Hull Rifles: A History of the 4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 1914–1918

By David Bilton

Hull Rifles looks at the 4th East Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War and examines the origins of the battalion and its history over the three years it fought in France and Belgium. The battalion was involved in some of the bloodiest battles of the war and suffered such high casualty rates in early 1918 that the unit ceased to exist, except in name.

The men of the original battalion were Territorials, part-time soldiers who gave their free time to provide home defense during a war. Officially formed on 1 April 1908 as a result of the Haldane changes, the unit could trace its history back hundreds of years and was one of the oldest in the country. All the men were volunteers and held a full-time job. They had committed themselves to regular weekly training and a camp in the summer where they practised large-scale manoeuvres with other units. When the call came to volunteer for overseas service, 80 per cent came forward. Their ranks were quickly filled with new volunteers who were prepared to fight abroad.

Volunteer numbers were high and quickly the overseas battalion was at full strength, as was a second for home service. A third battalion was also formed to provide replacements for the men at the Front. As well as fighting on the Western Front, a battalion was sent to guard Bermuda for the duration.

The text uses letters, newspaper cuttings and the war diary to provide a detailed picture of a typical Territorial battalion at war. Also included are many previously unseen photographs, a nominal list of the men who volunteered before Christmas 1915, including a convicted murderer, awards, casualty details and lists of officers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Release date: Sep 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781473873568

David Bilton

David Bilton is a retired teacher who spends his time looking after his family, working as a University lecturer and researching the Great War. He is the prolific author of numerous books about the British Army, the Home Front and the German Army. His first book, The Hull Pals, became the BBC 2 series The Trench. Since he started writing he has contributed to many television and radio programmes. His interest in the Great War was ignited by his grandfather's refusal to talk about his experiences in Gallipoli and on the Western Front.

Book preview

HULL RIFLES

A HISTORY OF THE 4TH BATTALION EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, 1914–1918

HULL RIFLES

A HISTORY OF THE 4TH BATTALION EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, 1914–1918

DAVID BILTON

First published in Great Britain in 2023 by

PEN AND SWORD MILITARY

An imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Yorkshire - Philadelphia

Copyright © David Bilton, 2023

ISBN 978 1 47383 365 4

epub ISBN 9 781 473 873 568

mobi ISBN 9 781 473 873 568

The right of David Bilton to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

SJmagic DESIGN SERVICES, India.

Pen & Sword Books Ltd incorporates the Imprints of Pen & Sword Archaeology, Atlas, Aviation, Battleground, Discovery, Family History, History, Maritime, Military, Naval, Politics, Railways, Select, Transport, True Crime, Fiction, Frontline Books, Leo Cooper, Praetorian Press, Seaforth Publishing, Wharncliffe and White Owl.

For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contact

PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED

George House, Units 12 & 13, Beevor Street, Off Pontefract Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 1HN, England

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

or

PEN AND SWORD BOOKS

1950 Lawrence Rd, Havertown, PA 19083, USA

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: www.penandswordbooks.com

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1914 Training for active duty

1915 Baptism of fire: St. Julien, Frezenberg Ridge, Bellewaarde Ridge and Bellewaarde

1916 The Somme: Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Transloy Ridges

1917 Two offensives: First Scarpe, Capture of Wancourt Ridge, Second Scarpe and Third Ypres

1918 The final battles: St. Quentin, Actions at the Somme Crossings, Rosières, Estaires and Hazebrouck

The 2nd/4th Battalion

The 3rd/4th Battalion

Key to abbreviations

Appendices

Nominal roll of the first 5,000 men

Nominal roll of officers serving with the battalions in order of joining

Awards to the Battalion

Awards to Other Ranks

Soldiers died – date order

Soldiers died – alphabetical (unless otherwise stated the soldier was born and enlisted in Hull)

Officers died – date order

Officers died – alphabetical

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks to Malcolm Mann for his substantial input to the Soldiers Died sections. To the staff of the Hull History Centre many thanks for the knowledge, warmth and help during the research in their facility. I spent a most useful day at the Beverley Treasure House and the IWM provided the diaries of members of the battalion – thank you. Last but certainly not least, a really big thank you to Vanessa Salter at Hull Museums for getting out so much material for me to both peruse, copy and use, and to the museum director for allowing her to spend the time with me during the research and to use the material.

