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9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment    9th (Service) Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment was raised at Pontefract in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third Army and joined 70th Brigade in 23rd Division. They undertook training at Frensham, Aldershot, Hythe and Bordon Before proceeding to France. They landed at Boulogne on the 27th of August 1915 and in October 1915 they transferred with the 70th Brigade to the 8th Division. On the 17 July 1916 they returned to the 23rd Division and saw action on The Somme in The Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, The Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Messines, The Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the The First and Second Battles of Passchendaele. In November 1917 the Division moved to Italy concentrating between Mantua and Marcaria before taking over the front line at the Montello on the 4th of December. In 1918 they were in action during the fighting on the Asiago Plateau and the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, including the passage of the Piave and the Monticano. At the Italian Armistice at 3pm on the 4th of November, the 23rd were midway between the Rivers Livenza and Meduna, east of Sacile. They moved to billets west of Treviso and demobilisation took place in January and February 1919. 16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme 1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets 11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment 10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens 9th February 1916 Call Ups 4th Apr 1916 70th Infrantry Brigade prepare for battle  On the 4th April 1916, in preparation for the coming battle, the 8th Division moved up to the Le Boisselle-Thiepval sector, the 8th Battalion York & Lancaster occupying trenches to the left of the sector in front of Authuile Wood, periodically withdrawing to reserve at Albert. The ground occupied by the 8th Division was the most difficult of the whole front, no-man’s land being exceptionally wide and the attack of the 70th Brigade would have to be made beneath the southern spur of the Thiepval salient which was commanded in enfilade by the Germans. 30th Jun 1916 Move up 1st of September 1916 In Front Line 26th of September 1916  Reliefs 16th of November 1916  Relieved 9th Yorks and Lancs 2nd of May 1917 Football Matches 1st Aug 1917 9th York & Lancs in Billets 3rd Aug 1917 Route March 4th Aug 1917 SBR's Tested 6th Aug 1917 On the Move 7th Aug 1917 On the Move 9th Aug 1917 On the Move 10th Aug 1917 On the March 11th Aug 1917 Training 23rd Aug 1917 On the March 24th Aug 1917 Inspection 25th Aug 1917 On the Move 27th Aug 1917 On the March 28th Aug 1917 In Reserve 30th Aug 1917 On the Move   31st Aug 1917 In Camp   1st Sep 1917 In Camp   3rd Sep 1917 On the March   4th Sep 1917 Training 12th Sep 1917 On the Move 13th Sep 1917 On the Move 14th Sep 1917 On the Move 15th Sep 1917 9th York & Lancs relieve 8th Buffs 18th Sep 1917 9th York & Lancs relieved 19th Sep 1917 Into Reserve 20th Sep 1917 Attack Made 21st Sep 1917 In Defence 22nd Sep 1917 Snipers Active & Heavy Shelling 23rd Sep 1917 Heavy Shelling 24th Sep 1917 Heavy Shelling 25th Sep 1917 11th Sussex Relieve 9th York & Lancs 26th Sep 1917 9th York & Lancs Inspected 27th Sep 1917 On the Move 28th Sep 1917 On the Move 29th Sep 1917 9th York & Lancs relieve 8th KOYLI 30th Sep 1917 9th York & Lancs in the Trenches 1st Oct 1917 Heavy Shelling 2nd Oct 1917 1st West Kents relieve 9th York & Lancs 3rd Oct 1917 On the Move 4th Oct 1917 Inspection and Training 5th Oct 1917 Inspection 7th Oct 1917 Church Parade 8th Oct 1917 Lecture for Officers 9th Oct 1917 Training and Move 10th Oct 1917 Into the Trenches 14th Oct 1917 Move to Camp   17th Oct 1917 Brigade Reserve   18th Oct 1917 9th York & Lancs relieve 8th KOYLI 20th Oct 1917 9th York & Lancs relieved by 11th West Yorks 21st Oct 1917 9th York & Lancs to Rest Camp 23rd Oct 1917 On the Move 24th Oct 1917 Cleaning and Training 26th Oct 1917 Medical Inspections 27th Oct 1917 Range Practice 28th Oct 1917 Into Billets 29th Oct 1917 Inspection 30th