Algernon Cleader Blake, this company, according to the War Diary of the Foresters, arriving in reserve positions at 11.30
a.m. Major Blake had also previously reinforced both his front and left flank with two and a half platoons of "B"
Company due to casualties being sustained. It was then at 1 p.m. that the enemy infantry of the 25. Reserve-Division and
the 26. Infanterie-Division commenced an advance to the south and the east of Ennetieres and on both flanks as well
as to the front of the Foresters positions. Supported by machine guns, on the front and the left flank the enemy advance was
driven back, half a company of the Durhams being sent forward to assist in halting the attack. This half company was then
ordered to take up a position to the west end of the village as the situation now began to develop with an enemy attack on
the Foresters right flank now beginning to materialise. This right flank position extended for a distance of over 1500 yards
and was thinly held as the positions were now swept with shrapnel and howitzer fire from the north-east of Enterdes (sic).
(Authors note: This should in point of fact read Escobecques). Private Arthur Dolphin Wragg, 9570, a resident of Stretton
Street, Nottingham, commented on this fire in a newspaper article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated the 4th of
November 1914: "The enemy's
fire was such that it was a miracle that any of us managed to live through it. There were big guns firing from our rear and
Maxims and rifles on both flanks and rear". Private Charles Richmond Dobbs, 12289, of Lovers Lane, Newark, related a humorous song the men used to sing as regards
the explosion of a 'Coal Box,' an artillery round fired from a 5.9. inch German howitzer. Writing to his
parents from a hospital bed at Nottingham, the 'ditty' was as follows: "You're my coalbox, You're
such a wonderful thing, I should like to have
you round to make a fuss of me, I should like
to bounce you up and down upon my knee. You're
my coalbox, You certainly were made for me,
And if you go astray, I'll see von Kluck and pray, That you come back to me, Because
I love you so, You are my coalbox". It was at about 3.15 p.m. that Major Leveson-Gower reported to Headquarters stating
that enemy forces were advancing on his right flank covered by heavy artillery fire. To meet the advancing enemy were only
five platoons of the Foresters, positioned in the trenches at intervals. Of the Durham's, three platoons of "A"
Company had as yet not been engaged with the enemy. As a consequence, and being the only reserves available, the Officer Commanding,
Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard William Lynedoch McMahon, was ordered to take them back to la Vallee, the remainder of "A"
Company being engaged at le Paradis. It was whilst marching to la Vallee that Major Leveson-Gower was encountered who informed
Colonel McMahon that his right flank had been turned by a large number of enemy forces and that la Vallee was now in the hands
of the enemy. Despite this, the Durham's attempted twice to enter la Vallee but were unsuccessful, these three platoons
now being withdrawn to a line south of the village, Major Leveson-Gower himself supervising their positioning. The enemy though
were advancing at a rapid rate past the south of la Vallee so to oppose this force of the enemy, the Major returned to the
road and managed to assemble a mixed bag of men including Transport, stragglers and a Section of the 38th Field Company, Royal
Engineers, who had been employed at le Quesne. Numbering about fifty additional men, they were then led down the road towards
la Vallee by the Major but upon approaching the western outskirts of the village, three lines of the enemy were observed numbering
about one hundred men each, about two hundred yards away from the road. Coming under fire, the men would not 'extend'
and fell back across the road, the Major finally getting them to man a ditch that covered the road. Near their position and
just to the north of la Vallee were three guns of the 87th Battery, 38th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Under immediate danger
of being captured, the guns were somehow withdrawn with the assistance of the Major and his party at about 5.30 p.m. as, under
the cover of darkness, the men began to retire. Private William Mitchell, 10594, a resident of Hucknall, was lucky to escape.
