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Son of Thomas Edward and Elizabeth Precious (nee Wardle) of St. James Street, Wetherby. George Riley Wardle
was born at Wetherby in 1894 to parents Thomas Edward Precious, a Railway Porter, and Elizabeth Wardle. Recorded as George Riley Wardle by the Registrar of
Births, it is apparent that George was born illegitimate, his parents not marrying until the year of 1899. The 1901
Census records that at this juncture he was residing with his Grandmother, Hannah Wardle, a widow, in the next door property
located in St. James Street.
By the year of 1911, the family is recorded in the census details as still residing in premises located in St. James Street
and that Thomas Edward was now employed as a Plumbers Labourer. Two further children had also been born, Annie Elizabeth in
1904 and Margaret (Maggie) in 1909 respectively. This census also records that the couple had been married for 12 years and
that four children had been born, two were still living and that two had unfortunately died. An analysis of both birth and
death records reveals that three infants died by the surname of Precious and their deaths registered at Wetherby; David, born
1899, died, 1900, Annie, born 1901, died 1901, and William, born 1903 and died in 1903. Of George Riley, there is no record
of him residing in the family home. One George Precious however is recorded in the census working as a Farm Servant on the
farm of one William Escritt at Kirkby Grange near Tadcaster. One discrepancy though is that his age is recorded as 19 years
and to compound matters further, his place of birth is virtually impossible to decipher. Enlistment, Mobilisation & Drafts
George Riley Precious attested for military service at Wetherby Town Hall on or about the 31st August 1914. The terms
of his enlistment were that of a Short Service Obligation i.e. three years service with the Colours. The majority of men who
enlisted on this date at Wetherby were destined for service with the 9th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, however
as the men were numbered, some were allocated to different battalions of the Regiment. Possibly due to aquiring the skill
of handling a horse, George was posted upon immediate mobilisation to the Depot of the West Yorkshire Regiment and allocated
the serial number 11900 and subsequently posted to the Transport Section (Authors note:- Subsequent posting recorded to the
latter in a newspaper article dated April 1917). Service
is now somewhat ambiguous however an analysis of surviving documents suggest a possible posting to the 8th Battalion of the
Training Reserve and a subsequent renumbering. On or about the 8th December 1916, George was posted overseas and subsequently
posted to the 31st I.B.D. (Infantry Base Depot/Detail) located at Etaples near Boulogne. After a short period of training
in various types of warfare and the ever present marches and drill, he was posted to the 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion,
Northumberland Fusiliers later that month.
It is a nigh on an impossible task searching for these men who were drafted to the battalion as the War Diary only records
one or two instances of numbers received. For example, in late July 1916, the number of drafts totalled 224 men drawn from
the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, the West Yorkshire's and the West Riding Regiment, some only having experienced
military service for a period of ten weeks. The researcher is therefore more reliant on newspaper articles as is published
in an article for George contained in the Skyrack Courier dated the 27th of April 1917. Of course, these sources, are more
often than not, unreliable or innaccurate but one other man would appear to confirm the date of this draft, one George Herbert
Kershaw, 45546, a resident of Todmorden. Enlisting or attesting for military service in April 1916, his service is then somewhat
ambiguous but I surmise his origins may lie with the West Riding Regiment. Posted overseas in December of that year, George
would unfortunately be killed in action on the 9th of April 1917 leaving a widow and a seven year old daughter, Hannah.
Another soldier from Todmorden was one Joseph Ackroyd, aged 33 years and a married man. Enlisting or attesting for military
service in July 1916, Joseph was then posted, according to a newspaper article published in the The Todmorden & District
News dated the 25th of May 1917, to the Durham Light Infantry based at Rugeley, Staffordshire. Issued the serial number 37060,
service was then conducted with the 17th (Reserve) Battalion before the latter was redesignated the 2nd Training Reserve Battalion
in September. Transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers in November, the aforementioned article states that Joseph was then
posted overseas on December the 8th 1916 and would be killed in action on the 24th of April 1917 near Fampoux, east of Arras.
