A very brief history of the 2/5th Duke of Wellington’s

[Tony Lund]

I know some members are interested in this battalion, so bits and pieces of information that occasionally appear in the old local newspaper may be of interest. From time to time I will post whatever I find.

The 2nd 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment was formed at Huddersfield in November 1914 by Lieutenant Colonel W. Cooper V.D., with Captain J. L. Robinson as adjutant, and the Huddersfield Recruiting Committee headed by Sir William Raynor assisted by Captain Harold Hanson. Lieutenant T. P. Crosland was also active in securing a large number of recruits from the Mirfield area.

From November 1914 until February 1915, the battalion trained at Greenhead Park and the drill hall at Huddersfield, and did much route marching in the Huddersfield area. It seems reasonable to assume that all local men were billeted in their own homes during this period, that is known to be the method used when the local artillery brigade was raised later in the year. Those men who volunteered for foreign service were drafted to the 1st 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

Early in March the battalion moved to Derby, and later to Doncaster. On the April 14th they lined the road to Doncaster station to give the 1st 5th Battalion a rousing send off as they left for France. Subsequent camps were at Thorsby Park, Babworth, near Retford, and at Gainsborough, Newcastle-on-Tyne, then to Larkhill on Sailisbury Plain to start intensive training. On their first night in camp the YMCA hut burnt down and the man and woman who ran the place were burnt to death as they slept. The battalion later moved to Henham Park near Southwold and then to Bedford.

On August 17th Colonel Cooper left to take over a Lincolnshire home defence battalion, and was replaced by Colonel W. O. M. Mosse, a retired Indian Army officer who had a good reputation as an organiser, he left to take command of the Tyne Garrison in April 1916 and was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel T. A. D. Best DSO, who was later killed at Cambrai, and replaced by the second in command, Major Frank Brook. This officer remained in command until the battalion was merged with the 1st 5th in January 1918.

More later, the dog wants a walk.

Tony.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Tony,

Thanks for the information about the 2/5th WRR from the old local newspaper. Look forward to the next instalment. Always interested in Dukes articles.

Regards

Ron

[Tony Lund]

Please feel free to correct me regarding the spelling of place names, some of them are not very legible.

On January 1st 1917 the battalion was at Bedford, they left for Southampton on January 10th and embarked for France on January 11th arriving at Le Havre in the early hours of the 12th. They proceeded to Auxi-le-Chateau, and afterwards marched through Ampliere, Orville, Thievres, and Authis to Bus-les-Artois. The weather was so cold that the ink in fountain pens and rifle oil in the Lewis guns froze.

The battalion was given training by the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment in trenches east of Hebuterne, and on February 13th, after a march through Betrancourt, Beausart, Mailly Mallet, and Auchonvillers the battalion entered trenches at Berm Work near Beaumont Hamel, relieving the 1st Dorsets in front of Serre. Not much of these trenches was left, as in most places they had been blown in, so their first days were occupied in digging and repairing them. The battalion were relieved on February 14th by the 2nd 6th Dukes. On February 24th, Major Negus, the second in command left to take command of the 2nd 8th West Yorkshires.

Their first recorded attack took place on February 27th 1917, when two fighting patrols of D Company and another from A Company attacked Orchard Alley, which was about 800 yards away. The trench was only lightly held and was soon captured with three men from the attacking force being wounded, one of the emery was killed and one wounded; the rest ran off. The rest of D Company then moved up to consolidate. The enemy then decided to withdraw from the village of Puisieux, which was occupied by D Company with C Company moving up to consolidate later in the day. Lieutenant Ridley of D Company was in command and was awarded the Military Cross, with Lance Corporal Hubert Priestley of A Company receiving the Military Medal. These were the first bravery awards made to the battalion.