| Private William Mitchell |
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| Beeston Gazette & Echo, Dated The 7th Of November, 1914 |
Having been under fire for thirteen hours and a finger on his left
hand partly blown off by shrapnel, he had laid flat on the ground for three hours waiting for the guns to stop. Once the artillery
ceased, he had managed to slip away under the cover of darkness to a Field Hospital and would later have all that remained
of his injured finger amputated in England. For those survivors
at Ennetieres, their chances of escape were minimal if non existent. Of the enemy force that had entered la Vallee, they had
formed up on the road that ran through the village and advanced eastwards, cutting off the line of retreat. Private John Pass,
12171, a Farm Labourer of Breedon-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire, had however given a good account of himself during the fighting
for the village. Aged 19 years and having enlisted at Derby in early 1914, Corporal Arthur Edward Sturges, 5409, recounted
the actions of Private Pass during the engagement in a short article published in the Burton Chronicle dated the 26th of November
1914: "Now, have you heard anything of young Jack
yet? This kid covered himself in glory that day, and the only regret is we have lost all our officers, else it would have
been odds on his getting the D.C.M. That lad fired no less than 700 rounds that day, even continuing after he had been wounded,
exposing his head to the Germans' rifle and maxim gun fire the whole time when every other man in the trenches were squirming
under cover. Yes, we've every reason to be proud of young Jack". Private Pass unfortunately did not receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal but was evacuated to
England after receiving his "Blighty" wound and admitted to a hospital in Birmingham. Eventually being posted back
to the front in 1916 after being seconded to the Machine Gun Corps, he would be awarded the Military Medal in 1918 whilst
serving in the 25th Battalion, M.G.C.. Arthur Sturges, the soldier who had actually recruited Private Pass, would unfortunately
die in February 1917 at Lichfield Military Hospital of pneumonia whilst serving with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Sherwood
Foresters. A veteran of the South African Campaign, Arthur now lies in the Nottingham Road Cemetery, Derby. As the survivors attempted to retire to the west of Ennetieres under the cover
of darkness, they were finally overpowered and forced to surrender. Exhausted and out of ammunition, one party of about two
officers and sixty men somehow managed to hold on to the Windmill, west of Ennetieres, but, surrounded, there was
no alternative but to surrender. (Authors note: A narrative of events, compiled by Lieutenant Edward Drury-Lowe, O.C. "D"
Company, and contained in the War Diary, describes some events as to the capture, by the Germans, of Ennetieres. It is his
Company, or what remained of it, who made this last stand. Nothing was heard of Second-Lieutenant Henry Leonard Chappell Smith,
and the men of Number 13 Platoon after 4.15 p.m.).
| The Tatler, 18th Of November, 1914 |
|
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| The Battalion, Before Embarkation Overseas |
Ordered to retire to Bois Grenier, the casualties to the Sherwood
Foresters numbered 13 officers missing and 3 wounded: Killed:
Captain George Lechmere Anson, Lieutenant Henry Leonard Chappell Smith and Second-Lieutenant Arthur George Browne Wounded: Second-Lieutenants James D'Arcy Whicher, Eric Eyre Sullivan Taylor
and George Noel Royce Missing: Captain Edward Nathaniel Drury-Lowe,
Captain Walter Harold Wilkin, Lieutenants Thomas Henry Hudson, Cyril Crofton Schneider, George Charles Russel Martin, Ronald
George Seaburn May and George Dall Edwards. Second-Lieutenants Thomas Edwin Davey, Arthur Troops and William Henry Rees. (All
these officers were later reported as Prisoners of War). N.C.O.'s
and Other Ranks: 710 Missing, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database recording that of this number, 74 were either
killed or died of wounds. Of those killed, the vast majority
of the fallen are now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Countless men survived but were made Prisoners of War, too
many to record in full, however, I will record a number of those who found themselves "Prisoners of the Kaiser".
