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

[Tony Lund]

This is a sketch of the Coliseum mentioned above in post 17. It is taken from The West Riding Territorials in the Great War by Laurie Magnus.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

Shortly after mid-day on November 25th 1917 the battalion marched into support near Anneux Chapel and were subjected to shelling on the way. Shelling was continuos on this position on the 26th. In the evening they took over a line in Bourlon Wood. There was a heavy fall of snow during the night, and in the early hours of the next morning they attacked in darkness. Their objective was the railway line east of Bourlon village. It proved to be difficult to work out the exact position of the barrage, and almost immediately a terrific machine gun fire was encountered on the right of the battalion’s sector. A, B and D Companies were held up for some time and ammunition was in very short supply. The brigade trench mortars were brought into action and they fired until they also ran out of ammunition.

About an hour after the attack had commenced the enemy put down an intense barrage, when this slacked about three hours later the battalion was reorganised, and another attempt was made to advance. A small enemy counter attack from the north eastern corner of the wood was broken up and most of them were killed without reaching the battalion’s position.

Early in the afternoon some ammunition was obtained and the battalion was relieved by dismounted cavalry, and went in support in Bourlon Wood. During the day 12 prisoners were taken and casualties were 2 officers killed, one missing and 6 wounded, plus 16 other ranks killed, 14 missing and 144 wounded. During the night of the 27th and the day of the 28th the battalion was constantly shelled. They ere relieved in the evening of the 28th and spent the next two days in reserve in the Hindenburg Support Line. Here they were also subjected to shell fire but there were no casualties. During this period the weather was intensely cold, and most of the men were occupying trenches with dug-outs. They were relieved on the night of December 2nd and marched to Lebucquiere, later going into billets at Bellicourt.

The decorations from the Cambrai fighting were announced shortly before Christmas and were: 3 DSO’s and 6 MC’s, 26 MM’s and one bar, the ribbons were presented by Major Gerenal Sir Walter Braithwaite on January 4th at a battalion parade at Bailleuil Aux Cornailles.

Also awarded in the New Years Honours List (1918) were: Lieutenant Colonel T. A. D. Best (KIA 20-11-17 CWGC have him as Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers), a bar to his DSO, one Military Cross and one mention in despatches. NCO’s: CSM W. S. Wilkinson and Sergeant Harold Hirst (serving at that time with the 168th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery) both DCM. Sergeants H. Schofield and Norman Haigh mentioned in despatches. Some men who did not received their medal ribbons then were given them by the army commander on January 13th, 1918.

Total honours won by the battalion during the thirteen months they were in France before amalgamation with the 1st 5th were:

DSO 3

Bar to DSO 1

MC 8

DCM 1

MM 28

Bar to MM 1

Mentioned in despatches 5

Croix de Guerre (French) 1

Croix de Guerre (Belgian) 2

During this period the battalion transport was commanded by Captain T. P. Crosland. After the amalgamation Captain Keith Sykes MC, adjutant of the 1st 5th, became adjutant of the new 5th Battalion. He was originally Lieutenant Keith Sykes who left Holmfirth with F Company on August 4th 1914, and he returned with the cadre of the battalion in 1919. It is stated that he never missed one engagement in which his unit was involved.

Tony.

[Chris Noble]

Hi Ron.

Apologies.

As regards Serial Number 266985, Private George Atack. Enlisted, Otley, Yorks.

I do have the chaps MIC Card and this seems to corroborate this.

Any information much appreciated.

Great thread this Pals.

Kindest regards to you all.

Chris.

[Tony Lund]

Orders for the Cambrai attack November 20th 1917.

2/5th. Bn. Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

Operation Orders.

Lt-Col. T. A. D. Best, D.S.O. Commanding.

November 17th 1917.

1: The 62nd Division will attack on Z Day, objectives, 1st the BLUE Line, 2nd the BROWN Line and 3rd the RED Line as already marked on the maps issued to Coys. The 185 Brigade on the right, and the 187th Brigade on the left will capture the BLUE and BROWN Lines and the 186th Brigade will leapfrog through and capture the RED Line. Dispositions of the Brigade being as shewn in Preliminary Instruction Scheme “A” already issued.

The 51st Divison on our right will be attacking CANTAING and the 36th Divison the trenches to the west of CANAL-DU-NORD South of the CAMBRAI-BAPAUME Road. At the same time demonstrations will be made against the enemy’s lines S. & S.W. of MOEUVRES and their trenches there kept under heavy artillery fire.

