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16th (1st Bradford) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
16th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, the 1st Bradford Pals, was raised in Bradford in September 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. After training locally they moved to Silkstone in December 1914. In May 1915 The Battalion joined the 93rd Brigade, 31st Division and moved to South Camp, Ripon and later to Hurdcott Camp near Salisbury.
In December 1915 they set sail for Alexandria in Egypt to defend the Suez Canal. In March 1916 The 31st Division left Port Said aboard HMT Briton bound for Marseilles in France, a journey which took 5 days. They travelled by train to Pont Remy, a few miles south east of Abbeville and marched to Bertrancourt arriving on 29 March 1916.
Their first taste of action was at Serre on the Somme where they suffered heavy casualties as the battle was launched. In 1917 they were in action in the Battle of Arras. They were disbanded in France on the 15th of February 1918.
14th May 1916 Into the Line At 3pm 18th DLI proceeded from Bus Les Artois to front line trenches and took over from 11th East Yorks Regt.
Battalion on left flank was 16th West Yorks Regt and on right 1st Lancashire Fusiliers up to 18th May 1916 and then afterwards the 16th Middlesex Regt.
The National Archives 18DLI War Diary WO95/2361/1
30th Jun 1916 Into the Line 2215. 18th DLI (less D Coy) left Courcelles for operations for front line. 1830. Remainder of Battalion left Courcelles to join 1st line transport Bus Les Artois. Appendix No 1 18th DLI Battle of Serre states:30th Jun 16. 2200 18th Battalion DLI in Brigade Reserve, less D. Co attached 16th West Yorks less reinforcements and details at Bus. 789 strong all ranks left Courcelles for assembly trenches.
[Not all Officers and men of a battalion would go into action in an attack, a small number always remained behind the lines to take care of equipment, horses and administration.] 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
1st Jul 1916 Before Zero Hour
2nd Jul 1916 In Action At 0100. B Coy. 18th DLI moved up to the front line. (D Coy. attached to A)0330. 66 reinforcements reported at HQ and joined their Coys. 0830. 2 Platoons C Coy. in Monk with 4 MG of MG Co. and 2 MG in Dunmow. 1330. Brigade instructions to occupy front line from K.35.a.3.7 to K.29.c.80.95
with 1 Co. 4 L.G. by day, with 2 Coys 8 L.G. by night, remainder & HQ to hold north & south Monk. This completed by 2.40 pm and Brigade informed. 1500 - 1530. Special bombardment by our artillery during which 2 off. 9 OR C Coy. were wounded 1 OR C Co. killed. 1830 - 1900. Special bombardment by our artillery. 2020. Brigade informed that enemy was at ----- ----- shells ---- in North Monk. 40 wounded chiefly of 16th West Yorks were collected by C Coy. in front line. 2300. Kings Own on right of 18th DLI and wiring in front. 2306. Germans reported to be seen carrying up Gas Cylinders to front line. 2330. GOC 93 I.B. instructs 18 Btn DLI to send remainder of D Coy. back to Bus. Late. Brigade warn 18th Btn DLI of possible gas attack, front line to hold on. 18th West Yorks to send 2 Coy’s one to North Monk, one to South Monk and 2 remaining Coy’s to move up later. 16th West Yorks to remain in Dunmow, 15th West Yorks in Maitland. Information also received that 2 Brigades of 48th Division with 3 Battalions of 29 Division will attack hostile line from River Ancre to Pt 29 at 3.30am. Artillery to bombard enemy’s line.
The National Archives 18th DLI War Diary Appx.1 WO95/2361/1
10th Aug 1916 Reliefs 18th Durhams HQ moved from Le Hamel to EssarsAt 20.05. 18th Battalion DLI relieved 2nd Wilts, vacated billets & moved into trenches East of Festubert, B Co. & D Co. in Front Line right & left, C & A Co in Support Lines. Hants Battalion on right 16th West Yorks on left. 15th West Yorks & 1 Co. 11th East Yorks in Brigade Reserve. Wagon line moved into billets at Le Touret. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
26th Aug 1916 Reliefs Trenches Festubert Sector 21.00. 18th Battalion. DLI Less C Co. which remained in O.B.L right relieved 15th West Yorkshire Regiment. B Co. front line Right, D Co. front line Left. A Co. O.B.L Left. 16th West Yorks Battalion on our Left. 2nd Yorks Battalion on our Right. No casualties. Later in night 2 casualties.