Introduction

This book deals with the 4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, from July 1914 to November 1918. The battalion quickly grew in numbers during the war becoming three battalions; not being Kitchener service battalions they became second and third line formations of the 4th. The original becoming the 1st/4th, followed by the 2nd/4th and 3rd/4th, with the first becoming the overseas service unit, going to the Western Front as part of 50 (Northumbrian) Division in early 1915.

Some second and third line battalions also fought, but most guarded the country and supplied drafts to the battalion at the front. The 2nd/4th was more fortunate: it was selected as a garrison battalion for Bermuda thereby releasing regular soldiers for the front while the 3rd/4th spent most of their service on the Humber defences, eventually becoming the 4th Reserve Battalion for overseas drafts and home defence.

Officers and men of the 1st East Riding Rifle Volunteers at camp in the 1870s. Although designated as rifles they wore a grey uniform with black braid and red facings. The white band on the cuff of the sergeant on the back left denoted efficiency.

A poor quality photograph of men of the 1st Volunteer battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, the predecessors to the 4th (Territorial) Battalion. They are equipped with the MkII Martini-Henry rifle and bayonet; a plain black leather pouch can be seen on their backs. The helmet is the regulation blue cloth home service pattern; the tunic was scarlet with white collar, cuff facings and an Ausstrian knot on each sleeve to distinguish them as volunteers.

The 4th Battalion came into being on All Fool’s Day 1908. It could, however, trace its antecedents back to 1698. With the return of the monarchy in 1660, county militia forces were formed under the control of the Lord-lieutenant and paid for by people with an income over £50 per annum or property valued at £600 or more; they had to equip an infantryman. Those with an income over £500 per annum or property worth more than £6,000 equipped a cavalryman. If the militia was called out, the same people had to provide a month’s pay. Their pay was one shilling a day for an infantryman and two shillings for a cavalryman. In 1914 an infantryman was paid the same as in 1689 when the East Riding militia force consisted of one regiment of foot, strength 679 men, commanded by the Marquis of Carmarthen.

Although it existed on paper it was to prove inefficient and useless during the Jacobite rising. This was partly addressed by the 1757 Militia Act which took steps to provide a proficient and efficient volunteer force. The liability for service was not popular and considerable damage was done to property; order was restored by hanging a number of the rioters. However, by 1760 there were sufficient officers and men to form the East York Militia Regiment: the Yorkshire Buffs. They were disembodied just two years later. Although not embodied, training continued, made more difficult as a recruit could not be made to travel more than six miles to the place of parade or be kept more than two hours. Although the soldiers were chosen by ballot, many of those serving were substitutes, paid for by those not willing to serve. Such substitutes were more valuable as they volunteered again after they had finished their service. By 1778 they had become fit for immediate service.

On 31 December 1792 they were embodied and mustered at Beverley and weeks later were guarding the Norfolk coast, leaving the East Yorkshire coast undefended. The dithering about the militia continued, but four years later the attempted French landings galvanised the government. The militia was doubled and further steps were taken to defend the country against Napoleon. In 1814 most militia units were disembodied, only to be recalled when Napoleon escaped from Elba. However, from 1816 onwards they again fell into a state of neglect. Sweeping changes in 1852 produced a more permanent militia. The changes were successful, with men replacing regular soldiers abroad during the Crimean War.

