Great War diaries: 1/4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

The 1/4th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment

This summary of the battalion's day-to-day history covers the period from 29 July 1914 when the Battalion was on its annual camp in North Wales, to the first - and very costly - day in action during the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915.

August 1914
In common with many other units of the Territorial Force, the part-time soldiers of the 4th East Yorks were away on their two weeks summer camp when the crisis broke. They were recalled to planned wartime stations, where they began to mobilise, and where training intensified. During the month the men were asked if they would volunteer for overseas service.

Date and place	Events
29 July, Deganwy	6.10pm Wire opened “Precautions Act” from War Office. Special Service section paraded and absentees replaced by volunteers. 9.20pm Special service section strength 2 officers & 50 other ranks left by train for HULL.
30 July, Hull	6.10am Arrived HULL. Bayonets sharpened, service ammunition served out etc. Captain Earle and 30 other ranks left Paragon Station 12.10 pm for HEDON...March Route thence to PAULL POINT Battery. Captain Morrill & 20 other ranks left by river Tug from Victoria Pier 2pm for Port. WAR SIGNAL Station 5pm Point. The special stores required for latter had already arrived at Paragon Station from York. Their food supplies were incorrectly addressed & were only found 1.30 pm lying in Wenlock Barracks, Hull.
4 August, Deganwy	3.00pm Battalion entrained for HULL, arrived 1.30 am next day. 5.45pm Order to mobilize received from County Association through telephone. 6.00pm All “Notices to join” sealed ready for the post- also postcards calling up National Reservists Class II allotted to Battalion prepared in lieu of the Special “Notices to join” which had never been received from the County Association. These postcards caused considerable inconvenience & their preparation some delay in the progress of the arrangements to be made for the 1st day of mobilization.
5 August, Hull	6.30am All doctors, telephoned for during previous night, arrived and the medical inspection both at Headquarters, Londesborough Barracks and at East HULL commenced. The various details connected with mobilization were proceeded with. Time pressed and the medical staff found it impossible to adequately examine all the men, including National Reservists and others wishing to enlist, paraded before them. 5.00pm Battalion marched off to billets as arranged in HEDON. E Company to Hull. E and H Companies to BOREAS HILL; G Company to Boreas Hill PAULL POINT BATTERY. H Company to Paull Holme. Strength Special Service Sections 2 officers 50 other ranks; At Depot, Londesborough Barracks 3 officers 18 OR; O.C. Depot...Capt Jackson, Transport Officer...Lieut Dales. “Marching-out” state 20 officers 612 OR. Unit Purchasing Officer Holtby. Total 25 officers 680 OR. The “modified” web equipment, without the pack, as supplied by E.R. County Association appears to be a quite inadequate substitute for the full equipment. For all but the very shortest marches, the necessity for the men to carry under their arms their kit bags will undoubtedly impair the marching efficiency of the unit.
6 August, Hedon	Settled billeting arrangements & paraded on Battalion Alarm post. At 3.00pm started to entrench the selected position covering Paull Battery. Seventy more men joined from the Depot.
7 August	Continued entrenchments. One hundred and ninety more men joined including 133 recruits who had not fired Table A.
8 August	Continued entrenchments. Part of 2nd Line Transport arrived. 3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regt arrived by train from Beverley. Stores & mobilization equipment taken over by us for their use, were handed over.
9 August	Part of 1st Line Transport arrived.
10 August	Special Service Section Detachments returned to HEDON and E, G & H Companies moved in from Boreas Hill and Paull Point Battery. Telephone orders arrive to send all heavy baggage & transport by march route back to Hull to entrain there tomorrow. 10.00pm All transport left for Hull. Lieut Dales telephoned to entrain transport at Hull during the night to be ready to join troop trains from Hedon tomorrow.
11 August	Entrained at Hedon in two troop trains sent out from Hull. Coupled up with transport trucks in Hull. 12 noon Arrived Darlington. Billeted in Corporation schools. Transport at King’s Head, Turk’s Head, The Fleece and Three Tuns Inns. Marching-in state 26 officers and 913 other ranks.
12 August, Darlington	Continued training.
13 August	Called for volunteers for service abroad as a separate unit. 75% volunteered. Sent Lieut Ingleby and 50 men to H.M. Wireless Station Stockton-on-Tees.
14 August	Continued training. Strengthened Stockton-on-Tees detachment by 18 NCOs & men.
17 August	Sent 400 men to pitch tents for a camp near waterworks at HUMMERSKNOTT PARK.
19 August	Marched to camp at Hummersknott Park.
20 August	Practised entraining. Transport personnel require practice in entraining horses.
21 August	Company training. Sent Captain Theilmann and Hd qtrs “C” Company to join remainder on detachment at Stockton. 26th August: Machine Gun Detachment marched to a musketry camp at NEASHAM. Orders issued to again call for volunteers for foreign service and those doing so to sign an agreement to that effect.
27 August	8.30am Battalion paraded “strong as possible” for signing. At first only 51% volunteered - but later this was increased to 65%.
28 August	More men agreed to undertake foreign service. Lt-Col Shaw, in Hull, secured the services of about 360 men who agreed to enlist for foreign service should they be required. All Band “boys” returned to depot.
30 August	Wrote direct to War office pointing out that those applicants who had first applied for commissions had not been gazetted but others applying much later had been.
31 August	Continued training. Captain WT Williamson DSO, the adjutant, went on sick leave and Captain B. Farrell was appointed acting adjutant.