Of those who had witnessed
previous service with the West Yorkshire Regiment, there was one Private John Coates, 45719, a native of Leeds. Little information
can be gleaned from military documents but on his marriage to one Florence Thompson at St. Stephen's Church, Burmantofts,
on the 14th of October 1916, he is recorded on the marriage certificate as serving as a Private in the 13th (Reserve) Battalion,
West Yorkshire Regiment. Issued the serial number 31881, John enlisted at Leeds in about early December 1915. In October 1916,
the 13th West Yorkshire's had been redesignated as the 8th Training Reserve Battalion based also at Rugeley. I surmise
therefore that the date of his marriage was possibly due to the fact that he had prior knowledge that he was about to be posted
overseas. Residing at Number 4 Windsor Terrace, Burmantofts, Leeds, John was killed in action on the 9th of April 1917 and
is now buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery. As
regards closer to home, yet another young lad from Wetherby would also find himself serving in the ranks of the Northumberland
Fusiliers, Private Walter Westerman, 45717. With the full name of Lonsdale Walter Westerman and born at Boston Spa, by the
year of 1911 the family had taken over the Timber Mill located at what would now be the location of Wetherby Squash and Tennis
Club at the bottom of Scott Lane. The only information I can glean is that Walter transferred from the 24th to the 26th Northumberland
Fusiliers and was then attached to the 9th Entrenching Battalion upon the disbandment of the latter formation. Posted to the
23rd Battalion at the end of March 1918, Walter was subsequently captured and made Prisoner of War near Armentieres on the
11th of April 1918. Interned at Friedrichsfeld Camp, he would be repatriated on the 9th of November 1918. I will commence the
commemoration of George in the month of January 1917 but before this, I will provide an overview of the Battalion in Brigade
at this juncture of the Great War. At the start of this New Year and after the grievous losses incurred during the Battle
of the Somme, the Brigade had been withdrawn from action. With replacements few and far between, the 24th Battalion, as we
have witnessed, did not receive any substantial drafts until later in the year of 1916. Preparations for the year of 1917
were already taking place with a planned French offensive on the Aisne that would be supported by a diversionary attack made
by the British Army to the north at Arras. 24th (Service) Battalion, (1st Tyneside Irish), Northumberland
Fusiliers:- January 1917 Contained within the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the 34th Division, the Brigade comprised
of the following units:- 24th
(Service) Battalion, (1st Tyneside Irish), Northumberland Fusiliers 25th (Service) Battalion, (2nd Tyneside Irish), Northumberland Fusiliers 26th (Service) Battalion, (3rd Tyneside Irish), Northumberland
Fusiliers 27th (Service) Battalion,
(4th Tyneside Irish), Northumberland Fusiliers Under the command of Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Edward William Hermon,
the 34th Division had been occupying positions in the Armentieres Sector since September 1916 before moving to the Rue du
Bois Sector in December. By January 1917, the battalion was occupying the line between Bois Grenier in the south, to the Chapelle
d'Armentieres in the north, their first casualty of the year of 1917 being suffered on the 10th of January when Private
Walter Simpson, 41636, was unfortunately killed. Born at Gosforth, Newcastle, Walter attested for military service at Leeds
in December 1915 before being mobilised in about April 1916. After a period of training in England, Walter was posted overseas
and initially destined as a draft to the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, this was subsequently changed at Infantry
Base Depot level. Posted to the 24th Battalion, it is most likely that he numbered in a draft received by the battalion in
late October. Killed in action on the 10th of January 1917, possibly by shell fire, Walter now lies buried in Brewery Orchard
Cemetery, Bois-Grenier. With no next of kin identified, his medals were returned. Relieved by the 11th Suffolk's of the 101st Infantry
Brigade, 34th Division, the latter brigade now took over the responsibility of the sector on the nights of the 9th/10th of
January, the 24th Battalion then proceeding to billets at Fort Rompu, east of Bac-St.-Maur. The next few
days were spent providing Working Parties and in training in all aspects of warfare before a move was conducted by the then
battalion on the 16th when they moved the short distance to Rue Marle, relieving the 21st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
(2nd Tyneside Scottish), 102nd Brigade, in 'Stand To' billets. Training and Working Parties continued until the 20th
whereupon the 24th N.F. relieved the 26th N.F. (3rd Tyneside Irish), 103rd Brigade, in the Left Sub-Sector, la Chapelle
d'Armentieres. Occupying the left of the line and with the 25th Battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish) on their left, the
weather was extremely cold and dull with hard frosts. With Battalion Headquarters established at Chards Farm, our
artillery and trench mortars were active on the enemy's positions, this being in turn responded to however damage to the
trench system in the sector was described as minimal. The real threat at this moment in time was the wind as it had been for
a number of days, a favourable wind that was ideal for the enemy to mount a gas discharge.
| The Left Sub-Sector |
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| Bois Grenier, Edition 6, 36 N.W.4. Corrected To 7/2/17 |
Relieved on the 24th by the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers and proceeding
to billets, it was at midnight on the 26th/27th of January that the 103rd Infantry Brigade were relieved by the 10th Australian
Infantry Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. The 24th Northumberland Fusiliers were therefore relieved by the 37th Battalion,
Australian Infantry, in the Rue du Bois Sector. Orders
had been issued previously for the 34th Division to be withdrawn from the line, the 102nd Brigade (Tyneside Scottish) being
the first to depart the sector on the 26th of January. Proceeding by both route of march and motor lorry, the brigade was
to take up billets in the Fletre area, south-west of Bailleul and billeted as follows:- Brigade Headquarters
Thieushouk 20th Northumberland Fusiliers
Thieushouk 21st Northumberland Fusiliers
north of Bertenacre 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers
Godewaersvelde 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers
Godewaersvelde 102nd Machine Gun Company
Caestre 102nd L.T.M.B.
south of Thieushouk For those who had
to march, the weather proved to be most vile with deep snow and a temperature that had fallen to 22 degrees of frost. For
the 23rd Battalion, their journey although made by bus, was cold and uncomfortable. More bad news was to greet the battalion
when they were sent to the incorrect billets located at the Mont des Cats, billets already assigned to the 10th Lincoln's
of the 101st Infantry Brigade. Despite the difficulties that this presented, arrangements were made that were mutual for both
battalions, the 23rd N.F. finally journeying on to Godewaersvelde during the course of the following day. On the night of
the 26th/27th of January, it was the turn of the 101st Infantry Brigade who were relieved in the Right Sub-Sector by
the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the New Zealand Division. Moving by both route of march and motor-lorry, Erqinghem was reached
at first by march whereupon the brigage then moved to Meteren by lorry. Once again, there was confusion as to accomodation
and at first no billets could be found upon their arrival but finally during the course of the day, the brigade was disposed
of as follows:- 15th Royal Scots
Noote Boom (south of the Mont des Cats and to the south-west at le Coq-de-Paille respectively) 16th Royal Scots In the environs of Fontaine Houck, north of Meteren 10th Lincolns Mont des Cats 11th Suffolks Le Roukloshille, north-east of Fletre
101st Machine Gun Company Phincboom, north-west
of Meteren 207th Royal Engineers Field Company north
of Fletre Brigade Headquarters, 101st T.M.B. and the 104th
Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. all billeted at Courte Croix, west of Meteren Of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, they moved to the Berthen area, east of the Mont des Cats. Proceeding by
route of march or by motor lorry, the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers marched to Armentieres on the 27th whereupon they journeyed
to Meteren and then marched to Berthen and billets. A pleasant hamlet set in rolling countryside, the battalion rested as
best they could, despite the intense cold weather that prevailed. Their stay at Berthen was of a short duration as on the
29th of January the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers commenced a march to new billets located at Tatinghem, west of Saint Omer.
