History of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, 1914-1919.

by P. G. Bales

The next day the men paraded for the last time and went to Ripon for dispersal. And when the time came to say the last good-bye there were many who regretted that, henceforward, their paths would lie apart. With the warmest of handshakes, and the deepest feelings of friendship and respect, we parted one from another, and the history of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment in the Great War came to an end.

APPENDIX I.
ITINERARY OF THE BATTALION.

Date of Move.	Move to.
4.8.14.	Halifax		Mobilisation of the Battalion.
5.8.14.	Hull		By train
11.8.14.	Immingham		By boat.
13.8.14.	Great Coates		By march route.
15.9.14.	Riby Park		By march route.
17.10.14.	Marsden		By train.
5.11.14.	Doncaster		By train.
14.4.15.	St. Martin’s Camp, Boulogne		By train to Folkestone; by S.S. “Invicta” to Boulogne.
15.4.15.	Estaires		By march route to Hesdigneul; by train to Merville;by march route to Estaires.
22.4.15.	Doulieu		By march route.
24.4.15.	La Croix Lescornez		By march route.
26.4.15.	No. 3 Section, Fleurbaix Sector		Relieved 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regt.
29.4.15.	La Croix Lescornez		Inter-relieving with 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
2.6.15.	No. 3 Section
5.5.15.	La Croix Lescornez
8.5.15.	Croix Blanche		By march route.
9.5.15.	No. 3 Section		Inter-relieving with 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
13.5.15.	La Croix Lescornez
17.5.15.	No. 3 Section
21.5.15.	La Croix Lescornez
25.5.15.	No. 3 Section
29.5.15.	La Croix Lescornez
2.6.15.	No. 3 Section
6.6.15.	La Croix Lescornez
12.6.15.	No. 3 Section
18.6.15.	La Croix Lescornez
25.6.15.	Sailly-sur-la-Lys		By march route.
26.6.15.	Doulieu
27.6.15.	Farms near Bailleul
29.6.15.	Flêtre
30.6.15.	Wood near St. Jans ter Biezen
7.7.15.	Canada Wood, near Elverdinghe
8.7.15.	Lancashire Farm Sector		Relieved 2nd Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
13.7.15.	Canal Bank (Bde. Res.)		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
18.7.15.	Lancashire Farm Sector
24.7.15.	Wood near Oosthoek (Divl. Res.)
30.7.15.	Lancashire Farm Sector
5.8.15.	Canal Bank (Bde. Res.)
11.8.15.	Glimpse Cottage Sector		Inter-relieving with 1/7th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
16.8.15.	Saragossa Farm (Bde. Res.)
18.8.15.	Ypres Left Sector		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
21.8.15.	Malakoff Farm (Bde. Res.)
24.8.15.	Ypres Left Sector
26.8.15.	Coppernollehoek (Divl. Res.)		Relieved by 1/4th Bn. Y. and L. Regt.
8.9.15.	Turco Farm Sector		Relieved 1/6th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt. Regt.
15.9.15.	Canal Bank (Bde. Res.)		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
21.9.15.	Turco Farm Sector
27.9.15.	Elverdinghe (Bde. Res.)
2.10.15.	Camp near Woesten-Poperinghe Road.
14.10.15.	Glimpse Cottage Sector		Relieved 1/5th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
21.10.15.	Canal Bank (Bde. Res.)		Relieved by 1/4th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
30.10.15.	Ypres Left Sector		Relieved 1/7th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
3.11.15.	Coppernollehoek (Divl. Res.)		By motor bus. Relieved by 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
11.11.15.	Ypres Left Sector		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
15.11.15.	Malakoff Farm (Bde. Res.)
19.11.15.	Ypres Left Sector
23.11.15.	Malakoff Farm (Bde. Res.)		Relieved by 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
27.11.15.	Coppernollehoek (Divl. Res.)
5.12.15.	Malakoff Farm (Bde. Res.)
9.12.15.	Ypres Left Sector		Relieved 1/5th Bn. D of W. Regt.
13.12.15.	Malakoff Farm (Bde. Res.)		Inter-relieving with 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
17.12.15.	Ypres Left Sector
20.12.15.	Elverdinghe
27.12.15.	Coppernollehoek		By march route.
30.12.15.	Poperinghe
31.12.15.	Camp near St. Jans ter Biezen
1.1.16.	Houtkerque
15.1.16.	Wormhoudt
2/3.2.16.	Camps En Amienois		By march route to Esquelbecq; by train to Longueau; by march route to Ailly; bymotor bus to Camps En Amienois.