Private Harold Styring, 12110, of Darnall, Sheffield. Initially reported as killed but to the joy of his parents he had been
made a prisoner. Private Horace Samuel Raby, 12018, of Lichfield, Staffordshire. Unfortunately, Horace would succumb to the
'Spanish Flu' pandemic on the 8th of November 1918 at Melle, Germany. Lance-Corporal Joseph Drake, 8813, a native
of Chesterfield, imprisoned at Hanover. Corporal Norman Matthew Bennett, 11826, a resident of Duckmanton, Derbyshire. Enlisting
in 1911, Norman had rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Corporal 'in the field'. Imprisoned at
Hamelin, Germany, two of his brothers would also serve, Charles William, in the ranks of the Royal Field Artillery, and Ernest,
also in the R.F.A. but discharged in December 1914 as being "found medically unfit for further service".
Finally, one man who would die in the hands of the Germans, Private Samuel Grice, 9289, a native of West Bromwich. Enlisting
in 1904 at Birmingham, Samuel served with both the 2nd and 1st Battalions of the Regiment before being placed on
the Army Reserve in 1907. Employed at the Eagle Foundry, Moor Street, West Bromwich, he was mobilised at Derby upon the outbreak
of the war. Initially posted as missing, it later transpired that he had died of a gun shot wound to the breast whilst in
enemy hands on or since the 20th of October. Aged 32 years, Samuel is now buried in Lille Southern Cemetery. The Leinster's, East Yorkshire's, North Staffordshire's
& Durham's: "It Is A Fine Thing To Die A Hero"!
As we have previously witnessed, the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, now held the line in the centre with
the Sherwood Foresters on their right flank, and the 1st East Yorkshire's on their left flank respectively. It was at
about 2 a.m. early on the morning of the 20th of October, that heavy rifle fire was heard from the positions held by the 2nd
Leinster's, 17th Infantry Brigade, at Premesques. The enemy however did not attack in force but proceeded to occupy two
orchards located to the south-east of the village, about 50 yards in front of some of the trenches held by the Leinsters.
No doubt as a consequence of this action by the enemy, the West Yorkshire's "Stood To Arms" at 3 a.m.
for a period of forty-five minutes, patrols by the enemy being dispersed by machine gun fire from the Leinster's. It was
at 5.30 a.m. that once again the West Yorkshire's "Stood To Arms" but it was not until about 7 - 7.30
a.m. that events began to unfold. On the front held by the
Leinster's, it was at about 7.30 a.m. that enemy artillery commenced a heavy barrage on Premesques and the woods in the
vicinity. The War Diary of the Leinster Regiment records that at this juncture that there was no reply by our artillery. (Authors
note: It was not until 9.30 a.m. that a report was received by the 24th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, that the Leinster's
had been driven back from Premesques towards the hamlet of la Bleue, to the west). Enduring the barrage, it was at about 8.15
a.m. that a large force of enemy infantry advanced against the north-eastern environs of Premesques, the weakest point in
the line held by the Leinsters. Due to their sheer numbers and rapid advance, the enemy quickly broke through both "C"
and "D" Companies and captured their trenches. Although chronology is difficult to determine, at some point between
8.15 a.m. - 9.00 a.m. the Officer Commanding "A" Company, Major John Dryden Mather, sent forward Temporary Lieutenant
George Neville Patrick Young to ascertain the exact situation. Lieutenant Young, returning to his positions, returned to report
to Major Mather and confirmed that both companies had been overun and that his left flank was now as a consequence 'exposed'.
To remedy this, Mather then ordered the Lieutenant to pivot his platoon to cover the left flank and occupy a wood, east of
the Chateau d'Hespel, facing the village of Premesques. The Major now sent off two Orderlies to report to the
18th Infantry Brigade requesting reinforcements, if these were available, the Major's intention was to pivot Lieutenant
Young's platoon once again, and to recapture the positions that they formerly held, on the road to the north of the Mont
de Premesques. Reinforcements did indeed arrive, 2 Sections
of the 1st North Stafford's and "D" Company of the 1st East Yorkshire's, under the commands of
Lieutenants Alan Randall Aufrere Leggett and Captain Frank Hind respectively. Launching the attack, about 300 yards of trench
was recaptured, Major Mather, according to a narrative contained in the Leinster's War Diary, "picked up Lt Hamiltons
revolver" whilst the attackers took some prisoners and held on to their gains until about 9.30 a.m. Around this
time, a heavy attack by the enemy now developed both from the front and from the direction of Premesques, forcing them back.
