Devotion to Duty

Monday 15th May 1916: The 8th Battalion are back behind the lines. At a church parade yesterday their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel W. R. H. Dann presented cards received from the Divisional Commander acknowledging acts of gallantry and devotion to duty when the Battalion was so sorely tried on 19th April. Those singled out for this honour were: Company Quarter Master Sergeant Croxford; Lance Sergeant Russell; Private N. C. H. M. Johnson; Private H. Enticknap; Private A. Symonds; Private S. Brown and  Private P. West(1)

Source: X550/9/1

(1) Sergeant Frederick George Russell MM would die of wounds on 11th February 1917 and Private Douglas Enticknap would be killed in action on 30th May 1916.

The Death of Lieutenant Dann

Monday 22nd November 1915: The adjutant of 6th Bedfords tells us that they have lost an officer Lieutenant Ernest Dann. Lieutenant Dann was been severely wounded on 21st. He was out with a working party and received two bullets in the abdomen. He has died this morning and will be buried at Hénu near the Battalion’s billets at Pas-en-Artois(1). The Battalion is out of the front line at the moment but working parties behind the lines are still dangerous as this incident shows.

New attachments for rifles have been issued to the men. They are to assist in cutting enemy barbed wire and the men are being trained in their use today.

Source: X550/7/1

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(1) He is still there, on the west side of the churchyard. He was an Australian, from Queensland. A Lieutenant-Colonel W R H Dann DSO served with 3rd and 8th Battalions and may have been a relative.