About the middle of March the battalion was holding the line south of Achiet le Petit, and B Company were told to hold Resurrection Trench and attack the village. They were heavily bombarded for three days and nights, then an hour before dawn, on March 17th 1917, two battle patrols moved to the flanks of the village with the rest of the company following on. There was some opposition from machine guns but the village was quickly taken and passed through. The company digging in on the north side. A counter-attack was beaten off, and then a heavy bombardment fell on the village, but the company were already moving off to the north.

In the evening orders were received for the whole line to move forward. A Company was detailed to clear Logeast Wood, which they did. B and C Companies had to cut the German wire on the Bihucourt line to allow the cavalry to come through. The German wire was in three broad belts one hundred yards in depth, and in places it was so thick that it had to be dug up. This was complected before daybreak, and B and C Companies advanced and captured enemy positions north-west of Achiet le Grand.

Meanwhile D Company made a five mile night march to Gomiecourt to take the village and assist the cavalry there, this was completed by 4:30 a.m. on the March 18th, and large groups of cavalry and Royal Horse Artillery passed through the village during the day. The only buildings still standing were the chateau, which had been mined, and a billet with fifty wire mesh beds, in which was found a German whip with six lashes.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Tony,

Thanks for the latest instalment regarding the 2/5 WRR, keep them coming please.

Regards

Ron

[Chris]

Tony

Many thanks for posting this; very interesting reading as i read it alongside the War Diary, which is have attached for you to look at for the same spell:

[Chris]

cont

and the medal citations for Ridley and Priestley as follows:

Lieut P.R.Ridley. M.C. Citation.

“On the evening of 27/28th Feb 1917 was in charge of a party of three officers’ patrols each of one Officer and 15 Other Ranks, detailed to rush ORCHARD ALLEY from GUDEON TRENCH, Lieut Ridley was responsible for maintaining the direction, marching on a compass bearing for 500 yards across unknown and difficult country.

This Officer led his party with great dash shooting one German and capturing another on entering the trench. He showed considerable coolness and ability in the attack, and in organising the defence of the trench.”

No. 8397 L/Cpl Hubert Priestley. M.M. Citation.

“On the evening of 27/28th Feb, was in command of a Bombing section which formed part of a party ordered to rush ORCHARD ALLEY from GUDEON TRENCH. He led his Bombers with great dash and courage and though wounded in the head by a bomb continued to bomb his way along the trench and led his men in a most gallant manner.

His example undoubtedly encouraged the remainder who were then taking part in their first attack.”

Chris

[bigronhartley]

Hello Chris,

Thanks for posting the War Diary pages and the medal citations for Ridley and Priestley. Nice to see the MM Citation. Do you have the complete War Diary, covering the middle to late 1918 period as the 5th West Ridings ?

Regards

Ron

[Chris]

Ron

I do not have the full diary, but have certain sections from going to Frane in early 1917 through to the end of the war. I photographed particular sections for my research into when men from the North Lincs area serving in the 2/5th and later 5th were either killed or wounded etc. Have more pages than not and happy to look up email any pages i ahve that you may want.

regards

Chris

[bigronhartley]

Hello Chris,

Thanks very much for your kind offer. The period of interest is approx 10th - 16th September, 1918 (Hindenberg Line) and the events from approx 26th - 30th September (St Quentin Canal Crossing / Marcoing). They were both actions in which Tandey won the MM and VC, respectively. The man I'm interested in is Sgt George Burrow, he was awarded the MM and DCM for these actions, respectively. I would be most grateful if you would kindly have a look to see if he gets a mention regarding the awards, he was also awarded the French Medaille Militaire. Thanks again.

Regards

Ron

[Chris Noble]

Hi Chaps.

Great thread that is most interesting.

Just one thing, if you would be so kind, and this is the 'number crunching' aspect.

Any ideas when a soldier with this serial number enlisted into the 2/5th?

Serial Number 266985.

Kindest regards to you all.

Chris.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Chris, .

Just to confuse things re: the 'number crunching' aspect.

