Lewis Gun.
The gun had been invented in 1911 by an American Colonel Lewis, but was quickly brought into service by the British in 1915.
Its main advantages were that it weighed 28 pounds and could be fired by a single soldier.
The machine gun then in use, the Vickers, needed a team of men, weighed twice as much and cost six times as much.
All the infantry riflemen were instructed in its use, one man carrying the gun and firing while a second carried
the ammunition and reloaded.
[Photo retouched copy by website.]
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14th FEBRUARY, The dump was shelled at intervals during the day, but everything was comparatively quiet until 3 p.m
when the Germans began to bombard.
A barrage was fired down "the cutting and also between Verbranden Molen and the Dump".
To the right of the Bn the shelling appeared to be slightly more heavy, if possible.
At 5 p.m the enemy exploded a Mine under H1 bombing sap, but did not attempt to occupy the crater it caused.
The bombardment continued until 8 p.m, when it slackened slightly.
It was then possible to take account of the damage done by the Germans. 13 men had been killed and 5 men badly bruised
by the explosion of the mine.
Trenches 37L and 38 were breached in two places and the Lewis Gun in 38 trench buried, but was dug out during the
height of the bombardment.
The edge of the crater was immediately held after the explosion and work commenced digging through to it.
Support and all communication trenches were badly knocked about.
Two men were dug out alive from the trench near the crater and one man picked up alive after having been blown 40
yards. He died soon after he had been brought in.
The Brigade HQ Diary recorded - "The 4th Yorkshires [Green Howards] in spite of their losses (1 officer killed,
2 wounded, 20 other ranks killed and 51 wounded) from the bombardments and explosion of mines, were cheerful and
unshaken."
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Bedford House Cemetery.
Situated about 2k South of Ypres and just west of Zillebeke on the site of Chateau Rosendal.
25 men of the 4th Yorks Battalion are buried here.
[Picture courtesy of - "WW1Cemeteries.com".]
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The South Staffs reported that they were out of grenades and 36 boxes were sent to them.
The following men were killed in action this day and all are buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground:-
3940 Pte Beswick George, Digby. Born at Middleham.
Enlisted at Masham, N Yorks.
399 CSM Binks John. Home at - 127 High St, Marske, N Yorks, place of Birth.
Enlisted Redcar, N Yorks. Age 37.
3326 Pte Blundy George W. Home at - Skelton in Cleveland N Yorks. Enlisted at
Saltburn.
2168 Pte Douglas Sydney. Home at - 4 Granville Tce, Redcar, N Yorks, town of birth
and enlistment. Age 24.
3155 Pte Dove Sydney. Home at Lingdale N Yorks. Enlisted at Margrove Park, N Yorks.
Killed in action
3194 Pte Eddon Robert. Born and enlisted at Guisborough N Yorks.
593 Sgt Foxton James. Born at South Bank, Middlesbrough and enlisted at Redcar, N Yorks.
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A view of Railway Dugouts Cemetery before the Commonwealth War Graves Commission began work.
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974 Cpl Grey George. Home at Stockton on Tees. Enlisted at Yarm N Yorks.
1838 Pte Haw John, Stanley. Home at - 30 Maison Diew, Richmond, N Yorks. Born at York
and enlisted at Redcar, N Yorks. Age 18.
1718 L/Cpl Henderson James. Home at - 93 High St, Redcar, N Yorks, place of birth
and enlistment. Age 21.
2882 Pte Hodgson George T. Home at West Loftus N Yorks.
2148 Pte Hunter Tom. Born and enlisted at Northallerton, N Yorks.
3058 Pte Lawson Thomas, Kelsey. Home at Lynton, Devonshire Rd, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough,
N Yorks, place of enlistment. Age 23.
2189 Pte Sproul John. Of "Y" Company. Home at 36 Aire St, South Bank, Middlesbrough.
Born Leith Scotland. Enlisted at Stokesley. Age 20.
3520 Pte Rumbello Gilbert. Home at Station Rd, North Ferriby, Yorks. Enlisted
at Richmond, N Yorks. Age 25.
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Sgt Augustine W Martin.
Killed in action, 14th Feb 1916.
| 2215 Sgt Martin Augustine. Born and enlisted at Northallerton, N Yorks.
Age 39.
Sgt Martin was married on 3rd November 1906 at Stockton Parish Church. His wife's
name was Nellie (nee Harland) with whom he lived at 3 New Row, Northallerton and they had one son.
Before the War he worked as an agent for the Refuge Insurance Company.
He was a very accomplished athlete and particularly enjoyed cross- country running. He was also a member of the
Northallerton Branch of the British Red Cross Society.
His photograph shows him in the uniform of the Army Service Corps and it is assumed therefore, that he was a member of
this Corps before joining the 4th Yorkshires, with whom he was serving, in "W" Company, when he was killed.
He was killed, aged 39, near Ypres at approximately 5.00 pm. on 14th February 1916, after the Germans exploded a mine
under a bombing sap in the British trenches near Hill 60.
The blowing of the mine was preceded by a bombardment which began two hours earlier.
The mine killed a total of 13 men. Two were dug out alive from a trench near the crater.
It is possible that Sergeant Martin was killed either by the mine explosion itself, or by a German sniper as he tried to
dig his comrades out.
The latter is believed to be true by his family who still have his prayer book, which appears to
have been damaged by the bullet which killed him.
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He is buried in a single row of graves within the Cemetery which all
contain the bodies of his comrades who were killed by the same mine explosion.
The following is an extract from a letter written to his wife by his Company Commander, Capt. N.W. Stead:-
"It is with very great regret that I have to inform you that your husband was killed in action on February 14th at about
5.00pm.
He died as I am sure he would have wished, in doing his duty, and one of his last acts was to move some men from
a dug-out, an act which undoubtedly saved their lives.
May I express on behalf of the Company and myself, our sincerest sympathy for you in your heavy loss, and assure you
that we shall always remember the great example of patriotism and fearlessness under trying circumstances which he
always showed.
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Medal Card of William Dobson and Silver War Badge.
The card shows that he went to France on 26 Aug 1915 and at
some later date he was wounded or medically discharged. Men were then awarded the SWB so that they could wear it on their
civilian dress and avoid the charge of cowardice often levelled at men of fighting age who remained at home, while most
had their menfolk "at the Front".
[Photo kindly contributed by William Dobson's great nephew, John Dobson]
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He was an NCO we could ill afford to lose. Believe me."
[Photo and information courtesy of - Northallerton Memorials
Project.]
1533 Pte Topham Frederick, Hart. Home at 19 Vernon Gardens, Harrowgate Hill, Darlington,
Co Durham. Born at Richmond N Yorks, place of birth. Enlisted at Catterick, N Yorks. Age 20.
2642 Pte Wratten George, Edward. Home at Brotton, N Yorks. Enlisted at Skelton in Cleveland
The following two men have no known grave and are remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.:-
2861 Pte Hodgson Jacob. Of "Z" Company. Home at Skelton, Marske, Richmond, N Yorks.
Age 22.
3521 Pte Hogg Leonard. Home at 16 Tower St, Richmond, N Yorks. Age 21.
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