A quiet six months (January - June 1916): Difference between revisions
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After a few weeks on French soil the [[Lonsdale Battalion|Lonsdales]] were beginning to gain some experience, something the Territorials and more so, the Regulars, had ample of. Although they had not yet been involved in any major battles, the unpleasant side of trench warfare soon enough revealed itself. Men who had grown up together, enlisted together. Those border men of Cumberland and Westmorland, of various towns and villages who had never met before, had spent months training together in Carlisle. They had built up friendships and soon some of those friends, those ‘pals’ would be decimated, victims of shell, machine gun and sniper fire. Every day presented itself with a different challenge but the most uncompromising yet simple challenge of all was not to get shot or wounded. Simple mistakes cost the men, sometimes with their lives. [[Percy Wilfred Machell|Lt-Col. Machell]] had concerns for the wellbeing of his men, however, even when times were difficult and the constant thought of being killed at any moment was ever at the forefront in anyone’s imaginings, the men still banded together. Both commanding officer and the men serving under his command had a mutual respect for each other. It was the start of 1916 and the Lonsdales journey was only just beginning.
It was a quiet start to the year. Seven days on and seven days off in billets for support seemed to be the normal rotation.<ref name="wylly77">{{wylly|pageno=77}}</ref> However, according to the Battalion war diary, throughout the entirety of January the Lonsdales did not endure hardships. Several days were
The month of February was spent in much the same way. When they were at the front there seemed to be very little in the way of enemy activity. Even when, on the [[9 February]], a heavy {{gw|bombardment}} ensued, casualties were minimal with one man killed and another wounded. The Lonsdales seemed to have luck on their side until the big offensive of July, which we will come to shortly. By the [[12 February]] the Lonsdales were in [[Albert (Somme)|Albert]], this time supplying working parties<ref group="lower-alpha">A group of soldiers (or prisoners) that are assigned to perform manual tasks or duties, for their own or other units.</ref> for the Royal Engineers. On the [[18 February]] they were supplying fatigues at Henencourt and again at Millencourt on the [[27 February]]. The weather had been particularly bad during this period with snow, frost and thaw alternating. As a result the ground was sodden and trenches were in a bad state of repair, some falling in. On the [[7 March]] a small shelter in a support line was shelled and the three occupants were buried. One man suffered from {{gw|shell shock}}, six were killed (four of which were {{gw|NCO}}s) and another NCO was wounded by a piece of shrapnel from a High Explosive shell.<ref name="wdmar16">[[11th Battalion War Diary, March 1916]].</ref> Whilst the Lonsdales were not involved in any battles they did, however, suffer a few more casualties during the rest of the month, the majority being from rifle grenades, {{gw|shrapnel}} and High Explosive shells - a high percentage out on working parties. On the [[24 March]] they had a little respite in rest billets at Dernancourt, then five days later they were back at the front when 2nd Lieuts. Davidson and Monkhouse joined the Battalion.
If the first three months of 1916 were relatively quiet then the latter half of April and beginning of May would be considered the quietest yet. It would be easy to conclude, especially from the steady pattern of several days at the front and several days in [[gw:billet|billets]] the Lonsdales were used to, that nothing of any particular note happened. In most cases this is true. The war diary shows very little activity at the front but they were kept busy. The month started off with three very quiet days and fortunately, there was only one minor casualty. On the [[2 April]] a raid on German lines was postponed due to an unusually bright night<ref name="wdmar16" /> where, without the cover of darkness, raids into enemy territory were simply impossible. Two days later the Lonsdales were billeting at Senlis where the following seven days were spent resting, cleaning up and various training activities. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred until the [[14 April]] when A Company was sent to an isolation camp at Senlis.<ref name="wdmar16" /> Three days later the Lonsdales were quarantined in Contay Wood with a severe case of the measles<ref name="wylly77" /> and remained there until [[13 May]]. Whilst measles is uncommon in the UK today because of the advances in vaccination, in 1916 things were a little different. One of the most effective ways to combat this highly infectious (but not life threatening) viral illness was to ensure it didn’t spread further. Containing the infection from the onset was the most realistic action to take. Those that were ill spent isolation convalescing, those that didn't show any of the typical signs continued as normal and that meant training. Away from the immediate dangers of the front line and with plenty of time on their hands, the Lonsdales were involved mainly with small working parties, Battalion training and {{gw|Brigade}} and [[gw:Division|Divisional]] manoeuvres; keeping the men busy as not to idle the hours away when it could be spent more effectively. During isolation 2nd Lieuts. Green and Machell and 92 {{gw|other ranks}} joined the Battalion.
[[File:Gerald Spring-Rice.jpg|thumb|
During their time after isolation the men continued as if nothing had changed. Even when they spent time away from the immediate dangers of the front line, they were still involved with labouring tasks when supposedly resting in support billets.<ref name="bardgett17">{{Bardgett|pageno=17}}</ref> The war was a machine with abundant moving parts. The Lonsdales, like many other units in a similar position, along with the upper echelons of command at battalion, brigade and divisional level, were the cogs that kept the war machine in motion even when little of any note happened. Repetitiveness was commonplace when not involved in battle. Like countless times before, the running up of water, {{gw|rations}} and ammunition from the [[gw:dump|supplies dump]], not to mention providing fatigues for any manner of manual labour always filled the hours of the day just as it did with time spent in the trenches, planning raids and carrying out other equally dangerous tasks. The Lonsdales unwavered in their duties and when they rested they were still busy. This was the life of a soldier, pure and simple. But when the men were granted leave, time was not wasted and the soldier’s pay of one shilling a day was invariably spent making the most of what could be considered the closest thing to social normality by way of populating the local cafes in nearby villages around Albert enjoying the local fayre and writing letters to loved ones.<ref name="bardgett17" />
The Lonsdales completed their month in Contay Wood and soon after were involved again in battalion training and small working parties with Lieutenants [[Gerald Spring-Rice]] and C. W. Fowke, from the [[9th Border Regiment]], reported their arrival on the [[15 May]]. The Lonsdales moved back to Bouzincourt and then on to the front line of the [[Authuille]] Sector taking over from the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers, close to the German strong-hold on the [[
:{{quote-left}}Before he joined he had done splendid work as Secretary of the Executive Committee, and from the time of his appointment as Transport Officer until the day of his death he devoted his entire energies to the welfare of the Battalion, in the formation of which he had such an important share.
By the end of May 1916 half of the Battalion was billeted at the now familiar Bouzincourt whilst the other half bivouacked at Aveluy Wood. The 96th Brigade relieved the [[
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[[Category:Battalion history|04]]
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