Serial Number 266985 is a 6th Battalion number. What is the soldiers name ?

Regards

Ron

[Tony Lund]

The remainder of March and early April were occupied in training and working parties, and towards the end of the month in preparations for the attack on Bullecourt on May 3rd. At zero hour the tanks went forward and the battalion advanced across the sunken road and up the slope to the left of Bullecourt. There were subjected to machine gun fire from hidden concrete emplacements, also a barrage of high explosive and shrapnel. Those who were left continued to the Hindenburg Line. At this point Lieutenant O. Walker of Lindley, Huddersfield was killed, charging, rifle in hand, with his platoon, through the German wire. Two enemy machine guns were captured and their crews killed by the battalion’s bombers.

With a handful of men the commander of B Company pressed on and succeeded in forcing his way into an enemy strong point, and held out there for three days and nights with only their iron rations, and no water. They were bombed and shelled the whole time, and on the second day beat off an attack. On the third day the British guns shortened their range and badly damaged the defences. The party then withdrew, taking nine hours to reach British lines in broad daylight. They were constantly fired on, with machine gunners entering hidden emplacements by means of tunnels connected to the Hindenburgh Tunnel Trench.

Meanwhile, the rest of the battalion suffered heavy casualties and withdrew to their own lines. Posts were established and held during the night and the following day. Shelling was continuous. On May 7th the battalion was relieved by the 2nd 7th Duke of Wellington’s and marched to Mory Copse. Out of the twenty-four stretcher bearers who went over the top, only six returned.

Because May 3rd 1917 was easily the worst day of the whole war for Huddersfield and district, with even little Holmfirth losing seventeen killed, (and only one of them has a known grave) I already have the war diary typed out, so I might as well add it here.

MORY 1/5/17

9-0 AM to 12-30 PM. Companies employed in making strong points and specialist training.

2 - 4 PM. Companies went over miniature trench system of BULLECOURT & studied the roads & trenches & barrage lines.

MORY 2/5/27

9 to 12-30. Interior economy & preparation for going into the line. Afternoon Companies again went over miniature trench system of BULLECOURT.

9-15 PM. Battalion marched to ECOUST (Embankment) where they drew mats for getting over wire, bridges for crossing trenches & bombs. They then formed up on tape line Ref. Map 1:10000 ECOUST ST MIEN U26d99 to U21b77 all was completed by 1-30 AM & without casualties. Tanks followed the Battalion down from L’HOMME to ECOUST.

ECOUST 3/5/17

3-45 AM. Zero hour. At zero hour minus 8 minutes Battalion moved forward to attack HINDENBERG LINE WEST of BULLECOURT, a heavy barrage commenced at zero. A Company reached their objective & held it until 4-0 PM when they were counter attacked & bombed out, they retired on to the embankment. B, C & D Companies came under heavy shell, rifle & machine gun fire & were held up in front of enemy front line trench, small parties holding out in shell holes until after dark when they retired to embankment. Battalion suffered heavy casualties. The following officers were killed. Captain & Adjutant T. Bentley, Lieutenant O. Walker. Missing believed killed, 2/Lieutenant Jacobs. Missing, Captain G. Glover, Lieutenant G. Ridley M.C. 2/Lieutenant E. T. Sykes, 2/Lieutenant Heaton, 2/Lieutenants Darwent & Hutton. Wounded, Captain W. Shaw. 2/Lieutenants Fisher A. & Simmonds. Shell Shock Lieutenant K. C. Teather & Captain Walker J.

8-0 PM. Six posts were put out in W26b & d under Captain Goodall. Lieutenant Haigh went out with stretcher bearers to bring in wounded.

ECOUST 4/5/17

Battalion still holding the line, wounded dribbled in all day, shelling was heavy. At night Battalion was relieved by 2/6th & 2/7th Duke of Wellingtons & marched back by Companies to MORY COP & into camp. During relief there were no casualties. Arrived MORY COPS about 2-30 AM next day.

