Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall

A Great War trio awarded to Captain L.C. Adye, West Riding Regiment, who was wounded at Hill 60 in May 1915, and again on the First Day of the Somme in July 1916

1914-15 STAR (2.Lieut., W. Rid. R.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (Capt.) very fine (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall.

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The following extracts are taken from the Regimental History:

German Gas Attack on Hill 60.

'On May 4th we received orders to relieve the Devons on Hill 60 and took over trenches 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45. The relief was complete by 3.30 am. on the 5th. The trenches we took over were not the same as those we had captured on April 18th, some of these having in the interval been regained by the Germans, but still we were on the crest and we meant to hold it.

'Alas, what would have happened under natural circumstances was impossible under supernatural ones. At 8 am. the Germans, aided by a favourable wind, sent over asphyxiating gas (chlorine) with disastrous effects, a proceeding rightly described by the Commander-in-Chief in his despatch of June 15th as 'a cynical and barbarous disregard of the well-known usages of civilized war, and a flagrant defiance of the Hague Convention.' Gas had been first employed by the enemy on April 22nd at the commencement of the second Battle of Ypres and fully effective counter-measures had not yet been established. We had not received gas masks yet, only a piece of gauze soaked in a preparation prepared by the medical authorities. This solution after a few minutes required renewing, a procedure absolutely impossible, of course, in action. On came this terrible stream of death, and before anything could be done, all those occupying the front line over which it swept were completely overcome, the majority dying at their posts - true heroes. By this foul means the Germans quickly got possession of trenches 40, 43, 45, there being practically no one then left to hold them. Capt. G.W. Robins, East Yorkshire Regiment, attached to the Battalion was the last man to leave of the few who managed to crawl away, and he, poor fellow, died in agony that night from the effects of the gas.

'Our support trenches 38, 39, some 100 yards in rear, were held secure, also a small portion of the front line trench 40 on the lower slopes of the crest line was reoccupied. The few holders of these, assisted by strong reinforcements from the Dorset Regiment, counterattacked and regained some of the lost trenches, but the actual crest of the hill remained in the enemy's hands. 'The Battalion suffered over 300 casualties that morning, large numbers dying as a result of this barbarous gas. The writer will never forget the sight of men writing in agony and slowly dying from the asphyxiating effects of the chlorine, nor of the feeling of helplessness at being unable to do anything for them.'

The officers present with the Battalion on May 5th are then listed and include 2nd Lieut. L.C. Adye who is noted as being wounded.

Battle of the Somme

At 5.30 a.m., July 1st, in the assembly trenches south of Sucerie, the 'Duke's' took breakfast. Hot tea, vegetable, and meat rations. Thus do we moderns make war! At 8.55 am., with breakfasts well digested, the leading companies moved out of the assembly trenches and commenced the advance; but within half an hour unexpected orders came for the Battalion to halt. So far casualties had been light. Runners went forward to halt the companies, which No. 4 Company did, but in order to avoid an unpleasant barrage the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies continued their advance and gained the German front lines, some men even reaching the German second line. For some time no information was received from any of the companies. Meanwhile Battalion Headquarters had been established in Taupin trench, from whence men could be seen retiring to what appeared to be the German second line. Here they were reorganized, and what remained of the 11th Brigade, with the leading Battalion of the 18th Brigade, pushed on again. They were eventually forced to retire owing to being enfiladed by machine-gun fire from Serre and Beaumont Hamel. A portion of the troops, made up from men of various units, remained in the quadrilateral till dusk and then retired to their own trenches. About 3.30 p.m. Lieut. Colonel Bray was sent for by the Brigadier, who told him to reorganize and hold the Brigade's front line. The sector to be held reached from the junction of Trelawney and Wulf trenches to Cat Street. B.H.Q. was in Valade trench. Colonel Bray was placed in command of the King's Own, the Essex and the 'Duke's' to hold this sector. The trenches held by the Battalion were Burrow, Wulf, and Legend; Lieuts. Davis and Sugden being in command, the other officers being 2nd Lieuts. Homfray, Harry, Johnston, and Maunder. Neither the King's Own nor the Essex had any officers with them.

The night was comparatively quiet and the Battalion took over a little more of the line from the 1st Rifle Brigade. The total casualties for the day were heavy in officers, being 3 killed and 11 wounded. Of N.C.O's and men 18 were killed, 251 wounded, and 40 missing. The officers killed were Capt. C.L. Hart, Lieut. N.W. Hadwen, and 2nd Lieut, C.H. Bowes. Wounded, Capt. K.J. Milln, Lieuts. A.F. Hemming, L.C. Adye, S.R. Lord, D.N. Brown, H.R. Thelwell, C.R. Sanderson, E.S. Plumb, S.B. Kington, C.W.G. Grimley, G.D. Johnston.