Oct 1917 Range Practice for Draft 31st Oct 1917 Inspection & Drafts 1st Nov 1917 Training and Rest 10th Nov 1917 On the Move 11th Nov 1917 On the Move 15th Nov 1917 Battalion detrain 16th Nov 1917 In Billets 18th Nov 1917 Church Parade 19th Nov 1917 On the March 20th Nov 1917 On the March 21st Nov 1917 On the March 22nd Nov 1917 On the March 23rd Nov 1917 On the March 24th Nov 1917 On the March 25th Nov 1917 On the March 26th Nov 1917 Rest and Training 28th Nov 1917 March Resumes 29th Nov 1917 On the March 30th Nov 1917 Inspection and Baths 1st Dec 1917 Training 2nd Dec 1917 On the March 3rd Dec 1917 Into Support 6th Dec 1917 Relieved 7th Dec 1917 New Billets 8th Dec 1917 In Support 11th Dec 1917 Relief Delayed 12th Dec 1917 Relief Completed 14th Dec 1917 In the Line 19th Dec 1917 Reliefs Completed 20th Dec 1917 Inspections 21st Dec 1917 Drill and Baths 22nd Dec 1917 Drill and Musketry 23rd Dec 1917 Church Parade and Working Parties 24th Dec 1917 Training 25th Dec 1917 Church Parade and Football 26th Dec 1917 Training 27th Dec 1917 Training & Route March 28th Dec 1917 Range Practice and Football 29th Dec 1917 Training & Working Parties 30th Dec 1917 Church Parade 31st Dec 1917 Training 1st Jan 1918 Working Parties & Baths 2nd Jan 1918 Fatigues and Football 3rd Jan 1918 On the Range 4th Jan 1918 Reliefs 5th Jan 1918 Patrols 13th Jan 1918 Relief 14th Jan 1918 Working Parties 15th Jan 1918 Inspection & Training 16th Jan 1918 Training 17th Jan 1918 Training 18th Jan 1918 Training & Baths 19th Jan 1918 Church Parade 20th Jan 1918 Reliefs Completed 21st Jan 1918 In the Front Line 31st Jan 1918 In the Front Line 1st Feb 1918 In the Front Line 3rd Feb 1918 Reliefs 4th Feb 1918 In Billets 5th Feb 1918 In Billets 6th Feb 1918 Rifle Meeting 7th Feb 1918 Rifle Meeting 8th Feb 1918 Training 9th Feb 1918 On the Range 10th Feb 1918 Football Match 11th Feb 1918 Working Parties and Training 12th Feb 1918 Working Parties and Training 13th Feb 1918 On the Range 14th Feb 1918 Training & Football 15th Feb 1918 Training & Baths 16th Feb 1918 On the March 17th Feb 1918 On the March 18th Feb 1918 Inspections 19th Feb 1918 Working Parties 20th Feb 1918 Working Parties 21st Feb 1918 Working Parties 22nd Feb 1918 Working Parties 23rd Feb 1918 Working Parties 24th Feb 1918 Church Parade 25th Feb 1918 On the March 26th Feb 1918 Into Billets 27th Feb 1918 Musketry 28th Feb 1918 Training 5th Mar 1918 Training 6th Mar 1918 In Support 10th Mar 1918 Sports & Working Parties 13th Mar 1918 Reliefs Completed 14th Mar 1918 Inspection 15th Mar 1918 On the March 16th Mar 1918 On the March 17th Mar 1918 Bathing 18th Mar 1918 Training 23rd Mar 1918 Sports 24th Mar 1918 Church Parade 25th Mar 1918 On the March 26th Mar 1918 At Rest 27th Mar 1918 On the Move 28th Mar 1918 Reliefs Completed 29th Mar 1918 Patrols 31st Mar 1918 Reliefs 4th Apr 1918 In Reserve 5th Apr 1918 Change of Billets 6th Apr 1918 Reliefs 7th Apr 1918 In the Line 10th Apr 1918 In the Line 11th Apr 1918 Reliefs 12th Apr 1918 On the March 13th Apr 1918 Baths 14th Apr 1918 Awards 15th Apr 1918 On the March 18th Apr 1918 Training 19th Apr 1918 On the Move 20th Apr 1918 On the Move 21st Apr 1918 Rain Storm 22nd Apr 1918 On the March 28th Apr 1918 Inspection 29th Apr 1918 Training 30th Apr 1918 Recce 6th May 1918 Training 8th May 1918 Training 12th May 1918 Training & Sports 13th May 1918 On the March 14th May 1918 On the March 15th May 1918 On the March 16th May 1918 On the March 17th May 1918 Reliefs 24th May 1918 Illness Spreads 25th May 1918 Reliefs 26th May 1918 Baths 28th May 1918 On the March 29th May 1918 Training 1st Jun 1918 Training 2nd Jun 1918 Church Parades 3rd Jun 1918 Relief Complete 5th Jun 1918 Recce 6th Jun 1918 Improvments 7th Jun 1918 Improvments 8th Jun 1918 Training 9th Jun 1918 Recce 10th Jun 1918 Teams 11th Jun 1918 Reliefs 12th Jun 1918 Trench Work 13th Jun 1918 Enemy Active 14th Jun 1918 Artillery Active 15th Jun 1918 Attack 16th Jun 1918 Enemy Active 17th Jun 1918 Reliefs 18th Jun 1918 At Rest 19th Jun 1918 Inspection 20th Jun 1918 Working Parties 21st Jun 1918 Working Parties 22nd Jun 1918 Inspection 23rd Jun 1918 Football 24th Jun 1918 Training 25th Jun 1918 Into Position 26th Jun 1918 Into Support 27th Jun 