2: BATTALION OBJECTIVE. The Battalion will clear and capture the area K.4.d.1.5. - E.22.c.9.2. - E.24.d.45.00. bounded on the right by the HINDENBURG SUPPORT LINE (allotted to the 2/7th. Bn. D. of W. Regt.) and on the left by the CANAL-DU-NORD. Intermediate objective KANGAROO ALLEY TRENCH. General True Bearing of the advance will be 343 Degrees.

3: Hour of Brigade Zero will be notified later.

4: METHOD OF ATTACK. At Brigade Zero minus [blank space here!]the battalion will move from the assembly position East of HAVRINCOURT in column of route, 100 yards between Platoons and 150 yards between Coys. Order of March “D” “B” “C” “A” proceeding via road from K.21.d.5.3. K.15.b.5.2. to K.9.b.5.2., from this point Coys. will branch off to the positions of assembly for attack. The leading wave being assembled in the GRAINCOURT-DEMICOURT Sunken Road, which is the jumping off line for the Battalion.

“D” Coy. in line of sections will move across the whole front and capture KANGAROO ALLEY. It will be assisted by one platoon of “A” Coy. moving in its left along the CANAL BANK in two lines of sections, this platoon of “A” Coy. will be responsible for protecting the left flank of KANGAROO ALLEY from the CANAL. At least 5 Strong Points will be constructed in KANGAROO ALLEY as soon as possible and C.C. “D” Coy. will assist the advance of Coys. passing through his, with covering fire, if required. Particular attention must be paid to the M.G. positions in trench running South from centre of KANGAROO ALLEY.

“B” & “C” Coys. will follow “D” Coy. at 100 yards distance attacking in two lines in line of sections, two platoons each in the front line and one platoon each in the 2nd line, distance of 150 yards between lines.

“B” Coy. will clear all the area East of the Communication Trench running from E.27.b.3.3. to E.28.c.1.2. exclusive of above C.T. Particular attention will be paid to the M.G.’s in SAPS from HINDENBERG LINE in E.28.b. & d. these should be dealt with by 2/7th. D. of W. Regt. working on right, but this should not be taken for granted. “B” Coy. must be prepared to throw back a defensive flank in the event of the failure of the Unit on its right, and in any case will take special precaution for the safety of the flank.

“C” Coy. will clear area West of Communication Trench (inclusive) mentioned in “B” Coys. Instructions and will be assisted by one platoon of “A” Coy., advancing with “C’s” leading line and hugging the CANAL BANK. This platoon will be responsible for protecting the left flank from attack and will take up positions along the CANAL BANK and CANAL. “C” Coy. will establish a Block 80 yards up CANAL TRENCH and in the trenches just S.E. of crossing of BAPAUME-CAMBRAI Road and CANAL. “C” Coy. will establish a Block 80 yards up CANAL TRENCH and also a strong battle patrol at crossroads E.27.b.6.7.

“A” Coy. less two platoons, will remain in reserve along the CANAL BANK at K.3.b.0.2. and will consolidate against the CANAL BANK protecting the left flank. C.C. “A” Coy. will be responsible for protecting the left flank of the area from attack West of CANAL-DU-NORD.

LINE TO BE CONSOLIDATED. The trench running 250 yards North of BAPAUME-CAMBRAI road will be consolidated by “B” & “C” Coys. and will be held at all costs. “D” Coy. will as detailed before construct 5 Strong Points in KANGAROO ALLEY.

TANKS. All surviving Tanks from the 187th Brigade attack will co-operate in the Brigade attack but will move forward to the areas to be cleared, without waiting for the Infantry. At least two Tanks will be specially detailed to hug the CANAL BANK and deal with resistance there. The Infantry will not wait for the Tanks, but must push on by themselves.

ARTILLERY. There will be no Artillery barrage after Brigade Zero hour except in GRAINCOURT where it will continue till Zero plus 30 minutes. Special Artillery co-operation will be provided for the trenches west of the CANAL-DU-NORD. Detailed instructions of this will be issued later.

MACHINE GUN BARRAGE. As detailed in Scheme “A”.

CONTACT AEROPLANES. Times will be notified later.

COMMUNICATIONS. Battalion Headquarters from afer commencing our attack will be at crossroads K.9.b.6.2. until capture of final objective when it will move to E.28.d.4.3. In the first case “B” & “C” Coys. will form a joint Runners Post at Communication trench on right of “C” Coys. from at E.27.b.4.3. which will carry to “D” Coys. Post at E.27.d.9.0. “D” Coy. will transmit to K.4.c.5.4. which will be Battalion Relay Post.

Visual communication will be established between Coys. and with Battalion Headquarters Relay Post. “B” & “C” Joint Station would require to be about E.27.d.3.7.

