Home. Origins of the Battalion.
Page 1. Start of the First World War.
Page 2. To the Ypres Salient.
Page 3. Ypres. The Battle of St Julien.
Page 4. April 1915. Ypres. Gas.
Page 5. Battle of St Julien losses.
Page 6. New Division Name.
Page 7. The Battle of Bellewaarde.
Page 8. Bellewaarde Losses. Sanctuary Wood.
Page 9. Neuve Eglise, Kemmel Sector.
Page 10. August 1915. To Armentieres.
Page 11. Sep/Oct 1915. Armentieres.
Page 12. October 1915. Armentieres.
Page 13. Oct/Nov 1915. Armentieres.
Page 14. Nov/Dec 1915. To Merris.
Page 15. Back to the Ypres Salient.
Page 16. Jan 1916. Armagh Wood.
Page 17. Feb 1916. Hill 60.
Page 18. Mine Explosion.
Page 19. Feb 1916. Ypres. Hill 60.
Page 20. Armagh Wood. CO Killed.
Page 21. Mar/Apr 1916. Kemmel.
Page 22. Apr/May 1916. Fletre. Kemmel.
Page 23. June 1916. Friendly Fire Kemmel.
Page 24. Jun/Jul 1916. Kemmel.
Page 25. July 1916. Kemmel.
Page 26. Aug 1916. To the Somme.
Page 27. Battle of Flers Courcelette.
Page 28. Sep 1916. Flers-Courcelette.
Page 29. The Thiepval Memorial.
Page 30. Flers-Courcelette. Losses.
Page 31. Flers-Courcelette. Attack repelled.
Page 32.Training. Martinpuich.
Page 33. In the Line near Flers.
Page 34. Nov 1916. Martinpuich. Flers.
Page 35. Flers. To Belloy.
Page 36. Feb/Mar 1917. Belloy.
Page 37. April 1917. To Arras.
Page 38. Capt D.P. Hirsch. V.C.
Page 39. The Arras Memorial.
Page 40. The Arras Memorial.
Page 41. Arras Burial Sites.
Page 42. Arras. Famechon.
Page 43. May 1917. Famechon. Bayencourt.
Page 44. June 1917 Back in the Line. Arras.
Page 45. Sep 1917. Arras. Wancourt.
Page 46. Oct 1917. Back to Ypres.
Page 47. Nov 1917. Passchendaele.
Page 48. Jan 1918. Ypres.
Page 49. Feb 1918. Last of Ypres.
Page 50. The Battle of St Quentin.
Page 51. German Offensive. Michael.
Page 52. German Advance. Pozieres Memorial.
Page 53. Losses on both sides.
Page 54. From the Somme to the Lys.
Page 55. April 1918. Battle of Estaires.
Page 56. Ploegsteert Memorial.
Page 57. From the Lys to the Aisne.
Page 58. German Offensive. Blucher-Yorck.
Page 59. May 1918. 150th Brigade decimated.
Page 60. End of the 4th Yorks.
Page 61. Last Weeks of War.
Page 62. Prisoners of War.
Page 63. Prisoners of War.
Page 64. Prisoners of War.
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APRIL/MAY 1916. FLETRE. KEMMEL.
The Diary remarks - "A Battalion after months in trenches requires for its rest, comfort, ample and good accommodation, facilities for recreation and area available for training. None of these were afforded in the area allotted."
28th, 29th APRIL.
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21005 Pte Williams John, William. Born Stockton. Enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks. Died at home and buried at Gateshead, East Cemetery.
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Time spent at Fletre resting and cleaning and making billets as sanitary as possible.
2nd Lieut Miller and 36 other ranks were received.
One man returned from dental treatment "To be supplied with soft diet and a mouth wash for 2 months until his gums hardened.".
The Bn remained at Fletre until the 25th of May.
During that time the Bn Diary notes despite the poor quarters "the men became smarter and lost the tired look and weary walk which 4 months of trenches through the worst part of the year had given them."
Training was started. An apparatus was examined by which telephone messages could be tapped. "The enemy has been listening to our messages for some time and the Boche has removed his telephones from the front Line."
The men were inoculated, but the Diary does not say against what. |
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Trench Mouth.
A common disorder among the soldiers at the Front caused by lack of oral hygiene, bad nutrition and emotional stress.
It caused destruction of the gums, bleeding and ulcers.
Sadly many conditions were not recognised at the time.
Soldiers reporting sick for genuine causes were often given a "Number 9" strong laxative and sent back to duty.