1918 Heavy Rain 28th Jun 1918 Improvements 29th Jun 1918 Improvements 30th Jun 1918 Improvements 1st Jul 1918 Exercise 2nd Jul 1918 Working Parties 3rd Jul 1918 Bathing 4th Jul 1918 Reliefs Completed 11th Jul 1918 In the Trenches 12th Jul 1918 Reliefs 13th Jul 1918 Cleaning up 14th Jul 1918 Recce 15th Jul 1918 Recce 16th Jul 1918 Inspection 17th Jul 1918 Training 18th Jul 1918 Training 19th Jul 1918 On the March 20th Jul 1918 On the March 21st Jul 1918 On the March 31st Jul 1918 Training 12th Aug 1918 Training 13th Aug 1918 On the March 14th Aug 1918 On the March 15th Aug 1918 On the March 16th Aug 1918 Relief 17th Aug 1918 Artillery Active 18th Aug 1918 Church Parade 19th Aug 1918 Quieter 20th Aug 1918 Artillery Active 21st Aug 1918 Artillery Active 22nd Aug 1918 Working Parties 23rd Aug 1918 Shelling 24th Aug 1918 Reliefs 25th Aug 1918 Improvements 26th Aug 1918 Into Camp 31st Aug 1918 Improvements 1st Sep 1918 Improvements 2nd Sep 1918 Improvements 3rd Sep 1918 ReliefComplete 7th Sep 1918 On the Range 8th Sep 1918 Competition 9th Sep 1918 Training 10th Sep 1918 Training & Baths 11th Sep 1918 Reliefs 12th Sep 1918 Patrols 13th Sep 1918 Trench Work 14th Sep 1918 Patrols 15th Sep 1918 Reliefs 16th Sep 1918 Cleaning up 17th Sep 1918 Bathing 18th Sep 1918 Bathing 19th Sep 1918 Reliefs 20th Sep 1918 In the Trenches 25th Sep 1918 Reliefs 27th Sep 1918 On the Move 28th Sep 1918 On the March 29th Sep 1918 Church Parade 30th Sep 1918 Training 1st Oct 1918 Training 2nd Oct 1918 Training 4th Oct 1918 Training 5th Oct 1918 On the March 6th Oct 1918 On the March 7th Oct 1918 Inspections 8th Oct 1918 Training 9th Oct 1918 CO Returns 10th Oct 1918 Training 11th Oct 1918 Training 12th Oct 1918 Training 13th Oct 1918 Church Parade 14th Oct 1918 On the March 15th Oct 1918 On the Move 16th Oct 1918 On the March 17th Oct 1918 In Billets 18th Oct 1918 Route March 19th Oct 1918 Very Wet Day 20th Oct 1918 Church Parade 21st Oct 1918 Drill 22nd Oct 1918 On the March 23rd Oct 1918 Route March & Working Parties 24th Oct 1918 On the March 25th Oct 1918 On the March 26th Oct 1918 On the March 27th Oct 1918 Ready 29th Oct 1918 Advance 30th Oct 1918 In Action 31st Oct 1918 In Action 1st Nov 1918 Enemy Retiring 2nd Nov 1918 On the March 3rd Nov 1918 Football 4th Nov 1918 Concert 5th Nov 1918 Football 7th Nov 1918 Training & Concert 8th Nov 1918 Change of Billets 9th Nov 1918 Change of Billets 10th Nov 1918 On the March 11th Nov 1918 On the March 12th Nov 1918 On the Move 13th Nov 1918 On the March 17th Nov 1918 Service of Thanksgiving If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment? There are:5552 items tagged 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. Bamford Tom. Pte. (d.2nd Oct 1916) Baxter John. Pte. (d.9th Jun 1917) Cook John. L/Cpl. (d.30th Sep 1918) Crozier Ernest. Pte. (d.1st July 1916) Davies Robert Edward. Fishpool CdG. Charles Henry. 2Lt. Gall Harry. Pte. Hamer John. Tpr. Harris Arthur. Pte. Hastings Adam. Pte. (d.23 September 1917) Hodkin DCM. Thomas Arthur Peston. Pte. Holmes Robert. L/Cpl. (d.1st July 1916) Jones Claude Saul. Pte. (d.7th June 1917) Lacey Walter Nicholson. Pte. (d.17th January 1917) Leonardi MM. James. L/Cpl. Mann John William Thomas. Sgt. Marples MM. John William. Cpl. Marsden John William. Pte. (d.1st Oct 1917) Marshall Charles. L/Cpl. (d.10th Oct 1917) Parrott William Henry. Pte. Richmond DCM. Albert. Pte. Sanderson John Albert. Sgt. (d.14th Oct 1917) Seal William. L/Cpl. (d.1st Jul 1916) Skinner Arthur. Pte. Thorneloe Albert. Pte (d.1st July 1916) Wakelin Albert Edward. Pte. Wood DCM. Isaac George. Pte. (d.13th Oct 1918) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.   Tpr. John Hamer 1st Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps John Hamer joined up in August 1914, posted to France, arriving at St Quentin on 27th of August 1914. He served with 1st Mobile Veterinary Section, operating from base veterinary hospital at La Chapelle-aux-Pots until transfer to Italy in 1917. He was posted to the 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment and saw action on Asiago plateau, captured June 1918 he remained a POW until end of war. It is believed he escaped POW captivity and remained free for a period during October-November 1918. He was repatriated via Southampton on the 30th of November 1918. Malcolm Hamer Add to this record.   