REGIMENTAL AID POST at Battalion Headquarters and will move to new Battalion Headquarters when latter moves forward.

PRISONERS will be sent to Battalion Headquarters with an escort of not more than 5%, slightly wounded men should be utilised for this purpose whenever possible.

WATCHES to be synchronised at 12 noon, 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Y Day.

ARMS & EQUIPMENT. All walking wounded must bring back their Arms and Equipment with them, ammunition should be collected from them before returning. No unwounded man except a S.B. will accompany a wounded man back. Anyone doing so will be treated as a straggler.

H. S. Jackson.

Capt. & Adjt.

2/5th. Bn. Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

Copies to.-

C.C. “A” Coy. (4)

C.C. “B” Coy. (4)

C.C. “C” Coy. (4)

C.C. “D” Coy. (4)

Sig. Officer

2/7th. D. of W. Regt.

2/6th. D. of W. Regt.

Bde. Hdqrs.

Office copy.

Transport Officer.

Lieut. Bodker.

War Diary.

Medical Officer.

*****

[Tony Lund]

War Diary 2nd 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

November 1917.

1-11-17 - 6-11-17 GOUY. Interior economy, straightening up of billets & Coy. & platoon training. Lewis Guns on range.

7-11-17 GOUY. Training of Lewis Gunners, Bombers, Signallers, Officers and Platoon Sergts., went to see demonstration of attack with tanks at WAILLY.

8-11-17 GOUY. Batt. went to WAILLY by lorries to practice attack with tanks.

9-11-17 GOUY. Batt. took part in Brigade scheme for practising communication with Contact Aeroplane.

10-11-17 & 11-11-17 GOUY. Practising an attack through Gas and forming up behind tanks by Coys.

12-11-17 GOUY. 9:30 a.m. Battalion inspected by new Brigade Commander. 10:00 a.m. Battalion training in forming up behind tanks and advancing to attack.

13-11-17 GOUY. Interior economy, preparing to move. 6:55 p.m. Battalion marched to ACHIET LE PETIT, arrived 12:45 a.m.

14-11-17 to 16-11-17 ACHIET LE PETIT. Interior economy & Battalion training in the attack. 7:30 p.m. Battalion marched to LECHELLE.

17-11-17 to 18-11-17 LECHELLE. Interior economy & fitting out with bombs. 4:30 p.m. Battalion marched to Billets in BERTINCOURT.

19-11-17 BERTINCOURT. Battalion resting previous to the attack. Officer went up to inspect the line at HAVRINCOURT WOOD.

20-11-17 BERTINCOURT.

5:10 a.m. Battalion marched to the assembly position for the attack at PLACE MORT HOMME, HAVRINCOURT WOOD.

9:15 a.m. Battalion moved forward to form up, marched in column towards HAVRINCOURT and on approaching CHATEAU WOOD came under machine gun & rifle fire. At this point the Commanding Officer Lieut-Col. T. D. Best D.S.O. & Lieut. Bodker were killed & Lieuts T. A. Haigh & W. L. Thomas wounded & 26 casualties to Other Ranks were sustained.

Capt. & Adjt. H. S. Jackson took command of the Battalion at this point & handed over to Captain F. Sykes on reaching the Brown Line. The enemy opposition consisted of snipers & a strong point. This was attacked by D Coy. Under Capt. T. Goodall. 1 officer & 58 Other Ranks & 2 Machine Guns captured & a Corps intelligence officer & a NCO rescued. The Battalion then reorganised and continued the advance in lines of sections to take up its positions on the forming up line.

On approaching this line the Batt. came under heavy M.G. & Rifle fire from K.4.d.1.5. A platoon was sent forward under Lieut. Black to deal with it & on approaching, found a tank ditched near the strong point & being bombed furiously by the enemy. Capt. Moxon, (who had gone forward with the tank) the Tank Commander & crew were defending the tank from the outside. The platoon worked round the post & rushed it, killing 5 & capturing 3, the remainder of the garrison ran away towards GRAINCOURT. They were caught under heavy Lewis Gun fire at K.4.d.9.6. & heavy casualties inflicted. The Battalion was then reorganised on the forming up line & with tanks attacked the objective. KANGAROO ALLEY was captured & occupied by D Coy.

A strong point at Lock Number 6 was captured by C Coy. & 2 officers & 64 Other Ranks taken prisoners, the remainder of the garrison would not leave the dug-out so a P Bomb was thrown in & the dug-out set on fire. A strong point at E.28.g.1.7. was also captured by Lieut. Black’s platoon, 2 Officers, 59 Other Ranks & 2 Machine Guns being captured. A, B & C Coys. then leap frogged though D & continued the advance across the BAPAUME-CAMBRAI Road until the final objective for the day was captured.

