L/Cpl 103875 John Dunning MM, 155th Field Coy RE
Born 25 Dec 1871, Wettenhall, Cheshire
Married Prudence Maria Hughes 8 June 1892
Religion: Wes
Joined army 15 June 1915
Ht 5'6" 1/2
144 lbs
Chest 38" (Expansion 3" very good)
Vision 6/6 6/6
10.9.15 repair to upper denture
Made L.Cpl 13.10.15
Corporal 9.8.16
In France Dec 1915 to Aug 1917
In action 15.7.1916, at MAZINGARBE, awarded Military Medal. See below.
Wounded on duty 5.9.16 at GUILLEMONT. See below.
Suffered a double rupture caused by carrying wounded at WYTSCHAETE ridge 7.6.1917 on the first day of the battle of MESSINES. See below. Double inguinal hernia, right about size of small tangerine orange, left about size of walnut.
Dibilitated by gas 4.8.17, or poss early in the morning on 5th at BRANDHOEK. See war diary.
Australian hospital Rouen Admitted 9.8.1917 suffering from headaches and pain all down the back. Transferred to Queen Mary hospital Whalley, England, where the headaches were getting better, but he was very weak and had a pulse of 56, and he had pain in all his limbs.
Disciplined at Thetford. 1) Failing to comply with order (charge downgraded from Refusing to obey an order) 2) Insolence to a senior NCO 18.1.1918 Severe Reprimand, witnessed by Sgt Jalland and 2/Cpl Johnson.
Disciplined at Thetford, Neglect of duty whilst in charge of a fatigue party 6.3.1918. Reprimanded
20.4.1918 Transferred from Co Thetford to G Depot Co RE
Estimated at 50% disabled (on 7.1.1919, and estimated 20% disabled for the next 12 months)
Operation 13.2.1919 (on hernia)
Cost: Scale £25
Service £7-10
Rank £2-10
Total £35
Discharged to reserves 8.3.1919 to 3rd Reserves Bn Newark
Discharged from hospital 9.4.1919
Died 7 Oct 1931 of heart failure after an operation for excision of an adenoma of the prostate.
The diary of the 155th Field Coy Royal Engineers. Volume viii
15 July 1916. Mazingarbe.
Weather fine. No. 3 section work as usual + return to MAZINGARBE in evening. Lt HUGHES and 2/Lt HEGARTY with parties from Nos 1 + 4 sections, consolidated new SEAFORTH CRATERS.
No 98226 Spr BROWN S Killed. No 98327 Spr SADLER W J Wounded. No 59627 Sergt MEREDITH R Wounded, at duty.(See footnote †)
There follow some appendices, one of which, Appendix F, is listed as 'report by Major Reynolds RE' (This is Major HRP Reynolds who arrived and took command of the company on 9 July 1916)
APPENDIX F
Report on consolidation of live new craters at old Seaforth Crater, caried out at the same time as 49th Infantry Bde Scheme at 11pm on 15th July 1916.
1. 11pm. The two mines were exploded. Directly after explosion the consolidation parties (each consisting of 1 RE Officer, 1 RE NCO, 4 Sappers, 1 Infantry NCO + 4 men) started for the lips of the craters.
Lieut Hughes was in command of Right party + 2nd Lieut Hegarty of Left party. The saps to the two craters were dug by 2 parties, each consisting of 1 Infantry Officer, 2 ditto NCO, 3 Sappers, 25 Infantry men.
These went out at about 11.5 pm. The officers i/c, going out first with each of the RE officers and then going back for their parties.
The Saps were so placed, as to be as much as possible in dead ground from the flanks. The positions of bombing posts were chosen with the same object in view and also so as to allow sentries close to them to get as good views as possible into the craters.
2. Conditions
All the work was done in very bright lights.
Both sapping parties worked under fairly good cover. The 2 parties making Bombing Posts were both subjected to M.G. fire from left flank & to grenade fire from other side of craters. Sniper on camouflet to right was active + apparently a good shot.
Pieces of shells which burst in front line worried parties a good deal.
3. Results
Bombing Post on right was finished a t 12.30 am
Bombing Post on left at 12.45 am
Sap on right was finished about 12.50 am
Sap on left was probably finished about 1.30 am. Work being somewhat delayed by shortage of men.
In both saps barbed wire was encountered about 1 ft down from the surface of the ground, close to front trench, which caused considerable delay. The saps were dug to about 3 feet depth.
4. Opposite the end of Seaforth Alley an old sap existed running towards the crater. It was hoped to utilise this in making the new approach but in the end it was not used owing to difficulties in lining out the men.
5. Bombing Post on right was put in a good position except that it was found afterwards that it was visible from the German Lines to the Northward. Today it was destroyed by hostile gunfire and is being re-sited and rebuilt by 156th Coy RE.
6. It was arranged with OC 8th Inniskillings that RE were not responsible for the saps. But assistance was given by RE officers where necessary.
7. Two or three individuals did exceptionally good work - reports on their conduct follow.
8. Rough sketch attached.
Then in a different handwriting:
9. Bombing posts consisted of 4 wire frames (4' x 2') each Covering over with half sleepers & chalked & revetted round outside with sandbags.