Staying in billets overnight at Wallon-Cappel, west of Hazebrouck, Tatinghem was reached on the following day, this move also
being replicated by the 25th Northumberland Fusiliers. The latter battalion also set forth by route of march on the 29th,
arriving in billets at Staple, north-west of Hazebrouck, where they billeted for the night. Back on the march on the following
day, the battalion reached Saint Omer where they billeted in the Caserne de la Barre Infantry Barracks for the night,
before marching on the morning of the 31st to Moulle, some distance to the north-west of Saint Omer. February:- Raids & Movements South As the remaining two battalions of the 103rd Brigade carried out a programme of
training in the Berthen area, it was on the 3rd of February that the brigade, minus the 24th and 25th Battalions proceeded
to Hazebrouck and billeted. On the morning of the following day the brigade proceeded by route of march to Saint Omer and
billeted followed by another move on the 5th to the Tilques area, north-west of Saint Omer. With both the 24th and 25th Battalions
remaining at Tatinghem and Moulle respectively, the remainder of the 103rd Brigade were billeted as follows:- Brigade Headquarters Eperlecques 26th Northumberland Fusiliers Bayenghem (Bayenghem-les-Eperlecques) 27th Northumberland Fusiliers Bayenghem "
" 103rd L.T.M.B.
Bayenghem
" " 103rd M.G.C. Eperlecques
As the 103rd Brigade had departed the
Berthen area, the 101st Brigade occupied the locality, carrying out a programme of training that included Brigade Days (exercises
over 'flagged' trenches) and practice with contact planes. A ruse was also employed under the orders of the 2nd Army
whereupon the brigade would march in the direction of Ypres each afternoon so as to give the impression to hostile aircraft
that troops were being massed in the general area. (Authors note:- Of the 101st Brigade, Headquarters and both the 15th and
16th Royal Scots accompanied by their respective trench mortar and machine gun companies moved into the Berthern area. The
11th Suffolk's remained in the Meteren area minus a Raiding Party that had been assembled under the command of Temporary
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Hold Kendrick that comprised of 6 officers and 254 O/R's. This party subsequently journeyed
to the Erquinghem/Bois Grenier Sector but due to the raid being cancelled, the party returned to the battalion on the 17th
of February. Of the 10th Lincolns, the Grimsby "Chums," they remained in the Mont des Cats area training
and practising for offensive operations). The
102nd Brigade however had also assembled a Raiding Party of their own. Numbering 12 officers and 242 O/R's of the 23rd
Northumberland Fusiliers, the raiders would also be assisted by 12 O/R's of the 209th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
Under the command of Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Cecil Porch Porch, the objective of the raid was the enemy's front and
support lines in the Rue du Bois Sector, namely the German trenches referred to as Inclement and Incision Trenches,
map reference I.22.a. and to obtain identification of enemy forces holding the line. Penetrating the trench
system, they were also to destroy dug-outs, machine gun and trench mortar positions and generally cause as much havoc and
destruction as they could.
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| Extract Of Bois Grenier, Edition 6, 36 N.W.4. |
The raid, which was scheduled to take place on the night of the 11th
of February is well documented in the pages of the Brigade War Diary (WO9/2459/4). Entering the enemy lines at four points,
the battalion captured five men of the 18 Infanterie-Regiment, 3 Bavarian Division although casualties had been heavy. 1 officer
and 15 Other Ranks were posted as missing, 6 officers were wounded, including Colonel Porch who had been wounded in the wrist
and arm, 7 O/R's were recorded as killed whilst a further 49 were wounded. In addition, one man of the 209th R.E. was
killed and a further 2 men wounded. The exact details of the raid are admirably covered in a fascinating article published
on the website of the Western Front Association if the reader would care to follow this link:-
The Lost Raiders Found: The Tyneside Scottish at Armentieres
It was on the 12th of February that orders were now received by the
34th Division from both the First and Second Armies for a march through their areas that would witness the division now joining
the Third Army. As the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers continued their programme of training and the furnishing of working parties,
it was on the 18th that the transfer of the 34th Division to the Third Army commenced. At 10 a.m. on the morning of the 18th,
the 24th N.F. departed Tatinghem and proceeded by route of march to Wardrecques, south-east of Saint Omer, and billeted for
the night along with the 25th Battalion. With Brigade Headquarters established at Renescure, the 26th N.F. took up
billets for the night at la Crosse, north of Renescure, whilst the 27th Battalion billeted at Campagne, to the south-west
respectively. Of the other units that joined the 103rd Brigade on the march, the 103rd L.M.T.B., 103rd M.G.C., 103rd Field
Ambulance, R.A.M.C. and the 34th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps, all billeted at Renescure. Turning to the 101st Infantry Brigade, it was on the 19th of February that they
moved to billets in the Hazebrouck - Morbecque area. Marching a distance of about 10 miles, the day was recorded as being
misty but fine, Temporary Second-Lieutenant Lionel John Wallis of the 10th Lincoln's (Attached Brigade Staff), O.C. Billeting
Arrangements, ensuring that all billets were allocated and the units settled. The 102nd Brigade also ventured forth on the
19th, the brigade moving to the Saint Hilaire area. This Brigade War Diary furnishes more details as to exact billeting locations;
Brigade Headquarters, Signal Section and the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers, Saint Hilaire, 21st Northumberland Fusiliers,
to the east at Bourecq, 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers at Fontes to the north, and the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers at Norrent-Fontes.