A platoon under Lieut. Graves captured a strong point & took 2 M.G’s, 2 Officers & 12 Other Ranks prisoners. The position was consolidated & held with B on the right flank with a defensive flank down the HINDENBURG SUPPORT LINE. A Coy. in the centre & C Coy on the left in touch with the 36th Division on the CANAL BANK. D Coy. Occupying KANGAROO ALLEY in support. Batt. H.Q. in KANGAROO ALLEY. During the day the Battalion captured 353 prisoners, 15 Machine Guns & 1 Trench Mortar. Total number of casualties. Killed Lt-Col. Best D.S.O., Lieut. J. G. Bodker, Lieut. J. A. Haigh died of wounds, Lieut. W. L. Thomas wounded. 10 Other Ranks killed, 55 O/Rks wounded & 4 Other Rks missing.

21-11-17 KANGAROO ALLEY. N.W. GRAINCOURT.

7:00 a.m. Major F. brook arrived and took command of the Battalion.

10:00 a.m. The Battalion formed up for attack with tanks, no tanks arrived. The enemy wire was too thick for a frontal attack to be made. B, A & C Coys. bombed up the HINDENBURG SUPPORT LINE in E22AB&C. They proceeded as far as E22A55 were they were held up by a Strong Point. A platoon of A Coy. under Lieut. Ridgway rushed the strong point & captured it, taking 40 prisoners. Lieut. Ridgway was killed & Capt. Moxon wounded. The positions of A, B & C were now, A in the Sunken Road at E16D22, B in trench at E22A78 & C in trench with block at E22A54.

The enemy received strong reinforcements from the direction of MOGUVRES & rendered further progress impossible. At 3:30 p.m. the Adjt. Capt. H. S. Jackson secured the service of a tank which had lost direction, he entered it and conducted it to the point where the Battalion was held up. D Coy. was then pushed forward & all Coys. with with the assistance of the tank attacked and captured the enemy trench system as far as E21b57 & E21b60.01. The position was consolidated and the line held with C Coy., on the Left, A Coy. Left Centre, B Coy. Right Centre & D Coy. Right. The tank proceeded forward toward the final objective & came in contact with a strong enemy counter attack, estimated strength 2 battalions. The attack was temporarily broken up & the tank returned to our lines at 4:15 p.m.

At 5:00 p.m. the enemy strongly attacked our positions but was driven off by Lewis Gun & Rifle fire. At midnight the Batt. was relieved by thr 2/6th WEST YORKSHIRE REGT. & marched into support in the HINDENBURG LINE at K16G&D. Prisoners captured 70 & 2 Machine Guns. Casualties, Lieut. Ridgway killed, Capt. Moxon wounded. 6O/Rks killed. 8 O/Rks wounded.

22-11-17 HINDENBURG LINE K16B. The Battalion remained in support until 10 p.m. when it marched into bivouacs in HAVRINCOURT WOOD.

23-11-17 HAVRINCOURT WOOD. Battalion marched into billets at BERTINCOURT, arrived 2:00 p.m.

24-11-17 to 25-11-17 BERTINCOURT. Battalion in rest, carried out Interior Economy & cleaning equiptment. Lieut.-Col. Best D.S.O. & Lieut. Bodker intered at the British Cemertry RUVALCOURT 11:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m. Battalion marched into support in Sunken Road N.W. ANNEUX. 2/Lieut. Liddle & 4 O/Rks wounded.

26-11-17 SUNKEN RD. N.W. ANNEUX. Battalion in support. 7:30 p.m. moved to take over the line in BOURLON WOOD from the 2/7 D of W Regt. & prepare for attack on the following day.

27-11-17 BOURLON WOOD. 6:20 a.m. Battalion attacked in pitched darkness. Dispositions were as follows. B on Right, A Centre, C on Left & D in Support. C Coy. advanced to the outskirts of BOURLON WOOD & S.E. side of village. D Coy. Advanced to STAR X ROADS at F7D3.4. A & B Coys. were held up after going 50 yds by a nest of Machine Guns in a strong point at approximately F8C5.4. The undergrowth was very thick & no further progress was made. The Guards on our Right were also held up & had to withdraw to their former position. These positions were held until 4:00 p.m. against several strong counter attacks.