On 14 November 1859 a volunteer corps was raised in Hull: the East Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers, more popularly known as the Hull Rifles. It consisted of 107 volunteers. By August 1860 there were six companies: five in Hull, and a single company spread between Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Howden and Market Weighton. A year later they were formed into two battalions and from 1870 the men attended an annual camp. In 1873 the two battalions became the 1st and 2nd Volunteer Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment wearing the same cap badge as the parent battalion but distinguished by white metal shoulder titles and their own uniform, initially in the grey used by many volunteer units. In 1880 this was replaced by the standard red tunic and in 1906 khaki service dress was introduced.

Captain J. Mortimer, wearing a field service cap, commanded the Volunteer Service Company of the East Yorkshire Regiment during the Boer War. This photo was taken at Victoria West in 1901.

During the South African War the two volunteer battalions formed a company for service with the regular battalion. It was commanded by Captain Mortimer and left Beverley on 20 April 1900 arriving in Table Bay on 12 May. Travelling to Bloemfontein they took part in the formal annexation of the Orange River Colony. This was followed by recovering the dead from the recent fighting in the area. They moved into the line at Klip Drift Neck, joining the 2nd Battalion where ‘they took part in the operations which led to the capture of the Boer leader Prinsloo and his commandos. This was followed by over two months’ garrison duty at Harrismith, a railway terminus.’ They left for England on 5 November ‘with the personal congratulations of Sir Leslie Rundle, the 8th Division Commander’.

Three members of the 1st Volunteer Battalion at Ramsey in 1907. They are wearing an East Yorks shoulder title over the battalion identifier 1/V. Although infantry they are wearing cavalry slouch hats and bandoliers, suggesting they are in the transport section.

However, when De Wet attempted to invade Cape Colony their embarkation was cancelled and they became part of a composite battalion of volunteer companies used to garrison De Aar. For five months they guarded the town and manned the armoured trains running to Kimberley, frequently coming under fire. Their next task was to guard another town – Victoria West. They eventually arrived home in June 1901. The company had served with credit, losing just four men to enteric fever.

This helped prove the importance and potential future role of the volunteers. Further emphasising their importance, the Haldane reforms created the Territorial Force. Even though it met opposition from militia and regular soldiers alike, it created the two territorial battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment, the 4th – the original 1st VB, and 5th (cyclist), a new unit.

On the disembodiment of the volunteers, the officers and men were given the option of leaving as time-expired men or re-enlisting the next day in the new battalions. Some chose the latter and the 4th Battalion began life with a number of trained officers, including the CO, Lieutenant Colonel W.W. Hall, men and senior NCOs. Recruiting produced regular intakes of new recruits, invariably more than left, so the battalion grew slowly but steadily, but was never at full strength until after the start of the war. Throughout its existence the battalion had a very high reputation for discipline, shooting and drill.

Colour Sergeant Pickersgill of E Company at Ramsey in 1907. The crossed rifles in a wreath indicate he is the best shot of all the sergeants and lance-sergeants in the battalion.

Recruits to the new battalions were officially aged between 17 and 35 but a number of under 16 year olds manage to join, even after the start of the war. Enlistment was for four years, extendable by an obligatory year in times of crisis. They could terminate their enlistment on three months’ notice, payment of a fine, by transferring to another Territorial Force unit, or joining the regular forces. Recruits were required to attend a minimum of 40 times in their first year, reduced to 20 in each succeeding year. Attendance at the annual camp, between eight and fifteen days, was obligatory. Men signed to serve anywhere in the UK and could not be sent overseas unless they volunteered; the Imperial Service Order of 1910 allowed them to volunteer in advance. On mobilisation, the greater part of the battalion immediately volunteered for overseas service.

The lack of volunteers generally for the force resulted in underfunding and provision of out-of-date equipment. As such the battalion was not fit for its proposed home defence role in August 1914.

Lieutenant Colonel Shaw (sitting left) and Lieutenant Colonel Sir R.W. Aske (sitting centre) CO of the 5th Battalion about 1913.

A route march through the city was a good way to gain attention and hopefully some recruits. As volunteers they are still using the Lee Metford even though it had been replaced years before this photo was taken.