Mather then established a machine gun in a farm and due to the siting of this, he managed to stop the frontal attack, i.e.
from east to west, but could not halt the enemy attack from the direction of Premesques.
| Extract Of 36 N.W., Sheet 4 |
|
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| Dated 1915 With Some Annotations Of Enemy Trenches |
Due to the unfolding situation and the inability to stop the enemy attack
from the direction of Premesques, the Major ordered the withdrawal of both Youngs Number 3 Platoon and Leggett's Sections
of the North Staffordshire's. For Lieutenant Charles Sackville Hamilton and his men of the Leinster's, they had been
overun holding positions to the right of the road, just to the south of Premesques Church. At some point after 11 a.m., Captain
Hind of the East Yorkshire's had however pressed home an attack across a field full of grass and turnips to the left of
the road running northwards in the direction of Premesques. Encountering the enemy in strength, the Regimental History by
Everard Wyrall records a poignant remark made as this attack commenced. Lieutenant Mark Robinson Pease, was heard to shout
to his platoon: "Come along,
lads; it is a fine thing to die a hero"! Such were the casualties, many a man of "D" Company did indeed die a hero, the company effectively ceasing
to exist after coming to grips with the enemy. Lieutenant Pease was killed and Captain Hind, leading his men onwards despite
being wounded, led his men forward until wounded again and made prisoner. The cross-roads at the Mont de Premesques were
held, or at least for the time being. "A" Company of the East Yorkshire's, Officer Commanding, Captain Henry
Robert Seguir Brown, had also been engaged at the cross-roads, this company being reinforced by "B" Company of the
Durham Light Infantry, O.C., Captain John Hardy Wood, who were in turn bolstered by the arrival of one platoon of the Durham's
under the command of Second-Lieutenant Charles William Beart. Of the survivors of "D" Company, they fell back, retiring to the south and south-west as defensive
lines were now established around the Chateau d'Hespel as darkness now enveloped the landscape. "A"
Company of the East Yorkshire's, O.C. Captain Henry Robert Seguier Brown had also joined battle for the cross-roads at
Mont de Premesques. The East Yorkshire's were at some point, although chronology is uncertain, reinforced by
"B" Company of the Durham Light Infantry, O.C., Captain John Hardy Wood, who were in turn bolstered by the arrival
of one platoon of the Durham's under the command of Second-Lieutenant Charles William Beart. Little information is available
as regards the actions at Premesques however the casualties sustained by all the battalions speak volumes of the ferocity
of the actions. Casualties are recorded as in the War Diaries of the units engaged. 2nd Leinster's Captain Henry Telford Maffett (killed), Captains Frederick Ernest Whitton, Reginald Arthur Herbert Orpen-Palmer (wounded).
Second-Lieutenant William Douglas Budgen, Second-Lieutenants (On Probation) Edward Joseph Cormac-Walshe (wounded). Lieutenants
Charles Sackville Hamilton, Richard Daniel O'Conor and Arthur William Barton (missing). In Other Ranks, 30 (killed), 70
(wounded), 214 (missing). Edward Joseph Cormac-Walshe would succumb to wounds received to the head on the 5th of November
at Bolougne whilst Lieutenants Hamilton, O'Conor and Barton would later be reported as Prisoners of War. An analysis of
the Commonwealth War Graves Database reveals that on the 20th of October, 115 N.C.O.'s and men were in fact killed in
action, the vast majority now being commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Of the missing, many were taken prisoner but
for those killed, their bodies would be continued to be discovered well into the 1930's, in one instance, buried in a
large communal grave on the edge of Premesques.