At 4:30 p.m. a complete line was formed & touch gained with the 2/6 Duke of Wellington’s on our left at F7b2.5,through the Star Cross Roads at F7d2.4 to F14A29. In touch with the Irish Guards. During the day 12 prisoners were taken & the following casualties sustained. Killed 2/Lieut. W. O. Davis, 2/Lieut. Greaves (died of wounds), missing 2/Lieut. Melville. Wounded Capt.. F. Sykes, Capt. W. Robertson RAMC, REV. A. B. Wright CF. Lieut. E. W. Harris, Lieut. D. Black, Lieut. G. S. Jack, 2/Lieut. J. A. Bower. 18 Other Ranks killed, 14 missing, 144 wounded. At 11 p.m. the Batt. was relieved by 2 coys. of dismounted Cavalry and moved back into support in BOURLON WOOD approx. F13D.

28-11-17 BOURLON WOOD. Battalion in support. At 6:00 p.m. Batt. had to stand to & be ready to move forward to repel a counter attack, nothing serious developed.

7:00 p.m. Battalion was relieved & went into reserve in the HINDENBURG SUPPORT LINE at K9C.

29-11-17 to 30-11-17 HINDENBURG SUPPORT LINE K9C. Battalion in reserve, carried out cleaning of arms and equipment & replenishing ammunition & bombs.

Batt. stood to all day owing to a heavy German attack having developed S. of MOEUVRES. Brig. General Bradford V.C. M.C. Killed by shell.

***************************

Twenty-five year old Brigadier General R. B. Bradford, Victoria Cross, Military Cross, took over the command of the 186th Infantry Brigade from Brigadier General F. F. Hill, C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O., on the 10th November 1917. He was killed in action twenty days later.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

On November 24th 1917 General Braithwaite wrote in an Order of the Day:

“The Divisional Commander has the honour to announce that both the Commander-in-Chief and the Army Commander have expressed their high appreciation of the achievements of the 62nd Division in the battle. The Divisional Commander had the most implicit confidence that the Division would acquit itself with honour. To have advanced 7,000 yards on the first day, taken all objectives, held them against counter-attack and handed over all gains intact to the reliving division, is a feat of arms of which any division may be justly proud. The number of prisoners taken by the Division is not far short of 2,000. Thirty-seven guns have been captured, which include two 8-inch howitzers, one complete 4.2 battery, one complete battery of 5.9 and the remainder, guns of various calibres, many of which were brought into action against the enemy. The number of Machine guns, granater-werfer, etc., etc.; which have fallen into our possession, is so considerable that it has not been possible yet to make an accurate tally of them. The advance of the Artillery to Graincourt and the accuracy of the barrage is worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Regiment. To Y Battalion, the Tanks, all ranks of the Division express their admiration of the skill, bravery and the splendid self-sacrifice which made success possible. The discipline, valour and steadiness of all ranks has been beyond praise. It is with great and legitimate pride that I have the honour to sign my name as Commander of the 62nd West Riding Division.”

WALTER BRAITHWAITE,

Major-General.

And that is all I have for now, some more may crop up later.

Tony.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Chris,

Regarding 266985, Private George Atack. Enlisted, Otley, Yorks. Although his number suggests he is a 6th WRR man, it is not uncommon to see men with these numbers serving with other Battalions. If he is an Otley man 'SimonR' might be able to help, he has an interest in all things connected with Otley. Hope this helps.

Regards

Ron

[Chris]

Hi

Some details on the amalgamation of the 1/5th and 2/5th in Feb 1918, and a possible scenario for men such as Atack with 6th Battalion numbers serving with the 5th Battalion.

New amalgated 5th BAttalion officers:

C/O - Lieut. Col. J Walker (ex 1/5th)

2nd in Command - Lieut. Col. F. Brook (ex 2/5th)

Adjutant - Capt K. Sykes (ex 1/5th)

Company Commanders

A - Capt. G.L.Tinkler (ex 2/5th)

B - Capt G.V. B?????? (ex 2/5th)

C - Capt. C.G.H. Ellis (ex 1/5th)

D - Capt. H.O.Browning (ex 1/5th)

A and B Companies consisted of the old 2/5th Battalion men, and C and D Companies were made up by the nucleus of 1/5th Battalion and drafts from the disbanded 2/6th Battalion.

1/5th Battalion providing - 11 officers and 199 other ranks

2/5th Battalion - 35 officers and 677 other ranks

2/6th Battalion - 4 officers and 101 other ranks

Chris

[Chris]

To add in a personal story of a 2/5th man, L/Cpl Walter Shearsmith MM and Bar.

On the 4th August 1917 the Battalion was holding the trenches in front of Riencourt. In mid afternoon Walter crawled out towards the German lines and through a block in an old trench, before locating a German post some 70 yards from the British line. He later crawled back with his officer to pinpoint the location, so that the post could be destroyed. The following day Walter again crawled out of his own line to salvage a Lewis Gun from no-mans land. These actions resulted in Walter recieving official notification on the 31st August that he was to recieve the Military Medal. It is noted in the war diary that by this time Walter was known as a 'Battalion Sniper and Observer'.