Lieutenant Kenneth Charles Marshall Teather recovered from shell shock and was later a Captain with the Welsh Regiment.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Tony,

Thanks very much for your latest contribution, excellent content for any 'Dukes' enthusiast .

Regards

Ron

[doogal]

...brilliant. Thanks for this.

Anything for 1918?

I look forwards to those installments.

(the photo on my avatar is a 2/5th Soldier.)

many thanks

doogal

[Chris]

Below is the MM citation for Pte Edward Rust for the follwoing actions on 14/15th April 1917

No. 5036 Private Edward Cyril rust. M.M. Citation.

“At ECOUST ST.MEIN, on the night of the 14/15th April 1917, Private rust was one of a patrol of four under Lieut. L.D. Goldseller reconnoitring the S.W corner of Bullecourt.

This party had got through the enemy’s wire when they were discovered and fired on. One man was wounded in the hand and Lieut Goldseller shot through the stomach. Pte. Rust assisted by Privates Crabtree, Chapman and Carter carried Lieut Goldseller into a German trench inside the wire, the nearest cover available, that portion of the trench being fortunately unoccupied.

Pte. Carter was sent to get a stretcher, and the other three remained in the trench. Very Lights going up on each side of them for about an hour.

They then carried Lieut Goldseller through the wire and back towards our lines, meeting the stretcher party about 200 yards from the German lines.

During the whole time they were returning they were under heavy sniping and bursts of machine gun fire. Lieut Goldseller died shortly after arrival at Dressing Station.”

Ron

Do have several pages from the Sept 1918 spell. If you email / pm me your postal address i will copy them to CD and post to you. Very faint but give good trench map references although i could see no mention of your man at a quick glance.

Chris

[bigronhartley]

Hello Chris,

Thanks for your latest posting and your kind offer to copy the pages for September,1918 for me. I'll email you with my contact details. Thanks again.

Regards

Ron

[Tony Lund]

During the rest of May 1917 the battalion provided garrisons at various places notably at the Sunken Road, a strong point on the Bullecourt - Croisilles Road north-west of Bullecourt. Early in June the battalion was again at Achiet le Petit and resting. There the divisional concert party, “The Pelicans”, and the division’s band gave concerts in the Colosseum. This was originally a huge hole in the ground formed when a German ammunition dump exploded. It was converted into an open air theatre following the style of a roman amphitheatre, I believe there is a sketch of it in “The West Riding Territorials in the Great War” by Magnus. There was also a brigade gymkhana. The latter part of June and the early part of July were chiefly occupied with training and routine trench duties. On July 2nd the battalion dug 600 yards of trench 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep in 3 hours during the night. Towards the end of the month the battalion received a special mention in divisional orders for the amount of work completed during their last tours.

During August 1917, they were holding the part of the line before Rienecourt known as the Apex. Here the enemy’s advanced post was only thirty yards away. Consequently much bombing took place. Sniping and trench mortar attacks were common during this time. On August 10th it was recorded: “Two officers took the honey from a bee hive in a part of our billets. Got 30 to 40lbs. of honey. It was very good. They put gas masks on to avoid being stung. Discovered a mushroom bed, from which we gathered several pounds, so we did rather well here. Went round the village of Verucourt in the morning trying to find more bee hives.” Unfortunately it does not say where this was recorded.

Near the end of the month the battalion relieved the West Yorkshires at Bullecourt. There they collected so much salvage they went to the top of the 62nd Division’s salvage list. At the end of the month British leaflets were dropped on the German lines inviting the enemy to surrender. Anyone who wished to do so was instructed to approach the British lines at dawn and call out “Cuckoo!” But no one did on the battalion’s part of the line.

September was taken up with routine trench duties and patrolling. Early in October they were back at the Apex, and later in the month intensive training began for the attack at Cambrai.