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| Illustrated London News Dated The 7th Of November 1914 |
1st East Yorkshire's Casualties to the East Yorkshire's numbered Captain Frank Hind, Second-Lieutenants
Mark Robinson Pease and Peter Clutterbuck (missing). Lieutenant James Hugh Coles and Second-Lieutenant Thomas Mark Robson
(wounded). In N.C.O's and men, the battalion sustained 3 (killed), 81 (wounded) and 49 (missing). The Commonwealth War
Graves Database now records that 41 men were either killed or died of wounds during the actions of the 20th of October. Captain
Frank Hind would succumb to wounds in the hands of the enemy at a Field Hospital located at Haubourdin, near Lille on the
29th of October. Lieutenant Mark Robinson Pease, "D" Company, missing, was later reported as being killed in action.
The son of Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Robinson Pease, Commanding Officer, 12th (Service) Battalion, East Yorkshire
Regiment, Second-Lieutenant Pease is now believed to be buried in Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension. Second-Lieutenant
Clutterbuck was last seen in the fight for the cross-roads. Posted as missing, Peter, aged 22 years, is now commemorated on
the Ploegsteert Memorial.
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| The Sphere, Dated The 12th Of February, 1916 |
1st North Staffs Unfortunately, the pages of the War Diary covering the 20th of October are 'missing'
however the History of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The North Staffordshire Regiment covers the actions on this date
in some detail. The 17th Infantry Brigade War Diary records that 2 officers were killed, 4 men killed, 33 wounded and 1 man
missing. Once again, an analysis of the Commonwealth war Graves Database records that Captains George Harvey Hume-Kelly and
Eric Bruce Reid were killed, Captain Hume-Kelly being shot through the head whilst controlling the fire of his men. Of Captain
Reid, he was shot and killed, aged 34 years. Both officers are now buried in the Chapelle D'Armentieres Old Military Cemetery.
The Commonwealth War Graves Database records that 5 men were either killed or died of wounds. Of their number were Private
John Dorsey, 7502, aged 29 years, of Sydney Street, Hanley, Stoke. Private Joseph Copeland Newton, 7955, a resident of Fallowfield,
Manchester. Private Bertram Sutton, 9920, born at Stafford but residing in Leicester. Corporal George Thomas Hancock, 9740,
aged 27 years, of Tunstall, Stoke. Lance-Corporal Thomas Edward Davies, 9763, an adopted son of Martha and Charles Spooner
of Fulford, Stoke. All these men, missing in action, are now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Some of the wounded were evacuated to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station located
at Bailleul. Amongst their number was Private Frederick Ross, 6728, and a resident of Sheffield. Enlisting in 1902, Frederick
would be shot through the spine and discharged from military service in April 1915. Sergeant John Burke, 5689, a native of
Stone, Staffordshire, Gun Shot Wounds Left Buttock. Evacuated to England and admitted to the 2nd Northern General
Hospital, Leeds, he would return to the Western Front and rather ironically would be killed near St. Eloi in the Ypres Salient
almost a year to the day of his wounding. Sergeant Harry Savage, 7995, one of four brothers from Nuneaton serving with the
Colours. Receiving a Gun Shot Wound (Chest), Harry had enlisted in 1904 and was eventually evacuated to England whereupon
he spent a number of weeks in hospital at Cambridge. After recuperation, he would then serve with the 1/5th Battalion of the
Regiment, he, and his brothers, surviving the war. For those seriously wounded and left on the battlefield, their chances
of survival were minimal. 2nd
Durham's As the Durham's
were engaged in numerous actions across the battlefield, the precise circumstances and locations of those killed or wounded
cannot be ascertained with a degree of accuracy. Major Edward Algernon Cleader Blake had been killed and Lieutenant Leopold
Grantley Norton wounded and missing (later reported killed). Second-Lieutenants Charles William Beart and Frederick John Gilbertson
were wounded and in Other Ranks, 4 were recorded in the War Diary as killed, 46 wounded and 177 missing. The Commonwealth
War Graves Database now records that on the 20th of October, 15 men were killed, all of these men now being commemorated on
the Ploegsteert Memorial. Amongst their number was Private James Alex Richardson, 8876, a married man with two children of
