MARCH 1918.
26th - At about 8.00 am enemy appeared and firing ensued. CO of 2nd Worcesters then took over command of 24th Inf Bde and
issued orders from HQ at Vermando Villers for general withdrawal to Rosieres line by battalions from Left to Right, but as soon as
Left Battalion, 8th DLI, withdrew the Worcesters on the Right of 150th Bde immediately retreated across country.
This incident made withdrawal of the 150th Composite Battalion very difficult and the whole of rearguard platoon of 5th Yorks was
either killed or captured.
The retirement was carried out through Vermande Villers where Battalioons reorganised and the 150 Inf Bde unit moved across country
in Artillery formation, taking up a position in support of line running from road junction South of point East in Rosieres to contour
78 [map Amiens 17. 1/100,000].
There is no rearguard during retirement. Enemy aircraft molested retirement.
At about 7.00 pm enemy advance guard once more seen approaching. [8th DLI were holding Front Line.
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Pte Albert P Emmitt.
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241552 Pte Emmitt Albert Prattley. Son of Francis George Prattley and the late Hannah Prattley of Hutton le Hole, Kirkby Moorside,
N Yorks.
Killed in action on 26th March 1918, aged 27. Enlisted at Malton. Resided Kirkbymoorside. Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
[Photographs kindly contributed by his Nephew, Alan Best.]
240604 Pte Dinsdale Frederick. Born and home at Walkington, Beverley, place of enlistment.
Killed in action on 26th March 1918, aged 23. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
13157 Pte Dinsdale John. Born Hawes, N Yorks. Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Killed in action on 26th March 1918, aged 23. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
Lt Evans Hugh Elwyn. Home at 77 Fairlop Rd, Leytonstone London. Killed in action on 26th March 1918, aged 20.
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The Pozieres Memorial.
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Military Cross. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
240346 L/Cpl Glenton John William. Home at Mount Pleasant, Muston Filey. Yorks.
Killed in action on 26th March 1918, aged 34. Awarded the Military Medal. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
Lt Hurworth Charles Reginald. Home at Wakefield. Born Co Durham.
Killed in action on 26th March 1918. Commissioned from the Yorkshire Regiment. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
27th - Night passed quietly except for enemy Artillery which was in action during the greater part of the night.
Casualties in this position were caused by own Artillery, one gun [18 pounder] particularly firing short.
Col Wilkinson was here wounded and Col Thomson assumed Command of 150th Inf Bde Unit.
At about 8.00 am enemy was in possession of Meharicourt and engaged the line with
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Machine Gun fire. The enemy launched an attack at about 7.00 pm, but were driven back with heavy casualties.
At this time at request of 8th DLI, 2 Platoons of 4th Yorks were sent to reinforce them, and also 1 Officer and 12 ORs took up a
position on the bank on North of the refinery at the fork roads above mentioned.
242865 Pte Hall William John. Home at High Crompton, Shaw. Born Manchester. Enlisted at Shaw.
Killed in action on 27th March 1918 aged 34. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
33020 Pte McEvoy Laurence. Home at Malton. Enlisted York. Born Ampleforth Yorks.
Killed in action on 27th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
240011 Pte Mizon Walter. Born and enlisted at Market Weighton, Yorks.
Killed in action on the 27th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
36379 Pte Moore William. Born and enlisted at Scarborough.
Killed in action on 27th March 1918. Commemorated at Pargny British Cemetery.
200470 Pte Oxley James. Born Rushworth. Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Killed in action on 27th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
240635 Sgt Panton John William. Home at Leven. Born Catwick, Leven Beverley, place of enlistment.
Killed in action on 27th March 1918, aged 24. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
33196 Pte Southgate Victor. Home at 7 St Edmunds Place, Bury St Edmunds. Born Norton Suffolk. Enlisted Bury St
Edmunds. Died of wounds on 27th March 1918, aged 20. Ex 2710 Suffolk Regt. Commemorated at Namps au Val British Cemetery.
28th - At about 12 midnight B.G.C. of 24th Inf Bde gave verbal orders directly to Col Thomson at the latters HQ to withdraw
to trenches immediately in rear of present position and in front of Rosieres-Vrely road from North of Vrely village to light
railway.