Pte. John Baxter 9th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment (d.9th Jun 1917) John Baxter was the great great uncle of my partner and we only found out recently that he had died during WW1. After digging deeper we found some information including a photograph of John in uniform from the archives of a local paper. John is buried at Perth (China Wall) Cemetery, near Ypres. We recently visited his resting place and Sanctuary Wood, Hill 62 and Ypres. We attended the last post at the Menin Gate and found our visit to be one of remembrance for John and for so many others who lost their lives in this 20th century tragedy. Timothy Lawrence Add to this record.   2Lt. Charles Henry Fishpool CdG. 9th Btn. York & Lancaster Regiment Charles Fishpool joined up in Dec 1915 as a Private with the 2nd Yorkshire Regtiment. In Sept 1916 he joined the 9th York & Lancs and gained the rank of Sergeant in May 1917. He was commissioned Temp 2nd Lt and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Add to this record.   Cpl. John William Marples MM. 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment Corporal John William Marples of the 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was awarded the Military Medal in 1919. His Citation reads: "Conspicuous gallantry during the advance on 29th October 1918, in the Piave Battle. His platoon was held up by an enemy machine gun. This N.C.O who was in charge of a Lewis Gun Team pushed his gun forward into action against the enemy post which enabled the remainder of the platoon to outflank and capture the post. During the advance he set a splendid example to his men" Brendan Marples Add to this record.   Pte. William Henry Parrott 8th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment Bill Parrott possibly signed up in November 1916. He served in France with the 8th Battalion from February 1917. Also served with the 9th and 1/4 Battalions. Possibly wounded whilst during battle. Later transferred to Labour Corps and Royal Fusiliers. He was demobilised in May 1919. Prior to (and after) the war he was a miner. Bill died in 1980. Mark Keeling Add to this record.   L/Cpl. James Leonardi MM. 9th Btn. York and Lanccaster Regiment James Leonardi was born in 1874 and lived with his parents Frederick and Hannah at St Annes, Nottingham. A milk seller by occupation, he enlisted on 10th of September 1914. He went to France with the 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on 27th of August 1915 as part of 70th Brigade, 8th Division. On 1st July 1916 the 9th Battalion took part in the Battle of the Somme and lost almost half the attacking force from machine guns sited in Thiepval Wood. Out of 25 officers and 736 other ranks, only 180 returned. Lance-Corporal Leonardi was awarded the M.M. (London Gazette 12th December 1917). He was discharged from the 13th Battalion on 18 February 1919 with a home address of 17 Wright Street, off Hewitt Street, Nottingham. Add to this record.   Pte. Arthur Harris 2nd Btn. D Coy. Royal Scots Fusilliers Arthur Harris joined 9th Service Battalion, York and Lancs Regiment in 1914 (a Battalion is a unit made up of between 800 and 1000 men). His Regimental number was 14432. His medals record card shows he entered the "Flanders theatre of war" on 27th August 1915. This is the date of his arrival in Boulogne as a soldier of the 8th and 9th Service Battalion of the Y&L's to join the 23rd Division, a new army division, the so-called "Kitchener's New Army" or "K3" as it was officially designated. His unit established itself in the area around Tilques in France and subsequently was engaged in various actions on the Western Front. On 2nd July 1916 he was wounded in the leg by enemy machine-gun fire during the first or second day of the Battle of Albert, (the opening action in the Battle of the Somme). He was treated in the field at No 3 Casualty Clearing Station in Puchevillers, Pickardie and recuperated at No.9 Base Hospital on the racecourse at Rouen. In consequence of this and of the unit decimation and chaos of the Somme Offensive, he was transferred to D Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. This was his unit until his demobilisation at the end of the war. His Royal Scots Fusiliers service number was 43468. His rank was Private throughout his service. His discharge documents show both of his regimental service numbers and his military occupation at discharge as “Officer’s Servant” (Batman). His military commendation says “First-class shot", a thought-provoking compliment indeed . His Lt Col’s recommendation for employment says “Smart and Intelligent”. He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914/15 Star. The 1914/15 Star was awarded to all who served under fire in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, except for those eligible for the 1914 Star (the so-called Mons Star, awarded to those serving under fire during The retreat from Mons - 1914). These three service medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. David Brown Add to this record.   Pte. John William Marsden 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (d.1st Oct 1917) John William Marsden was my grandfather who was killed aged 26 on 1st October 1917. He is pictured with his wife Amy and their two sons, Robert (my father) and John. Michael Marsden Add to this record.   Pte. Harry Gall 9th Btn. York & Lancaster Regiment Harry Gall joined the army on 15th of Jan 1916 in the 5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. He embarked for France at Folkstone on the 16th of June 1916, disembarked at Boulogne same day. He joined 32nd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on the 17th June 1917 and transfered to 9th Btn York & Lancs Regt on the 1st of July 1917. He took part in the fighting on the Asiago Plateau and the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. Harry transfered to the army reserve on demob on the 17th of March 1919 Michael Gall Add to this record.   L/Cpl. Charles Marshall 9th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment (d.10th Oct 1917) Charles Marshall was the son of Mrs. Mary A. Marshall of 160 Broomspring Lane, Sheffield. Add to this record.   L/Cpl. Robert Holmes 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (d.1st July 1916) Robert Holmes was formerly a miner, married with seven children. He was 28 when he joined up on 29/10/1914 Dawn Welch Add to this record.    Robert Edward Davies 9th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment My grandfather, Robert Davies said he served with the young and lovelies, Yorks and Lancaster's at Hill 60. He lost a the top off his finger and whilst at hospital used to pour boiling water over the stump, to make it look infected so that he would be able to stay out of the trenches for a bit longer. I remember as a child asking him if he ever captured any Germans. Yes he said I was on my own going down a trench, came to a corner, when I went round a met a German. What happened then grandad? oh he said the German surrendered before I could. Rob Add to this record.   Pte. Albert Edward Wakelin 9th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment Grandad Bert Wakelin was called up on the 20th of January 1916 and was posted to Rugeley camp. He arrived in France in June and was at Ovillers Boiselle on the 1st of July 1916. He was wounded at Messines on 7 June 1917 was was sent back to England to the Red Cross hospital at Saffron Walden. By the time he was sent back to France the 9th had left for Italy and he was placed with the 2/4th Battalion Y & L. He spent some time in Germany at Cologne and was discharged in 1919/20. After the war he returned to work with the Midland Railway Company in Sheffield as a clerk where he stayed until retirement. Peter Dudill Add to this record.   Pte. Tom Bamford 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (d.2nd Oct 1916) Tom Bamford is buried at Adanac Commonwealth war cemetery, Miraumont, France. He was probably killed at Battle of le Transloy John Hobson Add to this record.   