Today we lost: 1010
Monday 9th October 1916
Today’s losses include:
- A Battalion Commander
- A Victoria Cross winner
- Multiple families that will two and three sons in the Great War
- A man whose son will be killed in November 1940
- A man whose nephew sill be killed in July 1940
- Multiple sons of members of the clergy
- An International footballer
Air Operations:
Addendum to 8th October:
The Deutsche Luftstreitkrafte—known before October 1916 as the Fleigertruppen des Deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Flying Corps) or simply Die Fliegertruppe was the air arm of the German Army, of which it remained an integral part. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air Service, although that is not a literal translation of either name. German naval aviators serving with the Marine-Fliegerabteilung remained an integral part of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Both military branches, the army and navy, operated conventional aircraft, observation balloons and Zeppelins.
During 1916, the German High Command, in response to Allied air superiority, reorganized their forces by creating several types of specialist units, most notably single-seat fighter squadrons, or Jastas as the contraction of Jagdstaffel (literally "hunting squadron"), in order to counter the offensive operations of the Royal Flying Corps and the French Aviation Militaire.
Following the era of the KEK units through the summer of 1916, Jagdstaffeln (hunting squadrons), established by the reorganization that started by the late summer of 1916 were fielded by four kingdoms of the German Empire.
Western Front: Adjutants Baron and Chazard bombard by night the Bosch magneto factory at Stuttgart.
Levant: U.F.C. bombs Tigris camp.
Britain: 2 minor flying incident:
Whilst flying a BE2c with 58 Squadron UK, RFC, AM 1 Edwards was wounded on his first solo when trying to complete a sharp turn downwind at 200ft the aircraft dived into the ground.
Whilst flying a Sopwith with 28 Reserve Squadron UK, RFC, 2Lt EB Mason was wounded as his engine stalled. He was unable to restart the engine and caught by a strong wind side slipped into the ground.
Royal Flying Corps Losses today: No deaths are recorded today.
Claims: There are no claims for today.
Western Front
64° - 50° fine day.
Somme:
British advance easy of Le Sars towards Butte de Warlencourt, 25th Division captures Stuff Redoubt.
Tunstills Men Monday 9th October 1916:
Front line trenches south of Le Sars
On the night of the 8th /9th 15th Division relieved 23rd Division. At 12.30 am 6th Cameron Highlanders began to relieve the Battalion and the last men were clear of the trenches by 3.35 am. They then began the weary eight-mile march back to billets in Albert. A break was taken en route near Round Wood, “to feed and rest the men who are very exhausted. Practically no sleep had been obtained by the men for the last six days and it was with difficulty that they could struggle through the deep mud for the long distance, even to Round Wood”; the only consolation being that the weather was fine and mild.
On arrival in Albert a warning order was received that 23rd Division was was to be temporarily transferred to X Corps and be moved to the Ailly-le-Haut Clocher area, with the move, by train, planned for 11th and 12th; 69th Brigade was expected to move on 12th, with transport moving the previous day. It was ordered that billeting parties should be made ready to move to the Poperinghe area on 15th.
In Albert they were joined by newly-arrived Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke, who was the replacement for Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 4th October).
Total casualties for the actions around Le Sars were recorded in the War Diary as: Officers - 3 killed, 4 wounded, 1 shell shock. Other Ranks: 38 killed, 107 wounded, 10 missing, 21 shell shock.
In his official report of the actions around Le Sars, Brig. Genl. T.S. Lambert (see passim) was clearly outraged by the press reporting of events: “In the description given by the Times correspondent of the capture of Le Sars it was stated that the operation was effected without difficulty, the enemy surrendering freely; this description gives a totally wrong impression as the correspondent would have learnt had he spent the previous and succeeding days in the open country with the troops in front of Brigade Headquarters and I should be glad if on a future occasion that correspondent might be invited to do so. The enemy surrendered only when compelled to do so and after offering as much resistance as he was able”.
Lambert also gave his more personal account of recent events in a letter home to his wife,
“We are back again in comparative quiet for a bit and I can tell you we were not sorry … The men were magnificent but absolutely done carrying their things back. The mud was awful and of course most of them had practically had no real sleep for a whole week, so it was not surprising that some of them could barely get along. However we won our village and the new victory put a wonderfully new aspect on things in general. We had a long trek back over many miles of awful slush and they were carrying heavy weights too. They got back about 10am had a rest for an hour or two and some food and then marched on again. I am staying here for a night as it is convenient but it is well back and comparatively peaceful. The two brigades captured about eight machine guns and 474 officers and men and everyone has been sending congratulations as usual. I dare say say you will see something about it in the papers. Of course it was different from Contalmaison which was purely my own show, but I had to do a good deal of the arranging for this and I am glad they were so successful. Our greatest enemy this time perhaps was the weather, though the shelling was perhaps the heaviest we have yet experienced and the machine gun fire very severe. But like good Yorkshiremen they went at it and bagged the lot! This makes our fourth definite victory exclusive of what may be called the more minor battles for parts of trenches. Horseshoe, Contalmaison, Munster Alley and Le Sars give us a record we can be very proud of as we have roped in a good many thousand prisoners all told now besides some 16 machine guns and a field gun and a lot of other stuff. Considering the time my men had had for the four previous days and that we were in for seven days all told, it was a fine effort for the wet and the mud had made everyone absolutely miserable physically of course. I was glad enough to get back this morning and I had my clothes off for the first time for a week and a hot bath in a big wooden tub!