The Composite Battalion was distributed in depth.
At 4.30 am, Col Thomson was sent for by BGC 24th Inf Bde, who was holding a conference of COs at his HQ at West end of Rosieres.
No definite orders were given except to withdraw leaving initiative in hands of Battalion Commanders, but the 150th Inf Battalion was
to act as rearguard to the 6 DLI, who passed through to take up a position in valley South of Caix-Rosieres Road at about 8.00 am
Situation having changed, 150th Battalion retired acting as flank guard to 6th DLI.
On arrival in this valley the formation of troops assumed an extraordinary aspect, this was due to orders given by B.G.C of 24th
Inf Bde and was at about 9.00 am.
Col Thomson consequently again reported to BGC and asked for definite orders as he was not safisfied with the position taken up.
Other units were constantly retiring through the Bde Unit. Gen Haig said position had so altered that he was at a loss to decide on
course to be pursued, but that Col Thomson had better take up a position on high ground South of Caix and cover withdrawal of troops
in front.
Here at about 11.00 am 150th Bn unit linked up with 8th DLI on Right and Right again the 6th DLI. Left in air.
At about 1.30 pm a written order was received from 24th Inf Bde for 150th Bn to withdraw to Moreuil.
Col Thomson then gave orders for 150th Bn to withdraw through Caix and proceed down the Caix-Beaucourt Road. As this written order never
reached Col Thomson, but was handed to Lt Webb, 4th Yorks, who reported it to Col Thomson, Col Thomson placed the Battalion in Artillery
formation in the South edge of the wood due South of the C in Cayeux, and proceeded to the road to await confirmation of the order
received.
At about 4.30 pm a cycle orderly brought the written order from 24th Inf Bde, which said "you will proceed to Moreuil". Col Thomson
immediately moved the Battalion via Beaucourt and Mezieres to Moreuil.
In Beaucourt village Col Thomson met General Staff Officer 1 of 8th Division and reported as to the orders received.
This Officer said some of the orders had been cancelled, some battalions going in another direction, but Lt Col Thomson had better
proceed according to his orders, as he did not believe in altering them.
Outside Moreuil [at about 7.30 pm] Lt Col Thomson was met by 149th Inf Bde Transport Officer [Clayton] who halted them and stated
that General Officer Commanding 50th Division wishes the Division to be fed. This was done and gave satisfaction to all ranks.
At about 8.30 the Battalion proceeded into Moreuil, where Col Duke [A.A.Q.M.G. of 50th Div] met Col Thomson and gave orders to
proceed to Louvrechy where billets would be found for the night.
This village contained a number of French troops, but billets were eventually found about midnight.
38105 Pte Brook George Herbert. Home at Jagger Green Dean, Holywell Green, Halifax. Born Barkesland. Yorks Enlisted
at Halifax. Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 34. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
44931 Pte Booth Thomas William. Home at 239 High st, Easington Lane, Hetton Le Hole.. Born Houghton Co Durham.
Enlisted Newcastle on Tyne. Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 20. Commemorated at Rosieres Communal Cem Extension.
243361 Pte Cousins Alexander. Born and enlisted at Middlesbrough.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
27078 Pte Coward Norman. Born Edenthorpe and enlisted Heckmondwyke.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Ham British Cemetery, Muille-Villette.
243325 Pte Cudd Frederick George. Home at Camberwell, place of birth. Enlisted at London.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
20029 Pte Hoban Austin. Home at 43 Britannin St, Thornaby on Tees, Born and enlisted at Thornaby on Tees.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 32. Commemorated at Serre Road Cemetery No 2.
42380 Pte Johnson Harry. Home at Wordley. place of birth. Enlisted at Reading Berks.
Died of wounds on 28th March 1918. Ex 183578 Royal Field Artillery Commemorated at Namps au Val British Cemetery.