A wound to the hand in the winter of 1917/18 saw Walter, by now a Lance Corporal, hospitalized back to the UK, including ten days leave back in his home village of Bonby, before he rejoined his unit back in France. In Spring 1918, the 2/5th Dukes were disbanded and Walter was among those men who merged into the 5th Duke of Wellington's.

On 29th August 1918, the Battalion were attacking to the south west of Vaulx-Vraucourt, and his citation describes what happened; 'his platoon officer and sergeant having been wounded he took charge of the platoon, reaching his objective and showing leadership of a high order - at one time his platoon were held up by an enemy post (most likely in the railway cutting) on which he led the attack, capturing the machine gun and several prisoners. His personal gallantry greatly inspired his men.'

Sadly Walter never heard officially that he would recieve a Bar to his MM, because as the Battalion attacked through Havrincourt Wood on the 12th September 1918 Walter was hit in the leg by shrapnel. He was conveyed to the 19th Casualty Clearing Station near Boisleux, but despite the amputation of his leg he sadly passed away at 6.45am on the 13th September.

Walter is buried at the Sunken Road Cemetery near the village of Boisleux-St. Marc; his headstone bearing reference to his home village and family; 'Dearly loved sadly missed by Father, Mother and Lucy, Bonby, Lincolnshire.'

Chris

[bigronhartley]

Hello Chris,

Thanks for the information regarding L/Cpl Walter Shearsmith MM and Bar. It's nice to find this sort of detail relating to MM winners. Oh, and thanks for the War Diary extracts. It's a shame that the Adjutant didn't provide the same personal information as prior to amalgamation as the 5th Battalion, but I suppose he had more pressing things to do as the momentum increased towards final victory.

Regards

Ron

[Tony Lund]

Some details on the amalgamation of the 1/5th and 2/5th in Feb 1918,

Thanks Chris, some very useful details,

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

Company Commanders

A - Capt. G.L.Tinkler (ex 2/5th)

B - Capt G.V. B?????? (ex 2/5th)

C - Capt. C.G.H. Ellis (ex 1/5th)

D - Capt. H.O.Browning (ex 1/5th)

Looks like B Company is former Lieutenant G. V. Bernays, who commanded them at Cambrai.

Tony.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Tony,

Thanks very much for your last postings, you've initiated a very interesting thread which is being supplemented with some great contributions from Chris. Keep it coming, please. Thanks again.

Regards

Ron

[Chris Noble]

Hi Ron/Chris.

Many thanks for your posting re. Atack 266985.

One thing that confuses me here. George was killed whilst serving with the 2/5th at Cambrai, and, is consequently commemorated on the memorial at Louverval. His death seems to proceed the amalgamation of the battalions in question. Any ideas chaps?

Great thread and some great contributions.

Kindest regards to you all.

Chris.

[Tony Lund]

A letter written by an unnamed soldier and describing the 5th Battalion’s move into Germany appeared in the Huddersfield Examiner, I have a feeling the writer may be Holmfirth’s Keith Sykes, adjutant of the 1st 5th and then the amalgamated 5th Battalion. Certainly the list of places he gives where the battalion spent Christmas during the war is consistent with the 1st 5th & 5th.

“On the 6th December, 1918, the battalion marched out of Conneux and moved to Leignon, where we stayed until 10th December. Then we had five successive days of marching in very wet weather, and stayed a night at each of the following places, Barvaux Condros, Ocquier, Ferrieres, Chevron, Grand Hafleux. At the latter place we stayed to nights. On 16th December we spent pur last day in Belgium, and stayed the night at petit Thier and Blanche Fontaine, just short og the German frontier.

“Next day we crossed the German frontier at Potean in very wet whether. The occasion was marked by the battalion marching to attention, and the band played the regimental march. Thoughts arose in many of our minds of the great sacrifices the battalion had made during over four years of war before reaching such a climax. Those of us remaining felt truly thankful, and realised that the supreme sacrifice of those of our comrade who had fallen in the great fight had not after all been in vain.

“Our first stopping place in Germany was Amel. The contrast after beflagged Belgium was very great - no flags or demonstrations being allowed in occupied Germany. The civilian population were coldly polite and treated the troops kindly on the whole. We stayed at Amel until 22nd December, and them marched in very snowy weather to Murringen. Next day - one of the most boisterous wet days most of us have ever experienced - we marched 27 kilometers to Blumenthal. We were al thoroughly soaked, but the troops, as usual, were very cheery, and no men fell out on the march.