It is noted in the Brigade War Diary that the Chateau at Norrent-Fontes was reserved for the Divisional Headquarters! All
other constituent units were either billeted at Mazinghem or Molinghem respectively. The march of the 34th Division continued, the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers commencing
their march to yet more 'new' billets at 8.20. a.m. on the morning of the 19th. The destination for George and the
men of the battalion was Thiennes, located on the western edge of the Foret de Nieppe. The 25th Battalion were to
be billeted a short distance away at Boeseghem whilst the 26th Battalion were allocated billets at Wittes, to the north of
Aire. The 27th Battalion were located at le Ciseaux to the north of Boeseghem whilst at the latter were also billeted 103rd
Brigade Headquarters, 103rd L.T.M.B., 103rd Field Ambulance and the 34th Divisional Train, A.S.C. The march southwards into the Third Army area continued when on the 20th, 101st
Brigade marched from their billeting area about Hazebrouck - Morbecque to the Saint Hilaire - Bourecq area. Of the units,
the 10th Lincoln's billeted at Norrent-Fontes, the 15th Royal Scots, Bourecq, 16th Royal Scots, Saint Hilaire, and the
11th Suffolk's to the south at Lieres. The 102nd Brigade were also on the march again to the la Thieuloye, north-east
of Saint Pol. Brigade Headquarters along with 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers, 102nd M.G.C. and Number 3 Company of the Divisional
Train established billets for the night at la Thieuloye whilst the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers billeted between Gricourt
and Bours, south of Pernes. Both the 21st and the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers billeted at Dieval, north of la Thieuloye,
whilst the 102nd L.T.M.B. took up billets at Noyelles, west of Gricourt. 208th Field Company, R.E., less one section detached
to 17th Corps for work at Hermaville, west of Arras, billeted at Monneville, and the 102nd Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. at Marest,
just to the south of Pernes. For the men
of the 103rd Brigade, the constant change of scenery and the rural backwaters of northern France must, as to men in all the
brigades, been a stark contrast to the towns and villages ravaged by the war. It was an early start for the 24th N.F. when
at 7.30 a.m. the men donned their equipment and made ready for another long march. Commencing their march from the southern
bank of the Laquette River at 9.10 a.m. on the morning of the 20th, the battalion proceeded to march southwards until Rely,
west of Saint Hilaire, was reached, whereupon the men billeted for the night. With the remainder of the brigade starting their
march at various times and from various points, the 103rd Brigade were billeted as follows; Brigade Headquarters, Signal Section,
103rd L.T.M.B., 103rd Field Ambulance and Number 4 Company, Divisional Train at Westrehem, to the south-west of Rely, 25th
Northumberland Fusiliers, Nedonchelle, south of Westrehem, 26th Northumberland Fusiliers, Fontaine-les-Hermans, north-west
of Nedonchelle, 27th Northumberland Fusiliers, Ligny-lez-Aire, north of Westrehem, and the 103rd Machine Gun Company at Rely.
On the 21st of February, the 101st Brigade
took to the march once again and headed southwards.Thankfully, the day was dry as Brigade Headquarters were then established
la Thieuloye, north-east of Saint Pol, along with the 15th Royal Scots and the 101st T.M.B., the 16th Royal Scots and the
101st M.G.C. at Dieval to the north-east, the 10th Lincoln's at Bours, south of Pernes, whilst the 11th Suffolk's
billeted at Dieval. For the G.O.C. and a number of his Staff, they were to be billeted at the palatial Hermaville Chateau,
west of Arras. The 102nd Brigade also
returned to the march. Of the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers, they were met by Guides from the 23rd Battalion (4th Tyneside
Scottish), the battalion moving 'independently' to billets located at Magnicourt-en-Comte, south-east of la Thieuloye.
The 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers in turn moved to billets at Chelers, south of Magnicourt, but were not impressed by either
the accommodation or the local populace, the latter it would almost appear making their 'stay' as uncomfortable as
possible yet obtaining as much as they could from those billeted on them. Brigade Headquarters were established just to the
west of Magnicourt whilst the 21st Northumberland Fusiliers billeted at Villers-Brulin, south-west of Bethonsart. The 22nd
Northumberland Fusiliers would be billeted in the centre of Bethonsart whilst both the 102nd M.G.C. and the 102nd L.T.M.B.