September 1914
The battalion remained in the Darlington area, while training continued.
1 September	The volunteers for foreign service were medically examined.
5 September	District Court-Martial. on Private R Gracy (National Reserve).
9 September	Recruits sent to Neasham to fire musketry course.
14 September	Battalion separated into Foreign & Home service units
15 September	67 NCOs & men sent to Stockton to relieve our guard there over the wireless station.
27 September	Lice made their first appearance in considerable numbers and arrangements were at once made to have all men’s kits, blankets etc stored at the workhouse.
30 September	1st inoculation.

October 1914
Towards the end of the month, the men who did not volunteer for overseas were separated out and replaced with new volunteers.
8 October	2nd inoculation.
10 October	Commenced firing on miniature range.
13 October	Orders received for both units to move (as one) to Newcastle on the 16th inst.
16 October	Moved to Newcastle into billets at Wingrove schools, Todd North schools & Elswick Hall.
22 October, Newcastle	Headquarters “Home Service” Battalion to Peace Hd qtrs - Hull.
31 October	50 Home Service men sent to Hull; 50 re-enlisted men sent to us.

November 1914
While the battalion was separated into home service and overseas service men, much work was done on local defences: the threat of invasion was being taken very seriously.
4 November	64 Re-enlisted men join from Hull
10 November	43 Recruits join from Hull.
12 November	150 Recruits join and 147 home service men return to Hull.
14 November	121 Recruits join and 147 home service men return to Hull.
16 November	Col: Holdich & 280 trained men Home Service Battalion are sent to Newcastle & form a Composite Battalion with other trained home service men of the Brigade & are billeted in Westgate Schools.
20 November	Started entrenching aposition at Burradon covering the approaches north of Newcastle from direction of Blyth.
24 November	Started a 2nd position in echelon and on our left flank of above on the line Kenton-Coxledge Station.
26 November	260 (approx) recruits started a course of musketry at Ponteland.

December 1914
While the Adjutant worried about the strength of the overseas battalion, the men began firing practice.
1 December	Finished entrenchments started on the 24th November.
4 December	Our position as regarding recruits in our Reserve Battalion getting serious, that unit being almost up to strength with Home Service Recruits & trained men. Pointed this out to Lord Muntunholme who paid us a visit. A letter was sent to Headquarters Northern Division on this subject, and the G-O-C urges that extreme efforts should be made by the O.C. Reserve Battalion to obtain recruits for us.
7 December	25 recruits from Hull.
13 December	Headquarters and six companies [1] moved to Hurworth & Dinsdale to short trained men’s course.
22 December	550 men completed course and A,B,E & G Companies were sent back to Newcastle; D & H Companies coming out from there; C Company remaining also to Mark whilst D, F & H Companies short.
30 December	Musketry course completed on this day.