L/Cpl. John Cook 9th Btn. Yorks & Lancs Regt (d.30th Sep 1918) My great-uncle, Jack Cook, had volunteered in the early days of the war and by summer 1916 was in the 9th battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment. On Midsummer’s Day 1916 the great artillery bombardment opened on The Somme. In theory the German front line was to be so pulverised that the British troops, whom Haig seems to have considered incapable of little more than obeying simple instructions, could walk across and occupy the enemies positions. On the night of 29-30 June 1916, Jack's battalion moved forward to their assembly position. They had to wait over a day, but then July 1st dawned fine but misty, and at 6.25 the final bombardment began. At 7.30 all along the line of 15 divisions men went over the top, each carrying 66lb of kit, and expecting little if any resistance. In reality, as John Keegan in 'The Face of Battle' so elegantly shows, there was a race on for the top of the German front lines. Whoever arrived first had won: the loser would face annihilation. The awful reality was that that the Germans had largely survived the bombardment and were able to bring their machine guns to bear upon the advancing infantry struggling with the barbed wire that had also defeated everything the artillery could throw against it. Unusually the wire in front of the 70th Brigade was completely cut and the first and second German lines on Thiepval Ridge were captured, with some troops even reaching the third line. Meanwhile the 9th York and Lancaster’s were coming up in support. By then the German barrage was intense: one of the four companies losing 50% of its men before it left its assembly position. Ahead and to both left and right was severe machine-gun fire but the first wave gained the German line. By 10 am. all communication between British lines and the brigade headquarters had ceased since every telephone wire was cut and it was impossible to stand-up in no-man’s-land. During the night they were relieved. Out of 25 officers and 736 other ranks of the 9th York and Lancs who went into action, 22 officers and 556 men were casualties in the bloodiest day the British Army has ever known, with 31 581 killed, wounded or missing. Behind them was the sound of countless men lying out in no-man’s-land, described by one survivor like 'enormous wet fingers screeching across an enormous pane of glass'. Some of the wounded screamed, some muttered, some wept with fear, some called for help, other shouted in delirium or groaned in pain. Their Brigade Commander wrote, 'I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry and determination of officers and men. Artillery could not stop them, but with nothing on their flanks save German machine guns, with the support exhausted and German reinforcements coming up, they fought for over six hours in positions won by them from the enemy, until they died'. My grandfather was also to take part in the Somme with his regiment, the Northumberland Fusiliers, a little later. In his own words, 'at daybreak, 14th July the barrage of constant very heavy shell fire lifted and our men went over to take the village of Bazentin-le-Petit from the occupying Germans. The stretcher bearers follow and we left at intervals of one minute, knowing that our journey would not be in vain. Before my particular stretcher had reached the village we saw Number One coming back but with only two men carrying. The third man had been hit in both legs and the fourth shot though the throat (a particularly disturbing event for the company for this man had had a clear premonition of his own death, apparently so unusual that my grandfather clearly remembered it 50 years later). 'The village was now the centre of a bitter battle which was often hand-to-hand with the Germans putting up stiff resistance. Pratt (a chum since he joined up in early 1915) was going forward with his section when they were held up. He could not be dissuaded from going forward alone to clear a house which had already cost us dear when he was killed outright. 