18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
30th Aug 1916 Quiet 18th Durhams hold the Trenches in the Festubert Sector Cold, windy, showery. No action of any description. 11th East Yorks relieved 16th West Yorks on left flank of 18th DLI. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
18th Sep 1916 18th DLI took over Orchard Keep in Givenchy Sector with a garrison found by B Coy. from 16th West Yorks. HQ at Windy Corner.18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
27th Oct 1916 18th DLI are at Hebuterne Heavy rain and Mutual Trench Mortar activity. At 7.30pm a raid was attempted with the co-operation of artillery by 16th West Yorks, through lines of Battalion on our right. 2Lt Turner wounded (shell shock)18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
18th Jan 1917 Court of Inquiry
1st June 1917 Positions 
1st June 1917 Operational Order 119
1st June 1917 Diary
1st June 1917 Table B.O.O.119.
2nd June 1917 Diary
3rd June 1917 Operation Attack Order
3rd June 1917 Diary
4th June 1917 Table B.O.O.121.
4th June 1917 Operational Order 120
4th June 1917 Orders Issued
6th June 1917 Operational Order 121
7th June 1917 Diary
7th June 1917 Operational Order 122
7th June 1917 Operational Order 123
9th June 1917 Diary
9th June 1917 Operational Order 124
11th June 1917 Operational Order 125
14th June 1917 Operational Order 126
June 15th 1917 Diary
18th June 1917 Operational Order 128
20th June 1917 Table B.O.O.130.
20th June 1917 Operational Order 129
20th June 1917 Operational Order 130
21st June 1917 Diary
26th June 1917 Table B.O.O.134.
26th June 1917 Operational Order 134
26th June 1917 Operational Order 134
27th June 1917 Diary
1st July 1917 Diary
2nd July 1917 Table B.O.O.135.
2nd July 1917 Diary
3rd July 1917 Diary
4th July 1917 Diary
6th July 1917 Diary
13th July 1917 Diary
14th July 1917 Diary
19th July 1917 Diary
21st July 1917 Diary
26th July 1917 Diary
26th July 1917 Diary
29th July 1917 Reliefs Complete
31st July 1917 Diary
1st August 1917 Diary
2nd August 1917 Orders
4th August 1917 Orders
6th August 1917 Diary
13th. August 1917 Orders
16th Aug 1917 On the Move 18th Battalion DLI entrained at Laurel Siding at 4.0pm and went by train to transport lines at Neuville St Vaast. They left Neuville St Vaast at 8.15pm and marched up to take over from 13th Y&L in support in Acheville Sector. Relief complete at 12.30am on the 17th. Order of battle is 15th WYR in L1. 16th WYR in L2. 18th DLI in support. 18th WYR in reserve. 5th Div on right. 92nd Brigade on left. 18th Battalion DLI HQ was established in Beehive Support.18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
16th August 1917 Diary
22nd. August 1917 Diary
24th August 1917 Diary
19th Oct 1917 Reliefs 18th Battalion DLI relieved 16th WYR in L2 (Arleux) Sector. Relief complete 4.23pm. Major Ince returned to Details.18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
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Pte. George Arthur Hargreaves 16th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment George Hargreaves was 24 years old when he joined the 16th West Yorkshire Regiment on 6th September 2014. His Commanding Officer was Captain PK Allen.
The Battalion embarked for France on the 13th of July 1915, landing at Boulogne. He served there till 24th of November 1916. He was badly wounded in his arm and discharged on 14th of January 1918 as being no longer fit for war service.
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Pte. Wilfred Irving 16th (1st Bradford) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.9th November 1916) Wilfred Irving served with the 16th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment in WW1. He died 9th of November 1916 and is buried Sailly-au-Bois Military Cemetery in France.
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Pte. Sidney Beardmore MM. 16th (1st Battalion Bradford Pals) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Sidney Beardmore originally enlisted with 16th West Yorkshire Regiment (1st Battalion Bradford Pals) as private 16/1103. He departed from Liverpool in December 1915 after a year of basic training as part of the 93rd Brigade. They sailed on the Empress of Britain a Canadian steamship and docked at Port Said on 22nd December 1915 with orders to protect the Suez Canal. However as this theatre of the war was quiet the 93rd Brigade was ordered to France, departing Egypt 1st March 1916. The Brigade disembarked at Marseilles 6th March and traveled to their destination of Bertrancourt arriving 29th March. The time between then and 1st July was taken with preparations for the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Private Sidney Beardmore took part on the attack of Serre on 1st July when the Pals Battalions were virtually wiped out in the bloodiest day of the war for the British Army.