11.2.16.	Picquigny		By march route.
12.2.16.	Molliens-au-Bois
13.2.16.	Warloy Baillon
28.2.16.	Right Section, Authuille Trenches		Relieved 1/4th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
4.3.16.	Bouzincourt		By march route.
5.3.16.	Authuille Defences
6.3.16.	Mailly-Maillet
29.3.16.	Harponville
30.3.16.	Naours
23.4.16.	Hedauville		By motor bus.
12.5.16.	Aveluy Wood		By march route.
1.6.16.	Martinsart Wood
15.6.16.	Aveluy Wood
20.6.16.	Vadencourt Wood
27.6.16.	Senlis
28.6.16.	Vadencourt Wood
30.6.16.	B Assembly Trenches, Aveluy Wood		By march route, via Senlis.
1.7.16.	Crucifix Corner, Aveluy		By march route.
2.7.16.	Johnstone’s Post		Relieved 1/5th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
5.7.16.	Right Sub-sector, Thiepval Wood		Relieved 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
7.7.16.	B Assembly Trenches, Aveluy Wood		Relieved by 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt. and 1/5th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
8.7.16.	Thiepval Wood, Right Sub-sector		Relieved 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt. and 1/5th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
11.7.16.	„   Bde. Res.		Relieved by 1/5th and 1/7th Bns. D. of W. Regt.
14.7.16.	„  Left Sub-sector		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
17.7.16.	„  Bde. Res.
21.7.16.	„  Left Sub-sector
25.7.16.	„  Bde. Res.
31.7.16.	„  Left Sub-sector
6.8.16.	„  Bde. Res.
12.8.16.	„  Left Sub-sector
19.8.16.	Raincheval		Relieved by 9th Bn. Loyal North Lancs. Regt.
27.8.16.	Forceville		By march route.
2.9.16.	Martinsart Wood		By march route.
2/3.9.16.	Thiepval Wood, Assembly Parallels		For attack on German line.
3.9.16.	Martinsart Wood		By march route.
7.9.16.	Hedauville		By march route.
15.9.16.	Martinsart Wood
16.9.16.	Crucifix Corner, Aveluy
18.9.16.	Leipsig Redoubt (Support).
21.9.16.	Leipsig Redoubt (Front Line)		Relieved 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
24.9.16.	Lealvillers		By march route. Relieved by 12th Bn. Middlesex Regt.
25.9.16.	Halloy		By march route.
27.9.16.	Humbercamps
28.9.16.	Bienvillers-au-Bois
29.9.16.	Hannescamps, Left Sub-sector		Relieved 2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
3.10.16.	Souastre		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
9.10.16.	Hannescamps, Left Sub-sector
16.10.16.	Bienvillers-au-Bois		Relieved by 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
18.10.16.	Humbercamps		By march route.
19.10.16.	St. Amand
21.10.16.	Souastre (Bde. Res.)
24.10.16.	Y Sector, Fonquevillers		Relieved 1/6th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
30.10.16.	Souastre		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
5.11.16.	Y Sector
11.11.16.	Souastre
17.11.16.	Y Sector
23.11.16.	Souastre
29.11.16.	Y Sector
5.12.16.	Warlincourt		By march route. Relieved by 1/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters.
6.12.16.	Halloy		By march route.
7.1.17.	Berles-au-Bois and Humbercamps		By march route. Relieved 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
10.1.17.	B1 Sub-sector, Berles-au-Bois		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
14.1.17.	Humbercamps
18.1.17.	B1 Sub-sector
22.1.17.	Berles-au-Bois and Humbercamps
26.1.17.	B1 Sub-sector
30.1.17.	Humbercamps
1.2.17.	Rivière (Bde. Res.)		By march route. Relieved 8th Bn. K.R.R.C.
2.2.17.	F1 Sub-sector, Rivière		Relieved 7th Bn. K.R.R.C.
7.2.17.	Rivière		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
11.2.17.	F1 Sub-sector
16.2.17.	Rivière
20.2.17.	F1 Sub-sector
22.2.17.	Bailleulval
26.2.17.	F1 Sub-sector
28.2.17.	Bailleulval		Relieved by 2/9th Bn. London Regt.
1.3.17.	Souastre		By march route.
2.3.17.	Halloy
6.3.17.	Neuvillette
7/8.3.17.	La Fosse		By march route to Doullens; by train to Merville; bymarch route to La Fosse.
9.3.17.	Senechal Farm (Bde. Res.)		By march route. Relieved 12th Bn. London Regt.
13.3.17.	Ferme du Bois Sector		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
17.3.17.	Senechal Farm
23.3.17.	Ferme du Bois Sector