Although officially the 4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, their mid-nineteenth century title continued to be used. To many they were always the Hull Rifles, a mixture of working class and middle class men, some employed together, others living in the same streets.

Who were these men? Not all were inexperienced soldiers: a few like Sergeant John Jackson, who was killed on 3 May 1915, were previously regular soldiers. He had served twenty-one years with 2 Battalion and seen active service in the Boer War.

The Hull Rifles were sometimes called the real Hull Commercials ‘due to the number of prominent Hull businessmen serving as officers within the battalion. The officers of the battalion mostly came from the traditional upper middle classes who were employed in senior roles in local industry, with all of them known to each other.’ The commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shaw, had taken command in 1911; he was a wealthy malting and barley merchant, almost 50 in 1914. Commanding B Company was Major Theilmann, son of a Danish corn merchant. Major Gosschalk was the son of a Dutch merchant. Another officer was James Rishworth, managing director of the Swan Flour Mill. They lived in the wealthy Avenues area of West Hull. Captain Bede Farrell was a successful solicitor. Typical of the officers joining the battalion in 1914 was Sidney Hellyer, son of Charles Hellyer, owner of the Steam Fishing Company Limited.

However, looking at all the men’s regular employment, this is a generalisation. More realistically they were the forerunners of the Hull Pals. Many of them worked together, lived close to each other, and came from commercial (officers) and trades (other ranks) backgrounds; although this is to a certain extent also a generalisation. This is their story; not as rich as that of the Hull Pals because they have left little in way of a record of their service other than official documents, which unusually sometimes provide details about other ranks.

A photograph taken at the 1911 annual camp at Redcar. Titled ‘A few of the Boys’ it shows ten members of A Company. From left standing: L/Cpl Loftus who re-enlisted in mid-1915, Private Stubbs who re-enlisted around the same time, and Private Capes; sitting is Private Gempton. Front row from left: Private Thompson, Private Pickering, Private Scott, Corporal Nunn, who had joined on 2 April 1908 and served through the war leaving the army in 1919 as a WO2, Private Nunn and Corporal Westoby who also survived the war.

1914

The 25 July 1914 edition of the Hull Times detailed the Territorial exodus from Hull for the summer camps. ‘This weekend will see units in Hull entraining for their destinations. For the next 24 hours Paragon station will be a veritable trooping rendezvous, for something like 3,000 men, with their baggage, horses, and other training paraphernalia, will tramp its platforms en route to their different training areas. 4th East Yorkshire Regiment under Colonel Shaw to Conway, Saturday night. 5th Cyclist Battalion under Colonel Sir Robert Aske to Bridlington 9.30am Sunday. The Field Artillery under Colonel Moss-Blundell depart for Borden at 5.30am on Sunday, RGA under Major Hall to Tynemouth. RE under Major Newell to Tynemouth and ASC under Lieutenant Walker at 7.30 Saturday (tonight). Northumbrian Field Ambulance RAMC Saturday midnight en route for Conway in Wales.’

With the worsening situation in Europe, and the probability of a war, the government took the precaution of recalling army and navy reservists; they were given a tearful goodbye at Paragon station.

At camp on 29 July at 6.10pm a wire was opened: it was the Precautions Act from the War Office. Immediately the Special Services Section paraded and any absentees were replaced by volunteers. At 9.20pm they left by train for Hull: strength two officers and fifty other ranks. On arriving in Hull at 6.10am the next day their first job was to sharpen their bayonets. After being issued with live ammunition they split into two groups. Captain Earle and thirty men left Paragon station at 12.10pm for Hedon and then marched to Paull Point Battery. The remaining twenty men and Captain Morill left by river tug from Victoria Pier at 2pm for the port war signal station on Spurn Point. All ran smoothly, their special stores had arrived from York and were at the station; however their food, incorrectly labelled, was in Wenlock Barracks. They quickly settled in to their new accommodation and waited; they were to provide protection for the artillery in place to defend the Humber.

