On June 16th, Lieut.-Col. Bateman, D.S.O., who had returned to the Battalion early in the year, crossed the Channel with his small party, and on June 19th the cadre enjoyed a civic reception from the town of Skipton, before depositing in the ancient parish church the regimental colours, which had been taken to France after the Armistice. Later in the day the cadre, with Lieut.-Col. Birkbeck, Major Clarkson, D.S.O., M.C., and a number of other returned officers, was entertained at a late luncheon by the Skipton Urban District Council, with Councillor John Walker in the chair.
THE STORES AND TRANSPORT.
In this narrative of the fighting there has been little opportunity to do full justice to the stiff work gallantly done by the Transport Section and by the band of handy men collected under the Quartermaster’s command and commonly known as “the Stores.” Upon their efforts the comfort, well-being, and general fighting efficiency of a battalion in the field largely depend, and in the case of the ⅙th the companies in the line never lacked their hearty support.
When the cadre returned to Skipton it was only fitting that one of the officers to carry the colours should be Capt. John Churchman, D.C.M., for he holds a truly remarkable record. When he went to France he was by many years the oldest officer in the battalion, yet till the cadre was finally dispersed at Ripon, except for terms of short leave, he had never been off duty for a day. To him the battalion owes a deep debt of gratitude. He was well supported by Quartermaster-Sergt. Norton, M.S.M., who, coming to France with the 147th Brigade headquarters, rejoined the 6th in the early days at Ypres and also remained throughout the war. Much valuable work along various lines was also done by Corporal Ward, Corporal Aspinal, Lance-Corporal Jenkinson, Privates Newhouse, Walker and Maudsley in the Ration Dept.; Shoemaker-Sergt. Bulcock and Corporal Busfield (tailor) in the Repairs Dept.
The Transport section, ever most cheery when work was hardest, was given a good start by Capt. S. H. Clough, M.C., who took them to France and only left them on getting command of his company after a strenuous winter in the muddy salient. Lieut. Morgan Bevan had charge for a time and was then succeeded by Lieut. C. M. Perfect, who led them gallantly through the bad times of Passchendaele and the fighting round Bailleul. When he returned home after an accident, he was followed by Lieut. Sidebotham. But all would willingly acknowledge how much they owed to Sergt. Field, M.M., M.S.M., the transport sergeant. Sergt. Bryden, M.M., early distinguished himself, and with that genial giant, Corporal Kay, M.M., Privates Howard and Williamson, and a few more, was very prominent in the difficult nightly marches to the Broodseinde ridge with pack horses, when shells fell thickly all round and a single step off the narrow wooden track spelled disaster. In the desperate fighting at Nieppe, the 6th Batt. transport alone was able to get through the shell-swept street of the town and kept its record for always taking rations to the line. To the men of the Transport, too, belongs the main credit for a wonderful performance at Merville Station, when the whole battalion, complete with horses, mules, waggons, cookers, watercarts and everything else, was loaded on a train ready to start eighteen minutes after entering the station yard. Their genial kindliness always attracted to their lines a curious and devoted collection of stray dogs, goats, and children, and they will always be affectionately remembered by “the lads” in the companies, for whom they would always willingly undertake the most hazardous journey.
Of the Medical Section, largely recruited from the Barnoldswick branch of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, it need only be said that it played a prominent part in every action that has been mentioned, and the long list of honours that fell to its share is ample testimony to the excellence of its work. The standard set up by Capt. Haddow and Sergt. Garrett, D.C.M., in the early days was maintained throughout. When Capt. Haddow was wounded at the opening of the battle of the Somme, he was succeeded by Capt. Glover, who did admirable work through the Thiepval fighting, but was recalled soon after to an important post at home. For the remainder of the war the battalion enjoyed the valuable services of Capt. S. P. Stoker, M.C., who set his men a constant example of cheeriness and kindheartedness through the many dark days that followed. In addition to his skill as a doctor and assiduity as sanitary inspector he possessed distinct gifts as an after-dinner speaker, and when, after the Armistice, he was transferred to the Army of the Rhine, he took with him the good wishes of all ranks in his old battalion.
| COL. JOHN BIRKBECK. | LIEUT.-COL. C. M. BATEMAN, D.S.O., T.D. |