#17469 Sergeant James Phillip Donnelly
1ST EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
IT WAS CLEAR THAT RAWLINSON could no longer entertain the idea of smashing through the German defences on the Somme in one attempt. The British Army would now be paving a new way forward: biting off an objective, then holding it, then repeating their endeavours. The renewed offensive of 25th September was orchestrated to seize objectives that had not been claimed on the 15th. Attempting to take ground in manageable chunks would mean that the field artillery could keep up and support the infantry for starters. It was a more measured approach that would focus on limited objectives and therefore maximise the chance of any success.
Going into action was a 41-year-old coal merchant from Kensington named James Donnelly. Having previously served in the East Yorkshire regiment for twelve years before the war, James re-enlisted in March 1915 and arrived with a draft of men in May 1916. His experience as an NCO was much valued and he was promoted to the rank of sergeant on the Somme. James had been wounded in the head during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge in July, where his unit were used to reinforce Bazentin-le-Petit Wood, but was awarded a Military Medal as he returned to his battalion after a brief convalescence at Boulogne.
In action at Gueudecourt on 15th September, the battalion was relieved from the line having suffered nearly 200 casualties and praised for its ‘gallant conduct’ before being turned around forty-eight hours later and sent back again. On 21st July, the East Yorkshires began a 6-mile march up to the front via Trônes Wood and Guillemont. Two days later they had advanced to support trenches and were preparing to attack. The plan was relatively straightforward. The 1st East Yorkshire Battalion would be attacking Gird Trenches and Gueudecourt beyond for a second time.
At 11pm on 24th September they set off on a trying march through muddy communication trenches. Forming part of the right flank of the attack on the village, they were to take the Gird Trenches and then wait for a battalion of the Lincolns to pass through to Gueudecourt. Then James and the rest of his battalion would meet the Lincolns and together they would attempt to advance out the other side of the village. The bombardment laid down for them was impressive. It began at 9am on the 25th and each hour would rise to a crescendo to put the Germans on alert until at noon it became a hurricane bombardment that lasted half an hour. Five minutes after it finished James Donnelly went forward in his allocated wave towards Gueudecourt.
Grave of Sergeant James Donnelly at Guards’ Cemetery Lesboeufs. (Andrew Holmes)
Immediately he found himself under heavy shell, rifle and machine-gun fire, but pushed on with the rest of the Yorkshire men. Somehow they reached Gird Trench, only to find that the imposing tangle of wire cutting them off from it had been untouched by the artillery barrage. The waves of men closed up on each other and drew heavy casualties. James’ battalion began flinging themselves into shell holes to try to find some protection against the enemy fire. Some tried to put their heads up and fire back, but their position was atrocious. The Lincolns and any other troops coming up from behind to try to pass through to Gueudecourt could not even reach no-man’s-land owing to the rate of fire being thrown at them. They simply bedded down in the assembly trenches. The attack on Gueudecourt on 25th September had been a catastrophic failure, but to the south Rawlinson’s men ran riot with this new, methodical approach. Lesboeufs and Morval had both fallen as the Fourth Army swept into the German front lines.
The men pinned down in shell holes opposite Gueudecourt had no choice but to wait for nightfall and a chance to get back to their own lines safely. The day’s efforts had cost the 1st East Yorkshires more than 120 men, including veteran soldier James Donnelly. He left behind a wife, Mary Ann, and three children: William, 13; Elizabeth, 10; and 1-year-old Florence. He was originally buried to the east of Flers, but in 1919, as the area was cleared, James was finally laid to rest at Guards’ Cemetery Lesboeufs, plot VI.F.7.