Lieutenant Colonel George Hubert Shaw VD was born Hull in 1864. He was killed in action 24/4/15 aged 50. Before the war he ran a successful malting and barley business. He had served part time since 1883 and became CO of the battalion in 1911. His 21-year-old son George, one of four adult children, was killed in September 1916 serving with the Canadians.

At the start of the war the battalion quartermaster was Lieutenant F.W. Cook. He stayed with the battalion until late 1917.

The battalion was away at camp in Deganwy when the mobilisation orders were received. They have just arrived back at Paragon station and are awaiting further orders.

The 1 August edition of the Hull Times informed readers that Austria was at war with Servia, Russia had mobilised in their support, and Germany declaring a ‘State of War’ was expected to mobilise. A black-bordered notice to the public stated that due to the situation they were ‘unable to publish the many particulars of unprecedented Naval and Military activity’ that was going on. However, in the next column it was stated that there was extraordinary naval and military activity, especially at Immingham and Grimsby. In the same edition news of the arrival and destination of the Special Services Section from Conway was reported. Soldiers, issued with live ammunition and fixed bayonets, were also sent to guard the oil tanks at Killingholme.

On bank holiday Monday, 3 August, the battalion struck camp at Deganwy at 3pm, arriving in Hull at 1.30am the next day. Private Oliver recorded that ‘we had spent a fairly enjoyable week visiting Llandudno, camping at many places round about’ but he was not unhappy about being home because they hadn’t eaten for 24 hours. The men’s messing account disagrees as £1-15s-6d was spent on chocolate for the men before they left Deganwy.

They had been lucky to have had their camp. In Hornsea, the West Riding Divisional Royal Engineers had arrived midday on Sunday only to have to strike camp the next day to leave by special train at 4.30pm.

There was to be no rest for the men of the 4th. Hardly had they put their equipment away and gone home before they received orders to be at Londesborough Barracks for further orders by 5pm. Just 15 minutes earlier, headquarters had received orders to mobilise from the county association and to make ready to move their war station. ‘Notices to Join’ were posted along with postcards calling up Class II National Reservists who were allotted to the battalion. The war diary noted that the ‘postcards caused considerable inconvenience and the arrangements to be made for the 1st day of mobilisation.’

The next day was spent getting ready to move, with medical examinations for 800 men of the battalion and a further 190 who were not reserves. Even though all the doctors phoned for the previous night turned up they were hard pressed to adequately examine all the men, including National Reservists and others wishing to enlist.

Equipment also needed to be checked off and inspected. At 5pm they marched to their new billets in Hedon less three companies; they were still using the old system of eight companies so they were only minus around 250 men. The fort at Paull was garrisoned by G Company with E and H Companies at Boreas Hill, close to the fort. The men’s messing account details the cost of the day: food for the barrack guard at 12s rations for National Reservists including transport tips at £1-15s-9d, drinks in camp £60-17s-3d, £50 to Lieutenant Cook for camp sundries and £115-2s for boots. It had been an expensive day.

All members of the battalion on arriving home found this postcard waiting: mobilisation orders directing them to proceed immediately to Londesborough barracks.

Many newly mobilised units were not at war strength: regular battalions had the special reserve and reservists and time expired men to help fill their ranks. The territorials could appeal for new recruits and use men of the National Reserve.

In the war diary it was noted that 612 men were now deployed, leaving behind the depot men (3 officers and 18 men), new recruits and men of the National Reserve; there were fifty men already in position at Spurn Point and Paull. They were willing but ill-equipped. The battalion adjutant, Captain W.T. Wilkinson DSO, commented in the war diary that ‘the modified web equipment, without the pack, as supplied by the E.R. County Association appears to be a quite inadequate substitute for the full equipment. For all but the shortest marches, the necessity for the men to carry under their arms their kit bags will undoubtedly impair the marching efficiency of the unit.’