29.3.17.	Senechal Farm
4.4.17.	Ferme du Bois Sector
10.4.17.	Senechal Farm
16.4.17.	Ferme du Bois Sector
22.4.17.	Senechal Farm
28.4.17.	Ferme du Bois Sector
4.5.17.	Senechal Farm
10.5.17.	Ferme du Bois Sector
16.5.17.	Senechal Farm
25.5.17.	Estaires		By march route.
26.5.17.	Sailly-sur-la-Lys		By march route.
27.5.17.	Cordonnerie Sector		Relieved 2/5th Bn. Loyal North Lancs. Regt.
3.6.17.	Rouge de Bout (Bde. Res.)		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
11.6.17.	Cordonnerie Sector
15.6.17.	Estaires		Relieved by 2/4th Bn. Loyal North Lancs. Regt.
18.6.17.	Sailly Labourse		By motor bus.
19.6.17.	Philosophe (Bde. Res.)		Relieved 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt.
25.6.17.	St. Elie Sector		Relieved 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
1.7.17.	Tower Keep, Vermelles		Relieved by 9th Bn. Suffolk Regt.
3.7.17.	L’Epinette		By march route to Philosophe; by motor bus to L’Epinette.
13.7.17.	Mardyck Camp, St. Pol		By march route to Merville; by train to Dunkerque; bymarch route to St. Pol.
18.7.17.	Bray Dunes		By march route.
20.7.17.	Ghyvelde
31.7.17.	La Panne Bains
3.8.17.	Lombartzyde Right Sub-sector		By motor bus to beyond Oost Dunkerque; by march routeto trenches. Relieved 1/5th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
9.8.17.	Presque L’Isle Defences		Inter-relieving with 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
13.8.17.	Lombartzyde Right Sub-sector
16.8.17.	Oost Dunkerque		By march route. Relieved by 20th Bn. Royal Fusiliers.
17.8.17.	Oost Dunkerque Bains		By march route. Relieved 2nd Bn. Argyle and SutherlandHighlanders on coast defence.
27.8.17.	Surrey Camp		By march route.
29.8.17.	La Panne
13.9.17.	Bray Dunes
23.9.17.	Coudekerque
24.9.17.	Wormhoudt
25.9.17.	Buysscheure
28.9.17.	Audenthun Area
30.9.17.	Longue Croix (Staple Area)
3.10.17.	Clyde Camp, near Watou
4.10.17.	Red Rose Camp, Vlamertinghe
4.10.17.	Pommern Castle (Bde. Res.)		Relieved 1st Bn. Canterbury Regt.
5.10.17.	Front Line near Abraham Heights		Relieved 3rd Bn. Canterbury and 3rd Bn. Auckland Regts.
6.10.17.	Pommern Castle		Relieved by 2/5th Bn. Manchester Regt.
9.10.17.	Peter Pan		Attacked in support of 146th Infantry Brigade.
10.10.17.	X Camp, St. Jean		Relieved by New Zealand Div.
16.10.17.	No. 3 Area, Vlamertinghe		By march route.
24.10.17.	A Camp, Winnezeele
27.10.17.	Farms near Steenvoorde
9.11.17.	Canal Area, near Ypres		By motor bus.
12.11.17.	Swan Area, near Ypres		By march route.
19.11.17.	Anzac Ridge (Bde. Res.)		Relieved 1/7th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
23.11.17.	Molenaarelsthoek Sector		Relieved 1/6th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
27.11.17.	Gordon House Area		Relieved by 1/5th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
28.11.17.	Vancouver Camp		By march route.
6.12.17.	Dragoon Camp		By march route.
7.12.17.	Keerselaarhoek Sector		Relieved 4th Bn. Suffolk Regt.
10.12.17.	Dragoon Camp		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
15.12.17.	Keerselaarhoek Sector
17.12.17.	Argyle Camp		Relieved by 1/7th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
18.12.17.	Halifax Camp		By march route.
23.12.17.	Molenaarelsthoek Sector		By train to Hellfire Corner; by march route to trenches.Relieved 1/5th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
29.12.17.	Garter Point (Bde. Res.)		Relieved by 1/5th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
4.1.18.	Infantry Barracks, Ypres		Relieved by 1/8th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
12.1.18.	Devonshire Camp		By march route.
26.1.18.	St. Silvestre Cappel		By train from Brandhoek to Caestre; by march route to billets.
5.2.18.	Moulle		By march route to Ebblinghem; by train to Watten;by march route to billets.
10.2.18.	Buysscheure		By march route.
11.2.18.	St. Silvestre Cappel		By march route.
21.2.18.	Infantry Barracks, Ypres		By march route to Caestre; by train to Ypres.
22.2.18.	Reutel Sector		Relieved 1st Bn. Otago Regt.
2.3.18.	Maida Camp		Inter-relieving with 1/5th Bn. Y. and L. Regt.