'By mid morning the scene at the dressing station was pitiable in the extreme with Captain Glyn (the M.O.) and Corporal Burns (his dresser) working without a moments relaxation as we brought in a stream of wounded. There were no priorities here as they lay where we put them (outside) in their dozens to wait their turn. Those who were known to have no possible chance of recovery had to be put into a nearby dugout to wait a merciful death. Captain Mellish VC,(the Chaplain) gave them the comfort only such a man as he could. Walking wounded went straight off under their own strength to reach some aid in the back area, but many must have died on the way for the whole area was shell ridden. The gun crews worked ceaselessly loading and firing, paying no regard to the hail of shells seeking them out and bursting all around. The horse-driven ammunition columns rode up at full gallop, discharging their loads and turning about to bring still more from the rear. 'There was no time for panic. Carrying one man shoulder high we heard a large shell coming very close indeed. I actually saw it plunge into the ground almost at my feet and burst. We walked on out of the black cloud of smoke, hurling earth and metal unscathed... He then described how their sergeant, a hard-bitten pre-War veteran, had been reduced to tears to have to bring out a very badly wounded lad of sixteen who started crying for his mother. 'To add to our emotional worries we noticed a tall figure running around in circles alone and in a very exposed place. I ran over to him; he was dazed but knew me. "Cooky, where are the others. They can't go on like this, its sheer hell and we'll never get them back again. Poor Tim (the man shot through the throat), he knew all the time what was going to happen by his dream and went in like the man he was.... He got to his feet and I walked him back to the dressing station. He left for hospital and it was not for some weeks that he overcame his shell-shock. 'Withdrawal on the 19th to the divisional reserve brought a letter from home to tell me that Jack had been wounded on the first day of the battle and had returned to England. Later I was to learn that he had been shot through the body almost immediately he left the trench. The bullet had missed his spine by fraction of an inch yet he walked down to the first aid post alone. It was not expected that he would ever be A1 again but such was his strength that he later returned to his battalion. John Holden Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices. Beneath Hill 60 [DVD] BENEATH HILL 60 tells the extraordinary true story of Oliver Woodward, the legendary Australian metal scientist. In 1916, Woodward faced the most difficult decision, ultimately having to separate from his new young love for the deadly carnage of the Western Front. On treacherous territory, behind the German enemy lines, Woodward and his secret platoon of Australian tunnelers face a suicidal battle to defend a leaking, tunnel system. A tunnel packed with enough high explosives to change the course of the War. More information on: Beneath Hill 60 [DVD] Hill 60: Ypres (Battleground Europe) Nigel Cave The shell-ravaged landscape of Hill 60, some three miles south east of Ypres, conceals a labyrinth of tu nnels and underground workings. This book offers a guide to the memorials, cemeteries and museums at the site ' More information on: Hill 60: Ypres (Battleground Europe) Beneath Hill 60 [Paperback] Will Davies 'Ten seconds, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one - fire! Down goes the firing switch. At first, nothing. Then from deep down there comes a low rumble, and it as if the world is spliting apart...' On 7th June 1917, nineteen massive mines exploded beneath Messines Ridge near Ypres. The largest man-made explosion in history up until that point shattered the landscape and smashed open the German lines. Ten thousand German soldiers died. Two of the mines - at Hill 60 and the Caterpillar - were fired by men of the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company, comprising miners and engineers rather than parade-ground soldiers. Drawing on the diaries of one of the key combatants, "Benealth Hill 60" tells the little-known, devastatingly brutal true story of this subterranean war waged beneath the Western Front - a stygian battle-ground where men drowned in viscous chalk, suffocated in the blue gray clay, choked on poisonous air or died in the darkness, caught up up in vicious hand-to-han More information on: Beneath Hill 60 [Paperback] Links Suggest a link

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