“On arrival at Blumenthal the colour party (Lieuts. E . G. Watkinson M.C., and I. M. Tod, M.C., Sergt. Blakeley, M.M., and Sergt. White) met us with the colours which they had fetched from Huddersfield. We are very gratified to hear that out friends in Huddersfield paid due honour to the battalion’s representatives, and we are all very grateful to those who took part in the ceremony of handing over the colours and those who arranged it. On Christmas Eve, in snowy, frosty weather, we marched on to Scheven and Wallenthal, and on Christmas morning marched into the town of Mechernich, our final area.

“This was the battalion’s fifth Christmas of war - 1914 at Doncaster, 1915 at Ypres, 1916 at Halloy, 1917 at Ypres, 1918 at Mechernich in Germany.

“For the next three days we were engaged for the most part in changing our billets and making ourselves comfortable. We finally settled down on December 28th in four villages not so far from the town of Euskirchen. A Company and headquarters were in Obergartzen, B Company at Hostel, C Company at Firmanich, and D Company at Enzen. All four companies are comfortably billeted in private houses, and each has a dining hall, which is also used as recreation and concert room.

“The battalion is now firmly settled in its little corner of occupied Germany. On New Year’s Day we had our first instalment of Christmas dinner provided by our Huddersfielkd friends. Each dinning hall was well decorated, and the men had a very good meal. The colonel, major, and adjutant visited each company in turn to wish them the compliments of the season, the colonel saying a few well-chosen words at each company gathering.

“Our time is occupied with short military training, educational training, and recreation. Football competitions, etc., are in full swing, and there is great rivalry as to which is the best company. Demobilisation claims many old faces in the battalion, and at the present rate of progress we shall be a changed battalion very soon. There are good facilities for visiting Cologne, and ten men in the battalion avail themselves of the opportunity of visiting this famous place every day.”

There is another anonymous letter dealing with the battalion’s demobilisation which I will post shortly.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

Another letter from an unnamed writer dealt with the 5th Battalion’s demobilisation arrangements and their last days in Germany. It says:

“The battalion has now all but finished its combatant work. The last few days we have been going through the process of splitting up. On the 10th we had to transfer all our compulsorily retained rank and file to the 2/4th Duke of Wellington’s regiment, which is one of the battalions forming the newly-constituted Rhine army. In all we transferred 12 officers and 300 men. Included among the officers were Capt. J. B. Cockhill, D.S.O., M.C., and Capt. G. V. Bernays, M.C., both of whom have volunteered to serve another twelve months. Our only task now is to demobilise our eligible men as fast as we can get demobilisation allotments. By the end of the present month [March 1919] we should have completed the demobilisation of all except the cadre establishment, which consists of four officers and 48 other ranks. The cadre will then go home with the battalion’s records etc., and we hope it won’t be long. We are now billeted in the town of Mechernich, and expect to remain here some little time yet.

“Before we commenced our break-up we managed to complete our inter-company football competitions. The final of the inter-company cup-tie was played at Enzen on February 25th. A Company versus D Company - 7 goals to 1 - to whom silver medals were presented. On March 1sr we sent a rugger team to Roggendorf to play the 5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and after a tough game we lost by 24 points to 3. On March 2nd the final of the inter-company soccer league was played - A Company versus C Company, and was won by the latter, to whom Sir Charles Sykes special prize went. On March 5th we sent a soccer team to play against the 18th Auxiliary Horse transport at Euenhiem, and the match ended in a draw.

“On March 9th our regimental band played for the last time in Peliceum Theatre, Mechernich, under Sergt.-Drummer H. Downs. The band has been a great source of pleasure and enjoyment to the battalion, and before the break-up was in first class form. The instruments have now all been packed up ready to bring home.

“Among the demobilised men who left us on the 12th were Regtl.-Sergt.-Major B. Earle, M.C., who has served the battalion well, and Regtl.-Quartermaster-Sergt. A. W. Kettlewell. R.S.M. Earle was sergeant-instructor for the Holmfirth Company at the outbreak of war. He eventually became R.S.M. of the 2/5th Duke of Wellington’s in 1916, and was retained in that capacity on the amalgamation of the 1/5th and the 2/5th in January 1918. R.Q.M.S. Kettlewell has been R.Q.M.S. continuously since 1915.”

In May 1919 Captain and Adjutant Keith Sykes M.C. and bar, returned home with the cadre. Originally a pre-war Second Lieutenant with Holmfirth’s Territorial Army Company he was said to have been present at every major engagement his battalion took part in, and was one of the lucky ones who went through the war without getting a scratch.