There is plenty on this attack, but it stops when the battalion amalgamates with the 1st 5th in January 1918.

More later.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

The battalion experienced some very severe fighting during the Cambrai operations from November 20th to December 3rd 1917. They left billets at Bertincourt early on the morning of the 20th and marched to assembly positions in Havrincourt Wood. They advanced to Chateau Wood where they encountered strong rifle and machine gun fire from a German strong point. The battalion deployed and endeavoured to get through gaps in the wire. At this time Lieutenant Colonel T. D. Best DSO, was killed and three officers and a number of men became casualties. Captain and Adjutant H. S. Jackson took command and attempted to reorganise. Captain T. Goodall of D Company entered the wood to establish exactly where the fire was coming from that was causing the casualties. This done he signalled to Lieutenant D. Black to advance with his platoon. The strong point was rushed and one officer, 58 other ranks and two machine guns were captured, and a considerable number of the enemy were killed. A British officer and non commissioned officer who had previously been captured were also rescued from here.

Meanwhile, the battalion reorganised and continued to advance lines of sections, and passed their second objective. Very heavy machine gun and rifle fire was encountered. Captain C. S. Moxon and Number 14 Platoon, with the aid of a tank, went forward and took an enemy post, killing five and capturing three men. The remainder of the garrison ran off towards Graincourt but were annihilated by Lewis gun fire.

After reorganising on the forming up line the battalion moved on to their final objective. Kangaroo Alley was occupied by D Company. A strong point near Lock 6 was taken by C Company, commanded by Lieutenant E. W. Harris, and two officers and 64 other ranks were taken prisoner. The remainder of the garrison refused to come out of a dug-out, so it was set on fire and the occupants were killed.

At this point the battalion was ahead of the battalions on its right and some casualties occurred as a result of fire from that direction. Lieutenant D. Black and 14 Platoon attacked another enemy strong point, and captured two officers, 59 other ranks, and two machine guns.

A, B and C Companies then passed through D Company, which was holding Kangaroo Alley, and advanced beyond the Bapaume - Cambrai Road, and B Company, commanded by Lieutenant G. V. Bernays, captured another strong point and two officers, 12 other ranks and two machine guns.

During this day the battalion captured 353 prisoners, 15 machine guns and one trench mortar. Their casualties were 3 officers killed, one wounded, 10 other ranks killed, 55 wounded and four missing. At that time this attack was a record for the distance of enemy trench system penetrated in one day, the 2nd 5th Battalion, with the 2nd 7th and 2nd 4th on their right, had advanced 7,000 yards from the original British front line. Major Frank Brook took command of the battalion and the night passed quietly.

More later,

Tony.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Tony,

Thanks very much for the last two instalments regarding the 2/5th West Riding Regiment, they certainly saw their share of the action. Look forward to your next posting.

Regards

Ron

[Simon R]

Not wishing to divert you from some interesting work here, but do any of you have any references to men of the 5th DWR (or local units pertinent to you from Yorkshire) ever wearing or being issued with body armour? e.g. Dayfields, EOB etc.

I'm interested in local references to it, especially amongst TF and New Army units from Yorks., West Yorks. especially.

I've certainly never come across it for any of the Ilkley or Otley gunners, but that's hardly surprising.

[doogal]

Hi Tony,

As you post the rest of this history, I'd be grateful if you could check to see if there is any mention of a Lt Brown amongst the officers.

Many thanks - looking forwards to the rest of the installments.

doogal

[Tony Lund]

Doogal - I will watch for Lieutenant Brown.

In this issue of the Examiner it says that a history of the amalgamated 5th Battalion (from January 1918 onwards), appeared in an earlier issue.

I only had time for a quick look and I could not find it in the earlier part of the film I was looking at - Huddersfield Weekly Examiner 1919.