would be accommodated at Guestreville, north-west of Villers-Brulin. The 208th Field Company, R.E., minus the detachment at
Hermaville, billeted at Herlin-le-Vert, north-east of Chelers, the 102nd Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. at Chelers whilst Number
3 Company of the Divisional Train billeted at le Tirlet, north of Guestreville. The 103rd Brigade, as per the other brigades of the division, also shouldered packs and rifles. Brigade Staff proceeded
from Nedonchelle at 8.30 a.m. on the morning of the 21st and after journeying southwards, took up billets at Orlencourt, east
of St. Pol. Also billeted in the village were the Brigade Headquarters Details and Signal Staff, the 103rd L.T.M.B., 103rd
Field Ambulance and the Number 4 Company Divisional Train. The 25th Northumberland Fusiliers also billeted in the Orlencourt/Monchy-Breton
area, possibly due to, I surmise, overcrowding, as the 26th N.F. were billeted also at Monchy-Breton. The 27th Northumberland
Fusiliers had proceeded by route of march to Ostreville whilst the 24th N.F. after their move southwards billeted at Valhuon,
some distance to the north of the brigade. The 103rd M.G.C. were also separated from the main body of the brigade, they being
billeted at Antin, to the south of Valhuon. Now encompassed in the 17th Corps of the Third Army, all units were to remain
in this area for a period of twenty-four hours however both the 103rd M.G.C. and the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers were ordered
to move to Chelers on the morning of the 22nd of February. Met by Temporary Lieutenant Leslie Brownsword Proctor of the 26th
Northumberland Fusiliers, the Brigade Billeting Officer, the village church being the rendezvous point, as the men of these
two units then settled into billets. After
the never ending series of route marches, the majority of the men of the division rested. For the 102nd Brigade however, orders
were now received for Brigade Headquarters to proceed to Ecoivres and to billet in the 18th Century Chateau. Both the 21st
and 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers also took to the march, taking up billets in 'new' Nissen Huts erected
at Ecoivres, the 21st Battalion sending out a party under the command of Temporary Major Richard Henry Thorburn Jobson and
numbering 8 officers and 8 N.C.O.'s to reconnoitre the trenches. (Authors note: Brigade Headquarters Orders stipulated
the Second-in Commands of both battalions and two officers and two N.C.O.'s per company). Both the 102nd M.G.C. and the
102nd L.M.T.B. would join the battalions at Ecoivres, the remainder of the brigade, orders pending, waiting to move from their
billeting area in the environs of Villers-Brulin. It is at this juncture that we will follow both the 21st and 22nd Battalions
as they entered the line on the 24th of February. The sector of the line they were about to take over was located to the east
and south-east of the village of Roclincourt, north of Arras. Roclincourt: 102nd Infantry Brigade (Tyneside Scottish) It was on the 23rd of February that the 21st Northumberland Fusiliers relieved
the 9th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), of the 27th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division in Arras, who, were in Divisional
Reserve. On the following morning they then relieved the 11th Royal Scots, also of the 27th Brigade, in the Right Sub-Sector,
of the Centre Sector, Arras. With 102nd Brigade Headquarters established at the Maltery, St. Catherine,
Arras, a predominant feature of this particular part of the line was the abundance of mine craters stretching along the length
of the front. On the battalions right flank was Claude Crater, blown by the Germans in June 1916, and in roughly
about their centre was Kate Crater, also detonated in early 1916. With the left flank held by the 22nd
Battalion and bordering the Maison de la Cote Road, east of Roclincourt, the sector held by the 21st Battalion was
constantly subjected to enemy mortar fire. On the 24th of February, just after entering the line, three men were killed and
one man wounded.
| Right Sub-Sector |
|
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| Extract Of Arras, Edition 8A, 51B, N.W.3. Trenches Corrected To 4/3/17 |
Private George William Knights, 48412, born at Wenhaston, Suffolk. A
married man with two children and residing in Pauline Street, Ipswich, he was a Painter by trade and enlisted at Ipswich.
An analysis of serial numbers suggests that George may have initially served in the Royal Field Artillery before being transferred
to the Northumberland Fusiliers and posted overseas in November 1916. Private Robert Hase Wells, a resident of Aldeburgh,
Suffolk, was also another transfer from the artillery. A married man with two children, Robert also enlisted at Ipswich and
was killed by the mortar fire on the 24th aged 39 years. Private Walter Sommers, 31899, stated in Soldiers Died,
to be a Canadian by birth, enlisted at Cardiff in March 1915. Interestingly, he served under an alias, his actual name being
Wallace Tracy Sutcliffe and he was in fact on American, not a Canadian, and resided in New Jersey, occupation circa 1910,
an Electrician. Initially serving in the Army Service Corps (Remounts), upon transfer to the Northumberland Fusiliers he was
drafted overseas in December 1916, Walter succumbed to wounds received on the 25th. And there was Private Oswald Sykes, 37209,
of West Street, Spittal, near Berwick-on-Tweed. A Salmon Fisherman by trade, Oswald had enlisted in 1914 at Berwick and joined
the ranks of the Northern Cyclist Battalion. A few weeks before his death in action, his brother, David, who had served with
the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, died of wounds received four months previously in Gosforth War Hospital.
Oswald, aged 26, like his comrades, now lies in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras.
| Private Oswald Sykes, 37209 |
|
|
| Berwickshire News Dated The 20th Of March, 1917 |
In the following days and as casulties mounted in wounded, the 21st
Battalion continued to improve their positions. It was noted that on the 27th, aerial activity had increased and enemy artillery
fire was described as desultory, two snipers claiming two 'hits in the sector. On the evening of the 27th, the 1st Battalion
of the South African Infantry, South African Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division, launched a raid further to the south. Numbering
2 officers and 50 O/R's, the raiding party would enter the enemy line at a point just west of St.Laurent-Blangy. Making
their way across No Man's Land in two columns, left and right respectively, it was found that the front line was not held
in any strength but by only a few sentrys and a working party. The trench it was noted, had suffered greatly from the effects
of artillery and as the men made their way through the trench system, two of the enemy made a run for it but one was shot
and killed by Private Jacobs, Private Purdon then cutting off the dead man's shoulder straps and buttons for indentification
purposes. (Authors note: Possible identifications for these soldiers are Arthur Lacey Jacobs, 4295, killed in action at Fampoux
in April and Norman Cameron Purdon, 4348, also killed in action at Fampoux). The cost of the raid was one man killed and one
Lewis gunner killed, the latter, in support positions, in addition, four men were wounded. The shoulder straps and buttons
revealed that the unit holding this sector of the line were the Reserve-Infanterie Regiment Nr. 133 of the 24. Reserve-Division.
