Formerly Hussars 25707 – Medal Index Card entered France 7 July 1915 with 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment – Effects to Widow and Administrator Estha Annie – Commemorated East Yorkshire Regiment War Memorial Beverley Minster East Yorkshire
2nd Battalion History
The night of 27th/28th was spent in the utmost discomfort, all around were signs and sounds of the great struggle raging in the front line, and these, combined with the wretched conditions of the bivouacs, which the rain had turned into something approaching a quagmire, dissipating all chances of sleep. The Battalion was, however, early astir, for at 2.10 a.m. on 28th, Brigade Headquarters received orders to despatch a battalion to Vermelles Church, where it would be met by a staff officer from the 7th Division, who would guide the Battalion to where the 7th Division wanted it. The 2nd East Yorkshire’s were detailed, and at 3 a.m. marched off to Vermelles, where the Battalion came under the orders of 7th Division, and was led by the staff officer into some reserve trenches near the Headquarters of the 22nd Brigade. ln this position the Battalion passed the whole day from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., shelled frequently, though only 5 casualties were suffered. During the evening ” B ” and ” C ” Companies were moved up to trenches west of the Quarry, relieving the Royal Scots and Middlesex, who had already received a hard gruelling. The relief was completed about 2 a.m. on 29th. As soon as dawn had broken, the East Yorkshire’s became involved with the enemy, for about 7 a.m. the Germans began a heavy bombing attack down St. Elie trench, held apparently by a battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment. Two squads of East Yorkshire bombers, under 2nd Lieut. L. B. Frere, were sent off to reinforce the South Stafford’s and successfully beat off the attack and forced the enemy back. Next, about 9 a.m., the Germans broke through the line of the Buffs on the left of the 2nd East Yorkshire’s and attacked the left Company (“C”) of the latter Battalion. But again 2nd Lieut. Frere, with his splendid bombers, broke up the attack and reoccupied the trenches vacated by the Buffs. The cost, however, had been great, for during this affair, Captain E. S. Wilson and2nd Lieut. Frere were killed and 2nd Lieuts. G. Lister and A. Jenkins wounded: about 90 men of ” C” Company had also become casualties.
The most desperate fighting of that long day went on about the Quarries and the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Attacks and counter—attacks by the opposing forces were frequent and trenches changed hands again and again. It was a real ” bomber’s day,” but the British hand grenades were inferior to those used by the Germans. Indeed, amongst a batch of “Field messages” preserved with the official diaries, there are several complaining of the poor quality of the bombs compared with those used by the enemy. The supply also was very limited, whereas the Germans had apparently an unlimited number at their disposal.
During the afternoon, another heavy bombing attack by the enemy was made on the Middlesex Regiment on the left of the line in Big Willie. The Germans advanced in considerable strength, flinging their bombs with deadly accuracy. Once again the East Yorkshiremen drove the enemy back, 2nd Lieut. R.J.H. Gatrell, with two squads of bombers, retaking the whole of the line gained by the Germans from the Middlesex and enabling the latter to reoccupy their former position.
But these repeated counter-attacks had weakened the 2nd East Yorkshire’s, whose losses throughout that day of trial had been heavy, so that the C.O., in replying to a message from Brigade H.Qs.,* explains his situation in the following terms: ” Your B.M. 957 received aaa. If Middlesex call on us for assistance we will be unable to relieve all the units specified in your B.M. 950 aaa.
Even under your instructions I consider I am holding the line thinly with one of my companies reduced by half and three officer casualties in that company aaa The situation in Middlesex line is not known except that our bombers have driven back the German bombers to a point between 35 and 4,2 G.5.a. Our bombers have sunered severely during the day, repulsed German counter-attack from Slag Alley and direction of Point 35 on behalf of other battalions and are now so reduced that they are only able to hold the ground gained aaa The second-class bombs sent to-day have helped largely in producing these casualties aaa I shall require at least 1,500 first-class grenades before moving, as my stock now is nearly run out aaa The Germans appear to have an immense reserve and succeed always in producing bombs when our own have finished aaa Under these conditions can I carry on with relief as arranged aaa I have not seen K.O,Y.L.I. bombers for two hours.”