Sunderland. Private George Heathcote, 8366, of Connaught Street, Radford. Before the war, George was employed as a Nottingham
Tramcar Conductor. Private John Gibson, 7429, of Blackhill, County Durham, John would leave behind a wife and daughter to
mourn his death. Private Peter Haggerty, 8433, a Reservist and resident of Broxburn, West Lothian. 1st West Yorkshire's: Actions & Casualties Returning to the West Yorkshire's, their positions had become extremely vulnerable
due to the retirements on both flanks as recorded previously. Their War Diary notes that it was at 7 a.m. on the morning of
the 20th of October that a general attack began on the line. The enemy, advancing to a wood and farms east of Ennetieres at
8 a.m., placed him in a position about 600 yards to the positions held by the battalion, the latter, holding a frontage of
700 yards in length. Supported by artillery and machine gun fire and despite both flanks being in the 'air,' a message
was received at Brigade Headquarters at 3 p.m. from the West Yorkshire's that they were unable to maintain their positions
unless support was despatched. As a consequence, "B" Company of the 2nd Durham's under the command of Captain
Ernest William Birt were sent forward at about 3.30 p.m. which was immediately sent into the line to support the right company.
This manoevre proved very timely indeed as at this juncture the enemy retired on the left flank of the West Yorkshire's
and attacked in great numbers on the right. With a retirement by the Leinster's on the left, and by the Sherwood Forester's
on the right, it was at 5 p.m. that the advancing enemy had captured Ennetieres, this necessitating the withdrawal of men
from the left flank to protect the right flank respectively. This right flank was now 'thrown back' and the situation
was described in the Battalion War Diary as "very precarious" but still the West Yorkshire's held on
tenaciously as the enemy attempted to now work around the battalion's right flank. Enemy attacks ceased at about 4 p.m.
and the battalion held it's ground until being ordered to retire, in brigade, at midnight. Casualties included Second-Lieutenant John Lawson-Smith who was unfortunately shot
by his own men during the retirement. The War Diary records that 1 man was killed and 34 killed or wounded. In officers, Captain
Edward Theodore Welchman, Lieutenant Bruce Duftus Costin and Major Godfrey George Lang were wounded. Both Captain Welchman
and Lieutenant Costin would succumb to their wounds at a Base Hospital located at Boulogne on the 26th and 24th of October
respectively. As regards the men killed, the Commonwealth War Graves Database provides a figure of 8 men who were killed in
action. Private Joseph Vasey, 3/7553,
a resident of Whickham Street, Monkwearmouth. The official notification of his death was received by his mother in July 1915.
Private Thomas Nicholson, 3/7887, a married man with one child of West Hartlepool. Private Smithson Williams, 8067, a resident
of Hunslet, Leeds. His brother, Harry, would also be killed in the war at Arras in 1917 whilst serving with the 41st Brigade,
Royal Field Artillery. Lance-Corporal Charles Henry Roberts, 9507, was a resident of Park Grove, Pulman Street, Sculcoates,
Hull. Enlisting in 1911, Charles had survived the actions on the Chemin des Dames only to be posted as missing, later
confirmed as killed in action. Also of Hull was Lance-Corporal George Thorley, 9739, aged 21 years. "Bertie," a
resident of Clarence Avenue, Sculcoates, is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial and in addition, he is also commemorated
on the Wilmington Parish Roll Of Honour, Hull. Private Robert Goodhall, 7798, a resident of York. Reported wounded and missing,
Robert, aged 29 years, was eventually presumed to have been killed on or about the 20th of October 1914. Upon the death of
his mother, his father had remarried, hence, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his first mother, Matilda, as
kin. Private Donald James Herbert Gregory, 5554, of Leytonstone, London. Born in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, prior to the war
Donald was employed as a Machineman (Drilling) at a Railway Works, his father being employed as a Chief Inspector,
Great Eastern Railway, at Liverpool Street. Enlisting at Stratford, London, Donald was a Special Reservist who had fought
in the South African War and had been posted to India. News of his death was only received by his parents in January 1915.