Saxons, the regiment, in division, had recently witnessed fighting on the Somme during the winter months before being transfered
to the Artois region. Regarded as above average and battle hardened, at least in this part of the line, 17th Corps had obtained
an identification. As the month of February drew to a close,
the 21st Northumberland Fusiliers set about repairing their trenches, damaged as they were through enemy artillery fire, provoked
by the raid of the South Africans. The battalion were planning a raid of their own, a party of two officers and 40 O/R's
being withdrawn from the trenches to train for this purpose. Holding the left of the sector with their left flank resting
on the Maison de la Cote Road were the 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers. It is unfortunate that the pages of the War
Diary that record this month are 'missing' but I will attempt to provide a narrative of this battalions activities
until the close of the month of February.
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| Extract Of Roclincourt, Edition 6.A., Sheet 51B, N.W.1., Trenches Corrected To 4/3/17 |
This left flank was also dominated by a series of mine craters running
north to south and named King, Kite and to the south Kick. On the 25th of February, there had been considerable
enemy trench mortar fire from the vicinity of King Crater, this resulting in several casualties. One man killed was
Private Frank Herbert Massingham, 47207, a resident of Norwich and a married man with two children. A Coachman by occupation,
Frank, Soldiers Died in the Great War records, that he enlisted at Aldershot, but I surmise, through an analysis
of serial numbers, that this was in fact his station of mobilisation. Having originally enlisted in December 1915, once again
the serial numbers suggest that he initially served with the Royal Engineers and was mobilised in July 1916. Posted overseas
in December of that year, he joined the battalion in January 1917 whilst they were in the Bois Grenier Sector. Aged 34 years,
Frank is now buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras. It was early on the following day that the front line on the western lip of King Crater was heavily bombarded
by heavy trench mortars and "Pineapple Bombs," mortar rounds from the German spigot mortar designated as
the Granatenwerfer. As the bombardment continued between about 6 a.m. - 6.30 a.m., an enemy raiding party attempted
to infiltrate the line but was driven off by artillery fire. Upon a search of ground in front of the barbed wire defences,
a cap was found bearing a Saxon cockade, the identity of the raiders but no bodies were retrieved. Fortunately for the defenders,
the front line had been evacuated and casualties were minimal however one man, Private John Robert Elliott, 22/1043, a native
of Boldon Colliery, was unfortunately killed. A married man with a stepson, prior to enlistment he was employed as a Coal
Miner (Hewer) at Boldon Colliery, near Sunderland. Attesting for military service at Sunderland in November 1914, John was
one of the 'original' members of the battalion and had survived the horrors of the 1st of July 1916 on the Somme.
Buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, John is also commemorated on the Boldon Colliery "Workmen's Memorial,
Boldon Colliery. The remaining battalions
of the 102nd Brigade had also moved into the Arras Sector; the 23rd Battalion, to billets at Arras on the 24th and placed
in Brigade Reserve as were the 20th Battalion. Working Parties were formed and it was on the 26th of February that disaster
struck the men of "C" Company of the 23rd Battalion whilst they were returning tools to a 'Dump' located
in the suburb of St. Nicholas. An enemy artillery round of 4.2 inch calibre exploded in their midst causing carnage. The War
Diary of the 23rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, records that 38 men became casualties, 15 of whom were either killed
or died of wounds. An analysis of the Commonwealth War Graves Database reveals that 11 men were killed whilst 3 died of wounds.
These men are either buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Haute-Avesnes British Cemetery or Aubigny Communal Cemetery
Extension, the latter two cemeteries, east of Arras, along the line of the casualty evacuation chain. Of their number, five
were 'original' members of the Tyneside Scottish, one, a transfer the 22nd Battalion, whilst some of the remainder
have previous service with the Royal Field Artillery before being drafted to the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers on the 13th
of January 1917. As regards this draft, the Battalion War Diary records that on this date "a draft of 100 untrained
men have arrived. All these men have been transferred from the R.F.A. to the infantry. Some of them are not very enthusiastic
about it". These men came from a variety of counties, too many to record here but on a note of 'local' interest
was one man, Private Frederick George Foster, 47407, a resident of Selby, North Yorkshire. Born in 1890 at Selby, Frederick was the son of Thomas Foster, a 'Hatter and
Hosier' by occupation, and Ellen Foster, the family residing in premises located at Number 5, Market Place, Selby. A business
that had continued for sixty years, it was upon the death of his father in 1906 that his mother carried on with the family
business. By the year of 1911, Frederick was recorded in the census of that year as being employed as an Apprentice Printer/Compositor
an occupation that he apparently remained in until his enlistment. A member of the Selby Scientific Society, Frederick was
also interested in music and sang for many years in the Brayton Church Choir. Upon the formation of the Selby Volunteer Training
Corps in January 1915, Frederick joined their ranks and served with the Volunteers until enlisting at York in October 1916.
Posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery at Glasgow (Authors note: Recorded in the following newspaper article), 'Fred'
was drafted to the Infantry shortly after posting and allocated as a draft to the Northumberland Fusiliers. A romance had
also blossomed that resulted in an engagement to one Miss Ethel Ruby Wright of Church Farm, Market Weighton, 'Fred'
returned home at Christmas 1916 for the last time. Posted overseas in January 1917, he was 'processed' at the 31st
I.B.D. (Infantry Base Depot) located at Etaples before joining the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers 'in the field' whilst
they were holding the line in the Bois Grenier Sector, south of Armentieres. With his mother now residing at Brooke Street,
Selby, she received a letter from his officer, Temporary Second-Lieutenant Arthur Richard Liddell, an extract of which was
published in the Selby Times dated the 9th of March 1915: "It is with deep regret that I heard this afternoon (Feb. 26th) of the death in action of your dear son,
and I feel I must write you a short letter to express to you my very deep sympathy in your very sad bereavement. I knew your
boy very well from the time he joined our battalion, as I trained the new reinforcements myself, and soon picked him out.