The people of Cleveland held a Flag Day on April 17th and raised a sum of £750. £150 was placed at the disposal of the Bn and the remainder was invested for the benefit of men who have been or will be rendered unfit for service.
2nd Lt Tugwell and 22 more other ranks were received.
The Division was inspected by the Army Commander [General H.O. Plumer.] and Distinguished Conduct Medals presented by him to Sgt McKay, Cpl Pinkney and Pte Street.
Battalion Sports were held and were a "great success".
26th MAY. The Bn returned to Locre on its way to Trenches and spent the night at Kemmel Shelters, where they took over from 2nd Bn Gordons.
27th MAY. The Bn took over from the 8th Kings [Liverpool] in Trenches G1 to G5 and H.1.4, "Z" Company remaining at Kemmel Chateau.
28th MAY. Fairly quiet, but Trenches G1 to G3 trench mortared and 1 other rank was killed and 4 wounded.
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4862 Pte Burton Arthur. Home at Eston N Yorks and enlisted at Middlesbrough. Killed in action. Buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery.
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3873 Pte Garniss John, William. Enlisted at Northallerton. Died of wounds. Buried at Bailleul Communal [Base Hospital] Cemetery Extension Nord.
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The Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Instituted in 1854, the DCM is the oldest British award for gallant acts in the field.
It was awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Army.
It ranks second only to the Victoria Cross.
2nd Lts C Hawdon, H M Hollingsworth, A Coates, M W Macnay and Richardson received by the Bn.
29th MAY. Quiet. 1 other rank wounded and 1 received in.
30th MAY.
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3201 Pte Beckley Lewis, William. Home at Boosbeck, N Yorks. Born in Skelton in Cleveland, N Yorks. Died of wounds. Buried at Bailleul Communal [Base Hospital] Cemetery Extension [Nord].
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Slight trench mortaring. 1 other rank wounded. 2nd Lts R S Forrest and A R Cawood received.
3rd JUNE. After 3 quiet days with only one other rank wounded, the 24th Division were expected to make a raid and some German retaliation was expected.
It turned out to be light, but 1 other rank was killed and 7 wounded.
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4918 Pte Hicks George. Home at Carlin How N Yorks. Enlisted at Northallerton, N Yorks. Killed in action. Buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery.
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4th JUNE. Relieved at night by th 5th Bn D.L.I and the Bn moved to Kemmel Shelters. 19 other rank reinforcements received.
5th to 11th JUNE. The Bn remained at the Shelters providing working parties as usual.
Miss Lena Ashwell's Concert Party gave a performance.
On the 8th in the Birthday List Lt Col M.H.L. Bell was made a Companion of the Order of St Micheal and St George, [C.M.G].
2906 Pte Harrison. W.G was awarded the Military Medal. |
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General Herbert O. Plumer.
GOC Second Army, of which the 50th Division was a part.
He was placed in this position in May 1915 and apart from a spell in Italy retained it to the end of the War.
It is said that, being from an Infantry background, he understood the War situation better than the Cavalry men, who usually occupied such high rank, many of whom still believed they were going to make a charge of the Light Brigade through a gap in the German defences.
He thus had more respect from the men at the front, for whom the Top Brass were a particular target of their more ribald songs.
[Picture courtesy of - "Photos of The Great War". ].
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4806 Pte Wilson James. Home at 16 Eve St, Middlesbrough, N Yorks. Died of wounds. Age 20. Buried at Longuenesse St Omer Souvenir [Hospital] Cemetery.
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12th JUNE. The Bn relieved 5th D.L.I. in the same trenches. The raiding party, Lt Batty, 2nd Lt Laing and 50 Other ranks were left at the Shelters.
The 4th East Yorks were on the right and the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers on the left.
13th to 15th JUNE. Fairly quiet with some trench mortaring and only 1 other rank wounded.
16th JUNE. The Boche commenced a heavy bombardment of trenches G1, G2 and Support trench 10. There was also a gas barrage from shells fired by trench mortars about 50 yds behind trenches G1 to 3.
Gas was also emitted by the Germans on the right of the Bn but the North East wind took it away.
No attack was made by the enemy and casualties were Major B H Charlton, Capt C Sproxton and 2nd Lt A D Scott wounded. 1 other rank was killed and 1 wounded.
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3841 Pte Hewitt Leonard, Donald. Enlisted at Loftus, N Yorks. Killed in action. Buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery.
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