The next day, after settling billeting arrangements and a parade on the battalion alarm post, was spent digging trenches on Boreas Hill to cover Paull Battery. A draft of 70 men from the depot arrived during the day. This was followed on 7 August by more trench digging and a further 190 men, of which 133 were reservists; they were immediately sent off to Hornsea for rifle practice before being sent to the regular battalion. During the digging next day, the transport arrived. The boredom of further digging was lightened, or not for some of the men, by a route march on Sunday via Thorngumbald – Boreas Hill – Paull. While they were away the transport and 3rd Battalion arrived.

Private Oliver, an underage soldier at 16½, was called up and sent from Hull to Hornsea for shooting practice. Instead of going home he was sent to Hedon where he slept on the floor of the Town Hall for the night before billets had been found. He dug trenches in the pouring rain the next day and was given four hours leave the next, during which time he saw a few friends and managed to get knocked off his bike that was ‘smashed to pieces’.

The first page of Colonel Shaw’s personal war diary which was transferred onto official stationery when it became available. After inspections and equipment checks the battalion left for Hedon at 5pm on 5 August.

To help recruitment, posters went up over Hull telling men not to shirk their duty.

Their time in the area was soon over. On 10 August, the Special Service sections returned to the battalion, as did the companies guarding Paull Battery and Boreas Hill. Telephone orders directed the battalion to send all heavy baggage and transport back to Hull the next day by train; 22 horses were received to help with the move. The men were taken in two troop trains back to Hull to join the transport. As ordered, the battalion left Hull at 8am on 11 August, arriving in Darlington at noon. The transport sections were luckier than the rest of the battalion; they were billeted at the King’s Head, Turks Head and Three Tuns inns while the men were billeted in local corporation schools. The battalion was nearly up to full strength with 26 officers and 913 other ranks (war diary) and 953 according to Colonel Shaw’s diary.

Once settled, training began: ‘drilled morning and afternoon in South Park’, noted Colonel Shaw. The next day it was in Brinkburn Park when volunteers for service abroad were called for. In his diary the CO noted: ‘75% of Battalion, including self, volunteered for service abroad as a separate unit.’ During the day Lieutenant Ingelby and fifty men went to protect HM wireless station at Stockton-on-Tees.

The battalion cooks are shown here preparing a meal near Holy Trinity Church under the inquisitive eyes of a number of children.

Movement relied on horse transport. The transport section of the battalion.

Training stepped up, with drill being interspersed with fire discipline and control and bayonet charging at Cockerton. On 15 August the Foreign Service men of 4th Yorkshire Regiment (4th Yorks) and 5th Durham Light Infantry (5th DLI) arrived along with the RAMC and RFA and the 150 (York and Durham Brigade) began to form. True to army fashion Sunday was a day of rest, so the men spent the day cleaning up their barracks, readjusting and inspecting their equipment, and went out for further training with more drill the next day, this time at Bransmore Park.

Although they were fully set up in billets, tents arrived during training on 17 August and 400 men were sent to pitch them at Hummersknott Park. After another day of training on 19 August they moved into their new accommodation, from where, at 5pm, they marched to the station to practice entraining: achieved in just 30 minutes; they arrived back at 8pm.

The battalion was now ready to learn how to attack, which they spent two days perfecting, while the 1st line transport practised ammunition supply. Finally on 23 August they were allowed to rest, having only a church parade and rifle and kit inspection. Company training followed for two days and in the rain on 26 August they marched through Darlington before commencing bayonet fighting followed by an inspection by the divisional commander.

During company training on 27 August Colonel Shaw asked the men three times to volunteer for active service: the battalion needed 80 per cent to qualify; initially only 51 per cent volunteered, later it increased to 65 per cent and each had to sign a declaration that they were willing. With only 650 volunteers, according to Colonel Shaw but 360 recorded in the war diary, the brigadier sent him to Hull to enrol just enough men from the new drafts to the 2nd line battalion then being formed. The next day 130 men registered at Londesborough Barracks, and on the Sunday at recruiting meetings at Brough and Welton a further 20 recruits came forward. The brigadier then gave him authority to recruit up to full war establishment.