Private James Edward Cowan, 3/7529, born in Dublin, resident of Halifax, West Yorkshire. A married man, prior to the war he
was employed along with his wife, Amy, at a Slipper Manufacturers. James had previously worked for Messrs. Crossley &
Sons, Carpet Manufacturers, at their establishment at Dean Clough Mills, Halifax, and whilst in their employ he attested for
service with the Militia in 1906 at Halifax and subsequently served with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.
Numbered 6656, it appears that he was 'absent' from training in the year of 1907. Upon the creation of the Special
Reserve in 1908, I can only surmise that he then attested for service with the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, his terms
of enlistment being that of 6 years service. Attending Annual Training, he was then mobilised in August 1914 before being
posted overseas on the 24th of September 1914 as part of a draft of one officer (Lieutenant Costin) and 96 men received by
the 1st West Yorkshire's on the 27th of September. Missing presumed killed, like all the casualties sustained by the battalion
in Other Ranks on the 20th of October, he is now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
| Second-Lieutenant John Lawson-Smith |
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| Courtesy Of The IWM Source: IWM (HU 123960) |
Son of Edward Maule Lawson Smith, B.A., J.P. and the late Ethel Mary
Lawson-Smith, of Colton Lodge, near Tadcaster, John was born at Colton on the 24th of March 1892. Educated at the Warren Hill
School, Eastbourne, a Private Boarding School, his education continued when he was then schooled at Stubbington House School
(Foster's), Hampshire, a Preparatory School. Admitted as a Cadet to the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Repton School, Derbyshire,
was then attended in 1906 before John then secured a Cadetship into the Royal Military College located at Sandhurst in the
year of 1911. Gazeted as a Second-Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 3rd of September 1913, he was Mentioned
in Despatches for "gallant and distinguished service in the field", Supplement to the London Gazette dated
the 17th of February 1915. Tragically killed in the heat of war, his family would also receive the news that his brother,
Lieutenant Thomas Edward Lawson-Smith, serving with the 11th Hussars, was killed just days later on the 1st of November 1914
at Messines. Both brothers, as well as being commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial and the Menin Gate respectively, are also
remembered at Colton on the War Memorial located in St. Paul's Churchyard and on a number of memorial plaques located
in the church itself. The
Wounded & Prisoners Vast
amounts of prisoners had been taken by the enemy during the advance. For many of the wounded, they were evacuated to the rear
where medical attention was received before being sent to a Prisoner of War Camp. For some however, their fate hung in the
balance. The enemy had sustained terrific losses during the actions of the 20th of October and this may have influenced the
actions of the minority. Lieutenant Charles Sackville Hamilton of the Leinster's who had been captured left a graphic
account relating to his experiences on capture, this document being held at T.N.A. FO/383/41, Foreign Office: Prisoners of
War and Aliens Department dated 1915, Reference Number 52324. This document can also be viewed on the Find My Past
service: "At Premesques,
near Lille, on the 20th October, 1914, I was cut off in a trench with about twenty men. The Germans appeared in force on our
left and left rear about 40 yards from my trench - only one shot was fired at them. Seeing the position was hopeless I ordered
the men to kneel down, put down their arms, and hold up their hands. A German soldier fired at me and shot me in the hand.