He was a most conscientious and loyal hearted boy to such an extent that I picked him for our Company. We all mourn the loss
of a good boy and a lovable comrade". The Reverend Vincent Randolph Rogers, Chaplain to the Forces (4th Class), and of the 22nd Battalion, also wrote to
Mrs. Foster: "I am very sorry
to have to write to you the sad news of the death of your son - 47407, Private F.G. Foster, 23rd Battalion N.F. He was on
duty when a shell burst very close to him and he died within a few minutes. My heart goes out to you in your sad loss. I know
that words do not convey much at such a time, but you will remember with the pride of a soldier's mother that your son
gave his life for home and country, and died in the noble cause of Right and Freedom. I buried him in the military cemetery
and a cross marks his grave. May God rest his soul and give you grace and courage to bear your grievous loss bravely".
Aged 26 years, 'Fred' now
lies buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery along with many of the casualties who were also killed during the explosion
of the shell. In addition to his place of burial, he is also commemorated on his parents grave located in Selby Cemetery.
Ethel, his fiancee, would never marry, and would die in 1976 aged 84 years. Of the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers, it was on the 24th of February that the battalion
moved from Ecoivres Huts to Arras and into billets. Far from being safe from the effects of enemy artillery, it was on the
night of the 27th that the town was shelled causing three casualties, Privates John Burley, 20/1654, Robert Ditchburn, 20/743,
and Eric Turner, 18948. Private Turner was killed and Private Burley that severely wounded that he would succumb to wounds
on the 3rd of March at the 37th Field Ambulance located at Habarcq, west of Arras. Private Ditchburn who had enlisted in November
1914 was a Miner prior to the war at Broomhill Colliery. A resident of Amble, Northumberland, he had been awarded the Military
Medal for actions at La Boisselle, Somme, on the 1st of July 1916. Wounded in the neck, he would remain at duty. Private Eric
Turner however, a native of Sheffield, was unfortunately killed. Previously serving with the 14th Battalion, Northumberland
Fusiliers, newspaper accounts record that he had been wounded on a number of occasions before being drafted to the Tyneside
Scottish. The son of an Austrian father, his mother Kate had applied for naturalisation, this being granted in 1914. Aged
22 years, Eric now lies buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, and in addition to his place of burial he is
also commemorated in Sheffield on the Upper Chapel Memorial, Norfolk Street.
| Private Eric Turner, 18948 |
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| Sheffield Daily Telegraph Dated The 8th Of March 1917 |
101st & 103rd Infantry Brigades: Training & Working
Parties As the 102nd Brigade remained in the
trenches, both the 101st and the 103rd Brigades carried out a continued programme of training whilst billeted in the Magnicourt-en-Comte,
Houvelin, la Thieuloye, Chelers and Dieval areas. The 101st Brigade Headquarters were established at Chelers whilst the Headquarters
of the 103rd Brigade were established at Villers-Brulin respectively. Training for offensive operations was mounted in the
Monchy-Breton area however the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers furnished two companies for Working Parties, these being billeted
at the "X" Huts, Ecoivres. The 25th Battalion also furnished three companies for the unloading of engineer
material, these proceeding to Ecoivres under the command of Temporary Major Tom Reay, the Second-in-Command. The 26th Battalion,
moving to Ecoivres on the 24th, also provided detachments for a variety of duties. A detachment of "A" Company under
the command of Temporary Second-Lieutenant Samuel Hamer proceeded to billets in Arras, their duties being to construct Trench
Mortar Emplacements in the 34th Divisional Sector. "B" Company, less details at Ecoivres, moved into billets at
St. Nicholas, their task being to provide Working Parties on a light railway in Roclincourt Valley. "A"
Company provided yet more men, less details, accompanied by one platoon of "C" Company, they subsequently joined
Second-Lieutenant Hamer's party in Arras, thus increasing the number of men required for building emplacements. "D"
Company and three platoons of "C" Company also became engaged in providing work details, these men proceeding to
billets in St. Catherine where they were to furnish Working Parties for the construction of dug-outs in the Divisional Sector.
Miraculously, these units of the 103rd Infantry Brigade suffered, as far as i can ascertain, no casualties. Of the 101st Brigade,
they continued their training, no doubt thanking their lucky stars that they were not required, at this juncture,
to move into the 34th Divisional Area. March:
Reliefs & Preparations The 102nd Infantry
Brigade remained at station in their trenches covering the Roclincourt Front, both the 21st and the 22nd Battalions in their
respective front line positions with the 23rd and the 20th Battalions in Brigade Reserve at Arras. On the afternoon of the
2nd of March, the 21st Battalion were relieved by the 20th Battalion in the K 1 Sector, south-east of Roclincourt.
The 22nd Battalion was also relieved on this date by the 23rd, the former proceeding to billets in Arras and St. Nicholas,
the 21st Battalion to billets in the town. Of the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers, their Battalion Headquarters was
established in Sunday Avenue, just to the west of the mine craters Kick and Kent, inter company
reliefs taking place on the 5th when "C" Company took over the Right Front Section and "D" Company
taking over the Left Front Section respectively. The men had been busy during their occupation of the trench system
in both improving and repairing the trenches in addition to the communication trenches that linked the front line to the rear.
