John Sheen - Wearside Battalion

Thanks are due to many people, and this work could not have been completed without the support of the Trustees of The Durham Light Infantry Museum and the advice and help of Steve Shannon and the late George Fraser at The Durham Light Infantry Museum.

The staff at Durham City Library, Darlington Library, the staff of the Durham County Archives in particular Gill Parkes for her help and assistance with photographs of the battalion. Sunderland Library.

The late Mr Malcolm MacGregor for assistance with Honours and Gallantry Awards to members of the 20th Battalion.

Graham Stewart, Clive Dunn, Andrew Brookes, Fred Bromilow, Simon Jervis, Stewart Couper and Sid Patterson all who loaned material from their collections.

My son, James, assisted with the research in the early stages, now a serving Tommy or Squaddie as they say today, in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, I owe him thanks for his work at the National Archives.

Photograph of the regimental staff of the 20/Durham LI, 1916. Left to right: Sergeant A. James, Sergeant F.A. Bertram, Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Clark, Regimental Sergeant-Major Hicks, Captain and Adjutant P. Spencer, Lieutenant-Colonel K.J.W. Leather, Major J.W. Hills, Lieutenant and Quartermaster S. Simpkin, Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Coxon, Sergeant-Bugler Davison, Sergeant A.E. Miller.

THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER

Major Graham McNicholl 20th Bn

LG 1/1/17

Kings New Years Honours- no citation

Lieutenant Colonel Piers William North R Berks Regt Comdg 20th Bn

LG 26/9/17

Temporary Major, Acting Lt Colonel Charlie Pannall MC 20th Bn

LG 4/10/19

On 1415 October 1918, near Wevelghem, his great gallantry and fine leadership greatly contributed to the success of the battalion under his command. During the attack on 14 October, he directed the attack on the first line personally through dense fog and towards the end of the day placed his men in position on the final objective exposing himself throughout to heavy shell and machine-gun fire. He has at all times shown gallantry and devotion to duty of a high order.

Captain Arnold Pumphrey 20th Bn

LG 4/6/17

BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER

Lieutenant Colonel Aubrey Vivian A Gayer Bar to the DSO with 20th Bn

LG 16/9/18

DSO with 32nd Bn Middlesex Regiment

LG 19/11/17

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while commanding his battalion during an enemy attack. Six times in one morning, owing to his fine example, the battalion repulsed enemy attacks with heavy loss. Next evening when ordered to withdraw he did so skilfully with few casualties. He did fine work.

Lieutenant Colonel Piers William North DSO R Berks Regt Comdg 20th Bn

LG

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his men to the attack with utter disregard of danger under heavy fire and the dash with which his battalion went forward in the attack and secured a considerable number of prisoners was largely due to his fine personal example. He was shortly afterwards severely wounded in the chest and back.

THE MILITARY CROSS

Second Lieutenant William Reginald Brooke 20th Bn

LG 25/8/17

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great courage, coolness and good leadership during an attack and afterwards when consolidating the position. On his way to the assembly area he led his men with great skill in pitch darkness and under shellfire, keeping them on the move forward at a time when delay would have been serious.

Second Lieutenant William Cuthbert Brown 20th Bn

LG 25/8/17

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company boldly and skillfully to their objective, carrying other troops with him. After reaching the objective under heavy shellfire he at once reorganised not only his own men but men of other regiments.

Second Lieutenant Philip Lys Davies Border Regiment att 20th Bn

LG 18/7/18

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a patrol in an attempt to cross a river in order to ascertain its depth and if possible to reconnoitre the opposite bank. He made two attempts at different places and was in the water over two hours. The water was icy cold and the current very swift, and he was repeatedly swept off his feet but did not give up the attempt to cross until he was overcome by the cold. He showed magnificent determination and devotion to duty.

Second Lieutenant, Acting Captain Andrew Sydney Davison 20th Bn

LG 16/9/18

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy attack. He commanded a company with great coolness and ability and encouraged his men under heavy attacks to hold on to their positions.

Second Lieutenant Frederick Bowler Davison 20th Bn

LG 8/3/19

For gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 14th October, 1918, near Menin, when he took out patrols and gained valuable information. On the morning of the 15th despite heavy machine gun fire, he pushed forward with patrols, and eventually established a line of posts on the River Lys. His conduct was of a very high order throughout the operation.

13769 CSM James Donnelly 20th Bn. DCM & Bar, MM & Bar

LG 3/6/19

Kings Birthday Honours- no citation

Second Lieutenant Thomas Sydney Duddy DCM 20th Bn

LG 16/9/18

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy attack. He handled his platoon and later his company with great courage and ability against heavy enemy attacks. He also successfully carried out a reconnaissance under heavy barrage.

Lieutenant Thomas May Fletcher 20th Bn

LG 9/1/18

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although wounded in the head on the way to the assembly area, he returned to his company after being dressed, in time to lead them to the attack. This he did with great gallantry until wounded a second time, gaining both his objectives and setting a splendid example of fearlessness and energy to his men.

Second Lieutenant Ronald Monckton Fulljames 20th Bn

LG 26/9/16

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He repeatedly reorganised his party, and after evacuating the wounded, led forward the remainder to force a way through the wire.

Lieutenant Harold Goodley 20th Bn

LG 16/9/18

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under heavy shellfire in repeatedly organising communications during very critical periods and enabling touch to be kept when the situation would otherwise have been obscure.

Lieutenant Robert Donald Green 20th Bn

LG 4/6/17

Kings Birthday Honours no citation

Lieutenant & Quartermaster Arthur Higham Royal Fusiliers att 20th Bn LG 3/6/18

Kings Birthday Honours- no citation

Lieutenant C E Hopkinson 20th Bn

LG 1/1/19

Second Lieutenant James Gordon Reay Pacy 20th Bn

LG 9/1/18

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After his company commander had become a casualty, he led his company with great dash and when concealed snipers proved troublesome, he organised a bombing attack and put them out of action. He subsequently organised the captured ground with great skill and successfully resisted two counter-attacks.

Second Lieutenant (T/Capt) Frank William Paley DCM MM KRRC att 20th Bn.

Kings Birthday Honours- no citation