[SKBob]

If someone comes back to this topic can you help me please. One of the chaps on my village war memorial (Norfolk) is shown on CWGC as Pte Frederick Stephen Blake 235225 7th Yorkshire Regiment KIA 14th May 1917, whilst the Parish Magazine of the period specifically shows him as 2/5th Yorkshire Regiment missing since 14th May 1917.

Would anyone care to clarify / comment ?

Thanks Bob

[mmm45]

Bob

I dont think 2/5th Yorkshires(Green Howards) went overseas they were a second line Batt used to supply Battle Casualty Replacements.

He may have done his training and Home Service with 2/5ths but SDGW has him as 7th Batt his MIC also gives 9170 as his pre 1917 TF number.

[Tony Lund]

I found this interesting letter regarding the amalgamation of the 1st 5th and 2nd 5th Battalions in the Huddersfield Examiner March 2nd 1918.

An unnamed officer wrote: “The two local battalions from Huddersfield have now been amalgamated. Neither the first nor the second line unit has been disbanded. The large nucleus from the first line unit was largely composed of original men from the district of Huddersfield, and the new battalion is much more of a local unit than either battalion was before the amalgamation. The whole of the battalion’s headquarters officers come from the district of Huddersfield, and all are Territorials, which is rather remarkable considering the number of changes that occur out here. The records are now 5th Battalion records, which was the original battalion. Each unit has earned a very high reputation, and it will be the endeavour of the reunited battalion to add greatly to its reputation.”

Tony.

[warbuff1]

Fantastic thread Tony. Makes for very interesting reading, myself being a New Mill man for most of life. (Now in Berry Brow which explains prev convo's with you regarding War Memorial)

Wayne

[Tony Lund]

In April 1919, a letter to the Editor of the Holmfirth Express from Captain Keith Sykes, the adjutant of the 5th Battalion, written in Germany, says: “The Battalion is fast disappearing. We have transferred 12 officers and 338 men, compulsorily or voluntarily retained with the Army of Occupation, to the 2/4th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. We are fast reducing to a cadre establishment, and then I believe come home. I shall not be sorry! I have had a long spell - four complete years of war abroad feels to have been a long time. I believe I am veritably the last officer or man left with the Battalion who marched out of Holmfirth with F Company on August 4th, 1914.”

There is no firmer date given. The cadre arrived back in Huddersfield in May.

Tony.

[Guest Rob McMillan]

... the second in command, Major Frank Brook. This officer remained in command until the battalion was merged with the 1st 5th in January 1918.

On 13/11/18 Major Brook awarded my great uncle 10 days stoppages of pay for being absent from ? (Unintelligeable)

He was with A Co 13th ® Duke of Wellingtons WRR

[Chris Payne]

I'm new to the Great War Forum so have only just seen this 7-year-old correspondence. In case it is of interest, my grandfather Private (later Sergeant) Charles Frederick Payne served in the 2/5th and 5th DoWs between August 1917 and February 1919. I have quite a few letters that he sent home to my grandmother during this period and I am currently assembling them into a book (Working title: "Charlie Payne's Hatbox"). However, in the meantime I have written a few blog posts based on his letters which you can find at : http://chrispaynebooks.com/blog/category/the-great-war/

[Chris Payne]

I am currently checking through various records and databases to find out as much as possible about the individual members of "other ranks" who died in the 2/5th (and from 1 Feb 1918) the 5th battalions of the West Riding Regiment, during their time as part of the BEF (Jan 1917 onwards). I am well aware that the Wartime Service Records (the Burnt Records) are incomplete for obvious reasons. However, I was expecting to find that 10-30% of the service records might have survived. I have recently been checking the service records for the 187 or so men in the 2/5th WRR who died between 16 March 1917 and 26 May 1917 (the vast majority of whom died on or about 3 May 1917 at Bullecourt). For the 187 other ranks who died during this period, I have not found ANY surviving service records.

Has anyone else done any similar searching and found the same result?...and/or does anyone have a possible explanation. Overall, I was expecting to be able to locate about 20-30 service records for this group, but finding nothing strikes me as very odd. Does anyone know whether the records were originally held in alphabetic order (when at least a proportion of the 187 should have survived, or by some other criteria of cataloguing (e.g. by date)....any thoughts welcome.

[19141918noble]

Chris

I am afraid I cannot be of any help regarding your question above. However, I am researching the ten day battle of the River Ardre (20-30th July 1918) in which 62nd and 51st Divisions fought, the latter including my grandfather. I am particularly interested in any personal accounts and having enjoyed your blogs, I wonder whether any letter covers this period and if so whether you would be prepared to share it with me. 

Many thanks,

Chris Noble