January 1915
The Battalion reorganised along Regular Army lines, and continued training.
1 January	Headquarters and C, D, F and H Companies returned to Newcastle being billeted as follows :- E, F & H Companies at Snow Street Schools, G Company Elswick Hall, A, B, C & D & Headquarters at Wingrove School.
9 January	Orders published today to organise the Battalion on the 4-Company system in AO 111 dated 3.1.15 [2]. Draft of 56 recruits join from Hull.
11 January	Battalion was organised as follows :- A & E Companies became A Company under Captain Farrell B & D “ “ B “ “ Major Theilmann C & G “ “ C “ “ Captain Robson F & H “ “ D “ “ Captain Morrill 31 officers on the strength.
16 January	Strength 52 Sergeants, Horses 53, 16 Drummers, 908 Rank & File.
23 January	Machine gun detachment, strength 1 officer (Lieut: Judge) and 36 other ranks proceeded to Neasham to fire the course.

Febuary 1915
The Battalion continued training.
2 February	“1st Reinforcement” arrived from the Reserve Battalion. Lieut GG Smith posted to it, also Serjeants Watson and Barclay. Attached to D Company & quartered in Snow Street.
13 February	Lieut Smith posted to Northumbrian Divisional Cycle Company & Lieut Ferraby posted from Reserve Battalion to the “1st Reinforcement”.
18 February	7 more men from Reserve Battalion sent for 1st Reinforcement to replace men on the strength of the imperial service unit.
19 February	No. 2828 Private E. Shearsmith died in No 1 General Hospital Newcastle of “cerebro spinal meningitis” - first death since mobilization. [3]
20 February	Machine gun Detachment returned from Neasham.
27 February	7 men (trained) joined from the 2/4th E Yorks.

March 1915
The Battalion continued training.
15 March	“1st Reinforcement” to Ponteland and a few “casuals” to fire a recruits’ course.
29 March	A Company ditto Field Firing
30 March	B Company ditto Field Firing
31 March	C Company ditto Field Firing