Casualties numbering four men killed had been sustained on the 5th, one newspaper article as regards one man stating that
they were subjected to enemy artillery fire and killed by shrapnel. Amongst their number was one Private Frederick Andrews,
38616, who formerly served with the East Yorkshire Regiment. A married man with three children and a resident of Albert Terrace,
Hull, Frederick had previously witnessed service with the 6th (Service) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, at Gallipoli.
At some point unknown, Frederick was transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, before being transferred
once again, this time to the 20th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras,
for years to come, memoriam notices were placed in the Hull Daily Mail by his grieving wife, children and family. In front of the line held by the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers, there were also
two large mine craters, King and Kite, immediately due east of Roclincourt. The trenches around King
Crater received considerable attention from enemy trench mortars and rifle grenades but these were met by retaliatory
fire from both medium trench mortars and Stokes mortars in addition to rifle grenades. It was on the 4th
of March that a patrol was sent out to examine the enemy's barbed wire defences and it was noted that they were
working to fill any gaps that had been created either by artillery or mortar fire. Their tour in the trenches remained
relatively 'quiet,' that is until early on the morning of the 5th of March when the 1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders,
152nd Infantry Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division, launched a raid on the German trenches to their left flank. Their objective,
as most raids were, was to secure an idenfication of the enemy unit holding the line, and to wreak as much havoc
as possible destroying dug-outs and inflicting casualties. The raid was to be made by a strong party numbering 13 officers
and 300 men. Led by Captain Ian Grant Fleming M.C., the raiders would assault the front and support lines in 11 Groups, "Zero"
hour being set for 6.10 a.m. on the morning of the 5th.
|
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| Roclincourt, Edition 6A, Sheet 51B, N.W.1. Corrected To 4/3/17 |
The raid would enter the enemy line roughly between Point T.17 in
the south, east of the Cemetery, and Point T.19 to the north. Covered by an artillery barrage and trench
mortars, the wire was already sufficiently cut in front of the enemy trench system however a path had to be cut through the
British wire by hand to enable the men to cross No Man's Land. For this task, a 'special squad' had been arranged
under the command of Captain Donald Gordon Clark, Clark himself performing a number of reconnaissances of the enmy line prior
to the raid. The first wave entered the line before the enemy were fully allerted, the second wave following on about fifty
yards behind. Hard fighting ensued and dug-outs were bombed as sixty-six German dead were counted and twenty-one prisoners
taken, their number including an officer. One machine gun was captured and one destroyed, and an anti-gun disabled by bombs.
It was expected by the raiders to encounter men of the Reserve-Infanterie Regiment Nr. 104th, of the 24th Reserve
Division but it transpired from the prisoners that this unit had been relieved the previous evening. Those captured were in
fact the relieving unit, the Bayerische Reserve-Infanterie Regiment Nr. 2 of the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division. They
also stated that they had expected to be raided, but not for a length of time. Casualties to the raiders number 1 officer
missing and 5 wounded, and in Other Ranks, 16 killed, 6 missing and 32 wounded. An analysis of Commonwealth War Graves records
reveals that of the 16 men killed, 9 are commemorated on the Arras Memorial, 3 in the Highland Cemetery, Roclincourt, 3 in
Maroeuil Cemetery and 1 in Roclincourt Valley Military Cemetery. On the front held by the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers, as a consequence of the raid, they received a fair amount
of retaliatory fire. During the evening of the 5th, rockets of various colours were observed being fired on either flank as
they were subjected to both artillery and trench mortar fire. Unfortunately, one man was killed and three wounded during the
course of the day, the man who was killed being one Private Thomas Proctor, 47434, a married man with two children and a resident
of Miles Platting, Manchester. Prior to the war, Thomas was for many years a member of the Ancoats Lads Club and the Miles
Platting and Philips Park Bowling Club. Enlisting at Manchester, I estimate in December 1915, his initial service was conducted
with the Royal Field Artillery whereupon he was subsequently numbered 44385. Part of the 'reluctant' draft to the
Northumberland Fusiliers in January 1917, Thomas, aged 30 years, now lies buried in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras.
One man had also been dangerously wounded,
Private William Fowler, 40695, a married man and a resident of Athol Road, Manningham, Bradford. Enlisting at Bradford in
December 1915, prior to the war, William had been employed by Messrs. Cockroft, Bell & Co. Ltd., Post Office Buildings,
Girlington. A 'Derby Scheme' man, initial service was conducted with the 11th (Reserve) Battalion, West Riding Regiment,
Serial Number 11/20068, before being transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers in July 1916 to replace losses sustained
during the Battle of the Somme. (Authors note: Medal Rolls indicate service with the 9th (Service) Battalion, West Riding
Regiment, but I surmise that this may have changed on his posting overseas at Infantry Base Depot level whereupon he was subsequently
allocated as a draft to the Northumberland Fusiliers). Seriously wounded in the face, legs and hands, William was evacuated
to either the 30th or 42nd Casualty Clearing Station located at Aubigny, north-west of Arras, but unfortunately succumbed
to wounds aged 26 years. Now buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, his grieving wife would move into William's
parents house located in Glendare Road, Lidget Green, Bradford. His widow, Jessie, would never remarry and would die at Bradford
at the ripe old age of 90 years in 1980. In addition to his place of burial, "Willie" is also commemorated the Girlington
Methodist Church War Memorial, now housed in the Bradford Industrial Museum.
| Private William Fowler, 40695 |
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| Bradford Daily Telegraph Dated The 16th Of March 1917 |
Commemoration Under Construction
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