Sidney remained with the 16th West Yorkshire Regiment until the Battalion was disbanded in France in February 1918. He transferred to 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and continued to act as a regimental stretcher bearer. During 1918 the 12th/13th Battalion were in the thick of the action first defending against the German "Spring Offensive" and then as part of the "100 Day Offensive" pushing the German Army back to the German border. Sidney was exceptionally busy as stretcher bearer and first-aider when the fighting of 1918 became open warfare. The Battalion suffered hundreds of casualties and Sidney was rescuing wounded comrades during periods of heavy fighting risking his own safety. He was wounded 18th September 1918 and returned to England for convalescence at Beacowood VAD hospital, Rednal, Worcestershire. He was awarded the Military Medal for his devotion to duty repeatedly rescuing comrades under fire. (Gazette issue number 31142 MM, Gazette date 21/1/19 page 1216). Sidney returned to France just prior to Armistice Day, ending the war with 25th Battalion Northumberland fusiliers who were located protecting lines of communication at Aumale. He ended the war as A.R. Class Z still a private.
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Pte. Austin Frain 16th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.16th Aug 1918) Austin Frain of the 16th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), died on 16th August 1918 and is buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. The following text is taken from a clipping of the local newspaper:
"Two telegrams in one day brought dread news to Mrs Frain, of 8, Back New Street, Westtown, regarding the youngest of the four sons she had serving in the Forces. Austin Frain was nineteen, and according to the first of the telegrams that his mother received was `dangerously wounded last Friday'. The second telegram, arriving in the afternoon, stated that he `had died at a casualty clearing station' on 16th August 1918. He had not been in the Army a year, having donned khaki on 30th August 1917. He was an old boy of both St. Paulinus Day and Sunday Schools. Before joining up he had worked for a Wakefield-based firm of haulage contractors."
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Pte. Archibald Craig 16th (1st Bradford Pals) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.3rd May 1917) Archibald Craig first enlisted with Rosshire Mountain Battery RGA age 15 as a trumpeter.
He was discharged as medically unfit in 1914 for unknown reasons. He was the youngest child of Sgt Major F.W.Craig and we think because his was a military family, the fact that he was discharged as unfit in Scotland did not deter him from re signing up in 1915.
The information we have gleaned is that he enlisted in The 16th (1st Bradford Pals) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment about 1915. He died on the 3rd of May 1917 and we have visited and found his name inscribed on the Arras Memorial.
Other info we have collected shows that he was in Egypt and took part in the defence of the Suez Canal. He was hospitalised in Malta.
He went to France in 1916 and took part in the Battle of the Somme being involved in the attack on the village of Serre. He was taking part in the 3rd battle of Scrape 3 to 4th May 1917 which was part of the Arras offensive towards Fresnoy.
My Grandfather Sgt.Major John Jeffrey Craig was the only sibling of Sgt. Major F.W.Craig.
Their father was Sgt.Major William Craig, a musician in the Royal Artillery whose military record we cannot find as we don`t have his service no. All we do know is that he retired to Stornoway where he taught music and drill. Sadly he died at age 45 and is buried in Stornoway. This may have been a result of military activity during his engagement in the Royal Artillery and if he was gassed? though in 1876 we assume this may be ruled out.
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Sgt. Douglas Hunter DCM. att. 93rd Light Trench Mortar 16th West Yorkshire Regiment Douglas Hunter joined 16th West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st September 1914 in Bradford. He served in Egypt 1915 to early 1916 before moving to France. He was attached to the 93rd Light Trench Mortar Battery where he took part in the battle of the Somme.
He was awarded the DCM for Gallantry at Gavrelle on the 3rd of May 1917 for keeping his Trench Mortar in action during an attack with good effect.
He was also awarded the French Medal Militair for a separate action.
Douglas was later, whilst still attached to the 93rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, moved to the 15/17th West Yorkshire Regiment after the 16th was disbanded. Douglas Hunter was demobbed in 1919 but later in the Second World War became part of the Home Guard serving as a lieutenant.
Douglas Hunter was my Grandfather I was born in his house in Batley Yorkshire and when he died I was left his DCM by my Grandmother, I have since then tried to find everything I can about my Grandfather. His brother, Donald Hunter, who served with the 10th Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action on the 21st September 1916 exactly two years after Douglas Hunter had joined the army, he is remembered at Thepeval Memorial France.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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The Comprehensive History of the 16th, 18th and 20th (Service) Battalions of the Prince of Wales Own West Yorlshire Regiment 1914-1918.
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