It was fine this morning fortunately. Of course the men could hardly even lie down during the week as the place was generally nearly all mud. Much less could they ever take their boots off, and they had no greatcoats but only a leather jerkin and a waterproof sheet to keep the wet off. Most of them were pretty well covered in mud. It has been colder today. I expect we move back further tomorrow and shall I hope go for a rest”.
Pte. William Hoyle (see 4th October) returned to duty, following treatment for facial wounds he had suffered at Le Sars.
An official telegram was also sent from the War Office to the father of Lt. Harry Harris (see 7th October) informing him that his son had been killed in action.
An official telegram was also sent from the War Office to the family of 2Lt. Robert Main Graham (see 7th October) informing them that their son had been wounded; he had in fact been killed in action on 4th October.
Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 23rd September), who had been England since being wounded in action at Munster Alley, reported for duty with 3DWR (83rd Training Reserve) at North Shields, having been declared fit for home service.
Pte. Richard Butler, who had a series of brushes with military discipline and was currently in England, having been treated for wounds suffered in the actions at Munster Alley in July (see 20th September) again found himself in trouble; he was reported absent from the Regimental Depot at Halifax from 9.30am. His absence was reported by Sergeants Teasdale and Gill.
A final statement was taken regarding 2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 3rd October) who was officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the attack on Munster Alley. The informant, onboard the Hospital Ship Maheno, was Sgt. Richard Farrar. He stated;
“He was killed by shrapnel in our line called Munster Alley during the night of July 30th (sic.). I was present and saw this. His body was buried at first in our trenches and I do not know if it was ever recovered. The grave was marked. The spot is about 1 ½ miles on the right front of Contalmaison.”
Sgt. Farrar, who had been wounded on 4th October, was subsequently transferred to 2DWR.
A payment of £5 7s was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Claude Smith Slater (see 12th August), who had died of wounds on 9th July. The payment would go to his widowed mother, Annie.
2Lt. Arthur Poynder Garratt (see 10th September), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, having recovered from an accidental injury while serving with 9DWR, appeared before a Medical Board at South Shields and was declared fit for general service; he would shortly be posted to join 10DWR.
Lt. Paul James Sainsbury, (see 15th September) who would later serve with 10DWR, appeared before a Medical Board convened at Caxton Hall Hospital, London. The Board reported on his condition: “Sleep – fair, but occasionally dreams unpleasantly; no headache but he would be improved by another 3 week holiday, after which it is probable he will be fit for general service”.
Eastern Front:
Enemy takes Torzburg (south west of Kronstadt).
Galicia: East of Brzezany enemy assumes offensive, fighting on the Volhynia front.
Southern Front:
Macedonia: Allied forces advance on both wings.
Serbs attack enemy’s 3rd and last line of defence in Cherna loop, capture positions at Slivitza; Bulgarians retire north of Brod.
British advance posts within 5,000 yards of Seres.
Eighth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian 2nd and 3rd Armies; 225 Battalions; 26 dismounted squadrons; 1,305 guns and 883 mortars attack Austrian 5th Army, 107 Battalions and 538 guns.
Trentino: Italians regain north slope of Mt Pasubio, more progress in Vallarsa Valley, repel counter attacks. 372 PoW taken and * guns.
Naval Operations:
Shipping Losses: 2
Neutrals:
Greece: Venizelos arrives in Salonika, receives a great ovation, forms new provisional government (Oct 10th – Allies recognise Oct 16th); Lambros heads new official government (Oct 8th), M. Zalocosta, Foreign Affairs; Gen Drako, War.
Political:
British Royal Commission on wheat and flour control appointed.
Anniversary Events:
28 BC The Temple of Apollo is dedicated on the Palatine Hill in Rome. 1470 Henry VI of England restored to the throne. 1760 Austrian and Russian troops enter Berlin and begin burning structures and looting. 1779 The Luddite riots being in Manchester, England in reaction to machinery for spinning cotton. 1781 Americans begin shelling the British surrounded at Yorktown. 1825 The first Norwegian immigrants to America arrive on the sloop Restaurationen. 1863 Confederate cavalry raiders return to Chattanooga after attacking Union General William Rosecrans' supply and communication lines all around east Tennessee. 1888 The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills, opens to the public. 1914 Germans take Antwerp, Belgium, after 12-day siege.
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