10.3.18.	Reutel Sector
18.3.18.	Westhoek and Railway Wood Dugouts
27.3.18.	Reutel Sector
3.4.18.	Maida Camp		Relieved by 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt.
9.4.18.	Camp near Reninghelst		By march route.
10.4.18.	Erquinghem		By motor bus to La Crèche; by march route, via LeVeau, to Erquinghem.
10.4.18.	Nieppe		By march route. (Battle of the Lys).
11.4.18.	S.E. of Bailleul
12.4.18.	Bailleul
15.4.18.	S. of St. Jans Cappel
18.4.18.	St. Jans Cappel
20.4.18.	Mont Noir
21.4.18.	Mont des Cats		By march route.
21.4.18.	Poperinghe		By march route.
25.4.18.	Ouderdom		By march route. (Battle of Kemmel.)
25.4.18.	Millekruisse (Bde. Res.)
1.5.18.	Millekruisse (Front Line)
3.5.18.	Camp S. of Poperinghe
4.5.18.	Road Camp, St. Jans ter Biezen		By march route.
14.5.18.	Camp near St. Martin-au-Laert		By motor bus.
19.5.18.	Road Camp, St. Jans ter Biezen		By motor bus.
22.5.18.	Penton Camp, Proven		By march route.
26.5.18.	Road Camp, St. Jans ter Biezen		By march route.
3.6.18.	Zillebeke Sector		By light railway to Vlamertinghe; by march route totrenches. Relieved 15th Bn. K.R.R.C.
11.6.18.	Bde. Res. near Goldfish Chateau		Relieved by 1/7th Bn. D. of W. Regt.
20.6.18.	Siege Camp (Divl. Res.)		Relieved by 1/5th Bn. Y. and L. Regt.
29.6.18.	Sector N. of Menin Road		Relieved 1/7th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
15.7.18.	Siege Camp		Relieved by 1/5th Bn. Y. and L. Regt.
23.7.18.	Bde. Res. near Goldfish Chateau		Relieved 1/6th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
1.8.18.	Zillebeke Sector		Relieved 2nd Bn. 118th American Inf. Regt.
7.8.18.	Brielen Line		Relieved by 3rd Bn. 117th American Inf. Regt.
8.8.18.	Siege Camp		Relieved by 1/4th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I.
16.8.18.	Menin Road Sector		Relieved 1/5th Bn. Y. and L. Regt.
20.8.18.	Wood near Oosthoek		Relieved by 5th Bn. Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.
23.8.18.	Nielles-lez-Ardres		By light railway to Proven; by train to Audruicq; bymarch route to billets.
28.8.18.	Siracourt and Beauvois		By march route to Nortkerque; by train to Wavrans;by march route to billets.
1.9.18.	Camblain L’Abbé		By motor bus.
13.9.18.	Wakefield Camp, near Roclincourt		By march route.
23.9.18.	Feuchy		By march route.
6.10.18.	Bivouacs near Buissy		By motor bus.
9.10.18.	Sunken road S. of Haynecourt		By march route.
10.10.18.	Railway embankment near Escaudœuvres
11.10.18.	Assembly positions on Iwuy—Rieux Road
11.10.18.	Ridge S.E. of Iwuy		Captured in battle.
12.10.18.	Vordon Wood, W. of La Selle River		Following up retreating enemy.
14.10.18.	Area S.W. of Avesnes-le-Sec		Relieved by 1/7th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
16.10.18.	Vordon Wood		Relieved 1/7th Bn. W. Yorks. Regt.
18.10.18.	Naves		Relieved by 1st Bn. Warwickshire Regt.
21.10.18.	Le Bassin Rond		By march route.
27.10.18.	Douchy
28.10.18.	Thiant—Moncheaux Road
31.10.18.	Sunken Road S. of Maing
1.11.18.	Bde. Support near La Rhonelle River
2.11.18.	Haulchin		Relieved by units of 169th Inf. Bde.
3.11.18.	Douchy		By march route.
4.11.18.	Auby		By motor bus.
20.3.19.	Douai		By march route.
7.6.19.	A Camp, near Dunkerque		By train.
8.6.19.	No. 3 Camp, near Dunkerque		By march route.
16/17.6.19.	Southampton		By S.S. “St. George”; transport on S.S. “Clutha.”
17.6.19.	London		By train.
18.6.19.	Halifax
19.6.19.	Ripon Dispersal Camp

APPENDIX II.
NOMINAL ROLL OF OFFICERS WHO SERVED WITH THE BATTALION ABROAD.

In compiling the list of officers, the following rules have been adhered to:—

1. In the case of officers who went out with the original Battalion, the rank stated was that held on April 14th, 1915.

2. In the case of officers who joined the Battalion after April 14th, 1915, the rank stated was that held at the date the officer reported for duty.

3. Decorations, a list of which will be found in Appendix V., have been omitted, except the following:—

(a) Territorial Decoration. (b) Decorations won by officers before they joined the Battalion.

4. This record is a Battalion record. Hence, only service with the Battalion is shown.