241065 Pte King William George. Home at Etton Nr Beverley place of enlistment.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 22. Awarded the Military Medal. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
14260 Sgt Latimer Francis. Home at Castleton, Sunderland, place of enlistment. Born Water Houses, Durham.
Killed in action on the 28th March 1918 aged 22. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
205443 Pte Lewis Ernest. Home at 6 Bewley Tce, New Brancepeth. Enlisted Durham.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 25. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
241240 Pte Mackintosh George. Born Gateshead. Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres.
240841 Sgt Manson Fred Bayes. Home at Scarborough. Enlisted Malton.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
23127 Pte Mason Arthur. Home at Fountains Ripon place of enlistment. Born High Morcas Ripon.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 21. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
241031 Pte Parker Mark. Home at 4 Wilson St, Lingdale. N Yorks. Enlisted Skelton.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 24. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
240230 Pte Richardson John William. Home at Helmsley. Born Thirsk and enlisted Pickering.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 26. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
20198 L/Cpl Ripley Charles Leonard. Born and enlisted Middlesbrough.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
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Lt Col Fred Robson. DSO.
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Lt Col Robson Frederick William. Distinguished Service Order. Home at Pembroke Lodge, Pocklington.
He was the brother of Captain Edward M Robson who was to be killed a few days later with the 5th Battn on the 11th April on the River
Lys. He had fought with the 5th Battn since their first going to France. On being promoted to Lt Col he was given command of the
6th Battalion the Durham Light Infantry on April 5th 1917.
Killed in action on the 28th March 1918 aged 30. Commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial.
12935 L/Cpl Rowlands William. Home at Ryhope, Born Rushworth and enlisted Sunderland.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
25020 Pte Salmon Harold. Home at 1 Stanley Grove, Thornaby, place of birth. Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 20. Commemorated at Rosieres Communal Cemetery Extension.
242954 Pte Shepherd Frederick William. Home at 18 Ladybarn Lane, Withington. Born Whitefield, Lancs.
Enlisted Manchester. Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 31. Commemorated at Pargny British Cemetery.
33014 Pte Spencer George. Born and enlisted at Hull.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
201312 Pte Stimson Ernest. Home at Holloway London. Enlisted at Northallerton Yorks.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pargny British Cemetery.
20774 Pte Thursfield Thomas. Home at North Ormesby, N Yorks, place of birth. Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Died of wounds on 28th March 1918. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
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Sgt James Vokes, who was killed in action this day had recorded his promotion in the pages of his Bible.
A good illustration of how much Religion, a sense of duty and patriotism meant to these men.
[Contributed by Sgt Vokes' Great Nephew, Roger Hildreth of Birmingham.]
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Sgt Robert Williamson.
L//Cpl Arthur Williamson.
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5309 later 201851 Sgt Vokes James. Of 11 Platoon, C Company. Home at 66 Union Terrace, York, place of birth.
Enlisted Northallerton. Son of Thomas and Emily Vokes.
Killed in action aged 27/28 on the 28th March 1918. Commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial.
1744 [240344] Sgt Williamson Robert. Son of John and Annie Williamson of 39 St Andrew's St, Beverley, Yorks. Born in Beverley.
Enlisted at Scarborough.
Killed in action on the 28th March 1918, aged 26. Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
He was almost certainly in the local Company of
the Territorial Force before the War and went to France when the 5th Battalion first went on 17th April 1915. The photograph shows two
wound stripes and he was wounded on three occasions before he was hit by a shell on this day and killed.
The family received a letter from his Company OC, Capt E.M. Roberts, part of which read:-
"I had a very high opinion of Sgt Williamson's qualities and character. He had been a platoon Sgt in my Company for many months
and we shall miss him greatly. He died like a British soldier should, fighting bravely to the last."
1298 L/Cpl Williamson Arthur. Like his brother Robert above, he was in the local Beverley, Yorks Company of the Territorial Force
before the war. He sailed to France, aged 19, when the 5th Bn first went in April 1915. He was in "C" Company and wrote back home from
the Front to a Beverley parent at one time about the rescue of a comrade. He was awarded the maximum 4 stripes for service abroad and survived
the War. He died in 1975.
[Both photographs have been kindly contributed by Arthur's Grandson, Simon Williamson, who retains all copyright to them. He can be
contacted at spwilliamson@postmaster.co.uk]
240329 Sgt Wood Herbert. Home at Beverley, place of birth and enlisted Scarborough.
Killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 40. Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial.
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