Parades were held regularly before conscription to encourage men to volunteer. Most were headed by a band. Here some are having their photo taken before the start of the parade. This was taken in West Park.

While the battalion was busy marching and the Foreign Service men were being medically examined, Colonel Shaw was busy in Hull. He personally saw 420 recruits, of which 318 were accepted, 77 of them from Reckitts; Reckitts formed its own unit in the battalion. The next day, on orders from the brigadier he returned to Darlington where his battalion was undergoing company training. He then carried out two orders: a muster roll of Foreign Service men for the brigadier, and then he split the men into two battalions for the War Office, with 400 men and officers for Home Service and 1016 all ranks for Foreign Service. The next day, amongst the notes about a half-battalion attack, a concert in the YMCA hut and sending in a muster roll of the Foreign Service Battalion, he patted himself on the back recording that while in Hull he had enlisted ‘altogether 419 men for Foreign Service’.

After another half-battalion attack, bayonet charges and defence fire control, the battalion was ready for a full battalion attack. To finish off the day they were again visited by the divisional GOC and had to pitch tents for the 5th DLI. One can only guess at what both officers and men felt about their previous training when on 5 September they started all over again to a ‘new syllabus’. After more training the battalion was deemed ready to fire their guns. The next day Corporal East got married. Private Oliver noted that ‘it was a very jolly day’.

It was the War Office’s responsibility to clothe the men, but they had no objection to families and friends sending extra clothing. Lady Nunburnholme announced that she would collect for the battalion and that they needed 7,000 grey flannel shirts, 7,000 pairs of worsted socks, 3,500 cardigan jackets and 2,000 pairs of woollen pants. The required sizes were 5′ 4″ to 5′ 6″ – 60 per cent; and 5′ 7″ to 5′ 10″ – 35 per cent. This was supplemented by the Cardigan Fund and the Lord Mayor’s Fund.

These are new recruits for the battalion after what was obviously a very successful recruiting parade shortly after the war began.

To make sure that volunteers joined the right battalion a placard was carried at the head of the parade.

On volunteering, men had to sign a declaration, on the back of which were the terms of service. These included a contentious clause about them not being forced to join other units which caused reinforcement problems in 1915.

During September a number of new officers reported for duty, and the sergeant major and four instructors were sent back to depot. For some unrecorded reason, Colonel Shaw sent C Company to Neasham.

Added to the routine of drill, lectures, fitting equipment and bayonet fighting, the men were learning new skills. On 9 September time was spent on night work, visual training and hearing and seeing. During the training, which included night work and a series of lectures on musketry, care of arms and use of the bayonet, sergeants, corporals and lance-corporals who had volunteered for overseas were examined; whether it was medical or their fitness to hold the rank was not recorded. After a strenuous week, Sunday 13 September was a relaxed day with reveille at 6.30am followed by kit inspection, cleaning the camp and church parade, after that the day was theirs.

On 14 September, a day when a storm blew the store tent down (many tents according to Private Oliver), the battalion officially became two battalions: a General Service and a Home Service Battalion; the 1st/4th and 2nd/4th. The next day they parted ways, with the reserve battalion moving to Brinkburn, and Home Service men from A and D Company replacing the Foreign Service men at Stockton-on-Tees. This was followed by two weeks further training for both battalions, even in the rain. Just two days into the training period it was changed to eight weeks.

A group of new recruits after they had been issued with their uniform. Third from right standing is Private Thomas Duke number 2318 who enlisted on 31 August.

A poster designed to shame single men into joining the army was put up across the town. Any single man not in uniform was seen as a slacker.

Men from E Company in training at Darlington their new home from 11 August. All the men are identified. Standing from left: Sergeant Edward Pittaway who became a warrant officer and was awarded the DCM in 1917, Privates Handson, Whitfield, Newlove, Normanton, Allcock and G.R. Pittaway. Front row from left: Privates Young, Gadd and Wrigglesworth.