An Army Chaplain checks bodies for identification and
personal possessions.
[Picture courtesy of - "The Heritage of the Great War".].
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1st to 4th SEPTEMBER.
The Btn in trenches in the Right Front sector of the Wancourt Guemappe area were relieved by
the 5th Btn D.L.I. "W" and "X" Coys went into support trenches Concrete and Earls Court. "Y" and "Z" Coys went with HP to
Henin. Time spent in working parties and rifle practice or musketry as they still called it.
Deserter. On the 4th September 4081 Pte Dennis Buckley deserted, the only case so far found in the 4th Yorks Battalion.
Dennis had volunteered for service on the 31st May 1915 giving his age as 19.
The 1911 census shows that he was in fact only 17 and therefore under age. He was living at 2 Clarendon Road, South Bank, Middlesbrough, N Yorks, with
father, James, 36, a general labourer on the local ironworks, mother Jane, age 30 and 4 siblings.
His Attestation forms show that he was only 5 feet 2 inches tall, with a 34 inch chest.
He was posted to the 3/4th Yorks Training Battalion and transferred to the
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1/4th Yorks Battn on the 30th September 1915, going out to France on the 2nd October 1915.
He is listed on the 14/15 Star Medal Roll, but shown as - No Medal.
He was wounded in action with gun shot wounds to the arm and chest and on the 7th May 1917 he was in Hospital at Torquay for 20 days and a further 10 days at an Auxiliary Hospital in the Exeter area.
On the 25th July 1917 he was posted back to the 4th Yorks Reserve Battalion and on the 4th September, presumably when he was about to sent back to the Front, he absconded.
No more is presently known about him.
5th SEPTEMBER.
The Btn returned to same trenches and a good deal of useful patrol work was done.
201746 Pte Conway Joseph. Born Blythe and enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks.
Died. Buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux.
6th SEPTEMBER.
Heavy gas barrage was put down by the enemy on Wood Trench and Rotten Row area.
Casualties 2 Officers and 23 other ranks gassed and 2 other ranks wounded.
7th to 12th SEPTEMBER.
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All soldiers wore an ID disc.
[Picture courtesy of - "The Heritage of the Great War".].
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Three fairly quiet days in front trenches where revetting and work on Communication
trenches went on rapidly.
On the 9th the Btn they were relieved by 5th Btn D.L.I and returned to the same
Support trenches and provided working parties.
201229 Pte Boynton William, H. Home at - Wains Yard, Market Place, Thirsk, N Yorks,
town of enlistment. Died of wounds on the 9th. Age 20. Buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery Ficheux
13th SEPTEMBER.
The Brigade was relieved by 151st Bde and two thirds of the Btn went to work in Horse lines.
The rest worked on new camp and ranges.
202032 Pte Smailes William Home at Nunnington, N Yorks, place of birth. Enlisted at Malton,
N Yorks. Killed in action. Date given as 20th. Age 21. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
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The dreaded message that broke the hearts of so many families
back home.
[Picture courtesy of - "The Heritage of the Great War".].
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21st SEPTEMBER.
The Btn relieved 6th Northumberland Fusiliers in the Left subsection
of trenches at Wancourt.
A draft of 180 men was received.
22nd SEPTEMBER. The Hun put down a barrage and tried to raid the Btn on our left. The Hun was driven
off. Our casualties were 1 killed and 5 wounded.
203262 Pte Molloy Fred. Born at Oldham, Lancs and enlisted at Royton Lancs.
Died of wounds. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial
23rd SEPTEMBER.
3161/200834 Pte Lambert Thomas. Died of wounds aged 28. Born at Whitby and enlisted at Middlesbrough.
He was a bricklayer prior to the War and lived at 24 Ayresome St, Middlesbrough. He served with the 4th Battalion as 3161 and was
awarded the 1914/15 Star. At some unknown time he was transferred to the 8th Yorks Battn. He was serving in "B" Company with them when
he was wounded close to Inverness Copse,during the Passchendaele offensive.
24th SEPTEMBER.
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19725 Pte Vance John. Home at 5 Moor Row, Kelloe, Co Durham, place of birth.
Enlisted at Ferryhill. Died. Age 21. Buried at Etaples Military [Hospital] Cemetery.
25TH TO 30 SEPTEMBER. All fairly quite and patrol work done.
The Btn were relieved by 5th Yorks and went into support at Lion, Panther and Albatross trenches.
5th October. The Division were relieved by 51st Division and moved back to "Durham "A" Lines".
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