The Germans then came up and shot down all the men in the trench who appeared to be alive. The German officer stopped them
shooting me after they had fired two more shots at me; he ordered me to lie down in the trench - he then went away. I then
saw a German soldier go along the trench and stick his bayonet into six of the men lying in the trench. I do not know if they
were dead or alive. About an hour and a half later Private Rochford and myself, who appeared to be the only survivors, were
ordered to get out of the trench and taken behind a haystack. Another man of my regiment was there and about eight wounded
Germans. About fifteen minutes later Private Dunn, of the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment was brought in. A German Red Cross
Soldier armed with a rifle and short bayonet was put in charge of us. He tied our hands behind our backs. Soon afterwards
he ordered us to get up, and pointing towards a small gap in the hedge about 60 yards away signalled to us to walk there.
When we had gone about 5 paces he signalled to us to run. I looked round or saw him raise his rifle. We ran on and he opened
fire. Private Rochford reached the hedge first, but failed to get through, and I followed with Private Dunn. After we got
through Private Dunn and myself ran towards some German infantry so as to get them in the line of fire. Looking round I saw
Private Rochford and the other man lying on their faces apparently dead. When we reached the infantry two of them were put
in charge of us. One of them went off and looked at Private Rochford and the other man, and then returned. We were then marched
off". The identity of the German
unit that perpetrated this crime cannot be ascertained with any degree of accuracy however it was more than likely a battalion
of the 25. Reserve-Division. Private Rochford, we can identify as one Michael Rochford, 10084, of Trim, County Meath.
His brother, Joseph, would also be unfortunately killed in the following month whilst serving with the 4th (Queen's Own)
Hussars. Private Dunn, possibly refers to one Charles Dunne, 6715, however their are two men of the same name serving in the
battalion. Dunne, 6715, a native of Roscrea, however served with "D" Company, and this seems the more likely of
the two. Private Rochford, grave unknown, is now commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial and in his own town, along with
his brother, at St. Patricks Cathedral. Retirement
At midnight, the whole of the 18th Infantry
Brigade was ordered to fall back two miles, the West Yorkshire's having been attached to the 16th Infantry Brigade, now
taking up the firing line between the Rue du Bois and the Sugar Factory located to the west of the Chateau d'Hancardry.
(Authors note: Marked on the vast majority of maps as a Brewery, annotated on German trench maps as the Zucker Fabrik).
The line held by the battalion now stretched from a position south of the Rue du Bois - la Houssoie - le Quesne where they
connected with the 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 16th Infantry Brigade. The remainder of the 18th Infantry
Brigade moved at about 7 a.m. on the morning of the 21st of October to billets located at Bois Grenier, the brigade now being
placed in Divisional Reserve. Of the West Yorkshire's, they were relieved at about 10 p.m. by the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire
Regiment, also of the 16th Brigade, whereupon they proceeded into billets at Bois Grenier arriving at the latter place about
1 a.m. on the morning of the 22nd. Throughout the course of the 21st of October, the West Yorkshire's and the units of
the 16th Brigade had been subjected to heavy enemy artillery bombardments, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in particular
suffering numerous casualties, the West Yorkshires's sustaining two men killed, Private William Bateman, 7124, and Private
Herbert Hargrave, 3/8407. Herbert Hargrave,
a resident of Back Fold, Armley, Leeds, had been posted overseas on the 25th of September. Prior to the war, he was employed
as a Cleaner by the London and North Western Railway Company at their Locomotive Department located at Farnley. Initially
serving with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Regiment, he was no doubt part of the first reinforcements that were received
by the battalion on the 27th of September numbering one officer and ninety-six men after the disastrous actions on the Aisne.
Denied a known burial, Herbert is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial and also on the Armley War Memorial located in
Gotts Park, Armley, Leeds. Little information
is available as regards William Bateman other than he was born at Belle Vue, Wakefield, in 1884, and enlisted at York. As
regards his service number, this indicates an enlistment circa 1904, the 1911 Census details recording that William was serving
with the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, in India. Posted overseas on the 24th of September, he was, I surmise, included
in this first reinforcement draft as per Herbert Hargrave entry. Also commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, his effects,
as monies owed, were granted to hi two sisters, Francis and Alice.
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