It is possible that I missed it this time and will find it later, it is also possible that it is in one of the two films that each cover six months of 1919 for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner. All I know for certain at this time is that the article I am taking this from is marked - War series, Fifteenth article. I will be searching for the rest but I can’t spend too much time on it just now. I have been using the Examiner more as a final check for Holmfirth information, just picking up a few bits and pieces the Holmfirth Express has missed. But it now seems that it would be a good idea to do a through check on the daily and weekly for 1919. Apart from the 1st & 2nd 5th, and the 1st & 2nd 7th, there is also a Huddersfield brigade of the RFA - the 168th Brigade. Holmfirth men were in all of these units so I will be looking for the other 14 articles.

I will let you know if I find the one that deals with the 5th in 1918.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

Simon,

I have one reference (very brief) to a local man using a body shield, but no description. He was Irving Brook, who was a Private (241058), 2nd 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

The twenty-five year old son of Sam William and Martha Brook of Muslin Hall, Thongs Bridge he enlisted at Huddersfield .

A message to his family written shortly after the May 3rd 1917 attack at Bullecourt, from a friend, said that Irving had volunteered to carry a message back to headquarters and was wounded whilst doing so, the writer thought Irving might have been taken prisoner, and said that he hoped to met him again after the war.

It turned out that Irving was wounded in the jaw and taken prisoner, and he had an operation in Germany, and then another one in London when he was repatriated to England.

His mother visited him in hospital and returned home for a while, she then left to return to London and while she was on this journey Irving died. It was reported by the Holmfirth Express that on one occasion he was wearing a body shield that was struck by a piece of shell which glanced off him and wounded another soldier.

He eventually died of the wound he had received on May 3rd 1917, on Friday 21st June 1918, at King George’s Hospital, London. His body was returned by rail to Holmfirth and he was buried at Lydgate on Wednesday 26th June. The machinery at the nearby premises of Graham & Barnsfather, Kirkbridge Mills, where he was employed before he joined the army, was stopped for the funeral, and many of the workpeople were present at the graveside. One of the wreaths laid at the grave was from the nurses and patients of G8 Ward, King George’s Hospital, London.

Tony.

[Simon R]

Very interesting, neatly illustrates the problems of body armour even vs shell splinters during the War.

Many thanks for this, I'll try and dig something out in return.

[Tony Lund]

Early in the morning of the 21st November 1917 the battalion was in action again. Two tanks which were supposed to assist the battalion’s attack on the Hindenburgh Support Line failed to arrive. Consequently, it was decided to work along the Hindenburgh Support and clear it out with bombs. A, B & C Companies moved along the trench meeting strong resistance. In some places the trench was only partly dug, and in these shallow parts the men faced continuous enemy machine gun fire.

A Company moved forward and Lieutenant John Edwin Ridgway led an attack on a strong point. It was captured and 40 prisoners were taken, but Lieutenant Ridgway was killed (CWGC say 20/11/17) and Captain Moxon was wounded. About the middle of the afternoon it was found impossible to advance any further and then someone managed to obtain the services of a tank that had lost its way. Captain Jackson directed the tank to the spot where they were held up and the battalion made another attempt to clear that sector of the Hindenburgh Support Line. Eventually the enemy’s resistance was worn down and they fled in disorder, large numbers of them were killed. By nightfall the battalion was in possession of the entire sector of the Hindenburg Support Line that had been its objective for that day. The tank went on its way but ran into an enemy counter attack. It was attacked but managed to get away.

During the evening an enemy patrol was captured, and one of the prisoner said that a counter attack was to be made. Half an hour later a counter attack was attempted but it was broken up with Lewis gun and rifle fire, and none of the enemy reached the battalion’s position. At midnight the battalion was relieved by the 2nd 6th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, and moved into support in the Hindenbirgh Line. Casualties were one officer killed and one wounded, 6 other ranks killed and 8 wounded. After remaining in support until the night of the 22nd the battalion marched to Havrincourt Wood, and then to Bertincourt on the following day.