April 1915
Having carried out no training in a unit larger than the Battalion itself, the 1/4th was ordered to France. Four days after they had arrived the enemy attacked at Ypres, and the Battalion, being among the scarce reserves, was rushed to the horror of gas warfare. On their first day in action - the first time they had even seen a battlefield - the Battalion lost its Commanding Officer, Second-in-Command and 95 men.
1 April	D Company ditto Field Firing
5 April	Received our orders for embarkation...to be prepared to embark on the 18th inst. also a copy of the composition of the Northumbrian Division.
8 April	Transferred 46 NCOs & men medically unfit for foreign service to the 2nd line Battalion. Transferred 50 men from the “1st Reinforcement” to the 1/4th Battalion. Draft of 26 NCOs & trained men and 63 untrained men arrived from the 2nd Battalion on transfer.
10 April	Posted the 26 NCOs & trained men to companies as follows; to A 6; to B 7; to C 7; to D 6. The 63 untrained men were posted to the “1st Reinforcement” ( and attached to D Company).
12 April	Transferred 10 more men from the “1st Reinforcement” to the Battalion. 5 men to C. Lieut Cruick’may, “OC Details”, arrived from the 2nd Line Battalion yesterday.
14 April	Secret time table and orders for entrainment at 7.35 pm. 15th 3 officers, 86 other ranks, all vehicles and horses for Southampton to arrive 7.55 am 16th.
15 April	Orders for entrainment remainder of Battalion 8.15 am two trains...Central Station. April 17th 30 horses to complete establishment arrived 10 am. Transport etc as ordered above left for Southampton 8.15 pm. (3/4 hours late)
16 April	Details and “1st Reinforcement” transferred to 2nd Line Battalion which arrived Newcastle from Darlington yesterday & encamped near Killingworth.
17 April	Battalion Personnel entrained in two trains at Central Station at 7.45 am and 8.20 am for Folkestone. Strength: 27 officers and 942 other ranks, 2 and 81 having already entrained (on 15th). 8.30 pm RMS “Invicta” sailed for Boulogne with Battalion...arrived 10.15pm. Marched up to the Rest Camp at St Martin arriving about 11.15 pm.
18 April, Boulogne	11.20am Marched off for “Pont-de-Briques” Station 3 1/2 miles. Entrained 2.30pm on train from Le Havre carrying our transport and Personnel, which had left that place about 10pm 17th. Arrived Bavinchore (station for Cassel) about 8.00pm and billeted for night there.
19 April, near Cassel	Proceeded by march route to billets 4000 [yards] East of Steenvoorde on road to L’Abeele arriving 2.45 pm. Men all settled in billets in farms with Battalion Headquarters at corner of cross roads in the Callicanni Inn. 3 miles east of Steenvoorde. [4]
20 April, near Steenvoorde	Settled up interior economy regiment and transport. Battalion Headquarters connected up by telephone with Brigade Headquarters at Chateau-de-la-Beau, Steenvoorde.
22 April	10.00pm Received orders to concentrate at Battalion Headquarters and be prepared to move in motor buses. Bivouacked on Battalion alarm post all night.
23 April	Noon Motor buses arrived and Battalion (less transport) was taken to Poperinghe and marched from there to “A” Camp between Vlamertinghe and Ypres, arrived at 4.00pm.
24 April, Vlamertinghe	1.30am Turned out & marched to hold east bank of Ypres canal...map Belgium sheet 28 C 25a. In position 3.15 pm being attached to 13th Brigade. Four men wounded by shell fire. 10.00 am Orders received to march to Wieltje. Arrived there 1.00pm and dug ourselves in at a point a few hundred yards NE of the Headquarters 27th Division at Potijze Chateau. 3.00pm Received orders to support an attack being made by the Canadians on Fortuin. Moved out about 3.45pm in support to the 4th Yorkshire Regiment towards Fortuin and soon came under heavy artillery fire from our left flank from the direction of St Julien. Artillery formations were adopted, the Battalion moving in lines of platoons...two platoons D company leading. The attack on reaching a point C 24a (map Ypres 28) swung to the north towards St Julien and then came under somewhat heavy rifle & machine gun fire. Rifle fire was opened at 950 yards & eventually at 500 yards. These two battalions joining up with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment who had apparently been sent on a similar mission. No fire from the direction of Fortuin had during this time been heard and no Canadians seen. 7.30 pm The OC Royal Irish having received orders from his General that we were to retire when it became dark, we did so. The retirement was carried out in good order by platoons and our Potijze trenches were reached about 11.00pm. Casualties Lt Col Shaw, Major Theilmann and Captain B Farrell and 12 other ranks killed. 66 other ranks wounded, 10 other ranks wounded and missing and 7 other ranks missing. [5]

Notes
Note 1	Although the Regular army had adopted the 4-Company organisation, the TF battalions were still organised as 8 half-Companies at this time.
Note 2	AO = Army Order
Note 3	19 year-old Edward Shearsmith, a native of Hull, is buried in St. Andrew's and Jesmond Cemetery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Note 4	"Callicanni Inn" is now Calecanes, on the border between France and Belgium.
Note 5	None of the officers lost on 24 April have a known grave. Lt-Col George Shaw (50, a native of North Ferriby), Major Carl Thielmann (41, from Kensington, London), and Captain Bede Farrell (33, from Hull) are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres.

This is an extract from the Battalion war diary which is held at the Public Record Office, in document WO95/2834.

My thanks to Rob Williams for this copy of the diary; one of his relatives was among the casualties on the 24 April 1915.