HRP Reynolds, Major, O.C. 155th field Co RE 16.7.16
The War Diary announced on 31 July 1916 that parchment certificates were received from GOC 16th Irish Division, Maj-Gen W D Hickie for Lt Hughes, 2Lt Hegarty (the RE officers in charge during the operation), Sgt Meredith (wounded), Sgt Tonks, Cpl Addison, 2/Cpl Dunning and Spr Side. The certificate confirms that the award of the MM is for the action on the 15th July. The 155th Fd Coy War Diary entry for 22 August 1916 states that Sgt C S Tonks, 2/Cpl J Dunning and Spr A E Side were awarded the Military Medal.
And an MC for Hegarty: “Temp. 2nd Lt. Timothy Charles Vincent Hegarty, R.E. For conspicuous gallantry. When the party occupying the far lip of the crater had been driven in by an enemy counter-attack, he rallied his men and carried on his work without a covering party. On another occasion, when enemy bombers made a sudden attack, he went to the help of the Infantry and assisted them to beat off the attack.” London Gazette 22-9-16 p9275
2/Cpl J Dunning MM
The diary of the 155th Field Coy Royal Engineers. Volume X
5 September 1916. MINDEN POST.
C.R.E. 16th Divn took over from C.R.E. 20th Divn. Coy ordered to take over from 83rd Coy & work with 48th Bde on consolidation of GUILLEMONT. No infantry carrying or working parties available. Coy improved existing trench. Lt J.C. MOAKES & No 145324 Spr HILL E killed by shell (See footnote†) No 98282 Spr JONES W.E, No 98231 Spr FEARNLEY J, No 120825 Spr BROWN F, No 65318 Spr PEARMAN H, No 83039 Pion WHITTAKER J wounded by shellfire. No 103875 sCpl DUNNING J; No 97933 Spr CORRANCE H wounded at duty shell fire.
The action on this page is from the first day of the battle of MESSINES, 7-14 June 1917. Here is an overview of the battle:
The British had occupied the Ypres
Salient for 30 months, living in a bowl surrounded on 3 sides by high ridges. General Haig wanted to command the Messines
Ridge, which overlooked the battlefield and which would provide him with a
defensible position for the winter.
Mining units of the British Second Army under General Gough laid twenty-one great mines, a total of 1,000,000 lb of high explosive, under the German lines and on 7 June they were exploded. The nineteen that went off shocked the German defenders and they staggered off the ridge as 2,266 guns and British, Australian and New Zealand infantry attacked.
The Germans pulled back, regrouped, and counter-attacked, but the Allies’ line held and by 14 June the lines were firm again, though the Allies now held the ridge line.
The Allies paid heavily for their success, with 108,882 casualties. German losses are estimated at 100,000 including 10,000 blown to pieces or buried by the enormous mine explosions.
At some point during that first day, Cpl J Dunning managed to suffer a double rupture while carrying wounded.
The King on Wytschaete Ridge 14 June 1917.
The diary of the 155th Field Coy Royal Engineers. Volume XIX
(None of the appendices referred to could be found in the file)
7 June 1917. KEMMEL.
1.30 am Company arrived in assembly positions in GHQ trenches E of PIONEER FARM (sheet 28 N.15.a.5.1). Arrival reported to CRE.
2.0 am OC arrived at HQ 48th Inf Bde. FOSSE dugouts (N.16.d.70.95
3.10 am Zero. Mines fired, bombardment and barrage opened and attack commenced
3.11 am LIEUT DIXON RE reported special wiring party of 4 officers and 130 men in position at N.17.c.5.5 (Append C1)
5.0 am BLUE objective as shewn (sic) in map attached to C.RE’s instruction reported captured.
7 June 1917. near KEMMEL. In action
6.50 am Verbal instructions from BGC 48th Inf Bde, approved on telephone by C R.E, received to move up sections for forward work.
6.55 am Orders dispatched to Capt HUGHES, Appendix B1
7.0 am O.C reconnoitred from MACAW TRENCH, to find barrage which was on SHAN TUNG (N.17.d central)
7.35 am No 1 & 4 sections and attached Infantry left Pioneer farm. Report received (App C2) 7.57 am
7.50 am Shell struck part of No 4 section near N.15.d cent. Sgt WHITLOCK & 4 OR killed; Lieut JOHNSON and 8 OR wounded. (See footnote †)
8.15 am 1 & 4 sections arrived at FOSSE. Hostile barrage had lifted to front line so at
8.40 am sections were sent to SHANTUNG
9.0 am OC moved to SP13 (N.17.d central). Coy HQ reported (App B2)
9.45 am The BLACK LINE having been captured O.C. consulted C RE relative to special wiring party moving forward. LIEUT DIXON instructed to get party with materials to SHANTUNG (App B3)
10.0 am 2/LIEUT LEACH reported personally that sections 1 & 4 & infantry were ready.
10.20 am Telegraphic orders for Lieut DIXON ‘s party to move received (App A2), & transmitted to LIEUT DIXON (App B4)
10.50 am LIEUT DIXON’s party moved.
11.20 am Bde Major informed OC that 2 Battalions moving to attack to MAUVE LINE would cross BLACK LINE at 1 pm. 2/LIEUT LEACH ordered to have sections ready to move by 2 pm. OC reconnoitred mule route to WYTSCHAETE. Telephone message sent through C RE for Coy HQ to move to the FOSSE.
12.22 pm Arrival of Coy HQ at the FOSSE reported by 2nd in command (C3)
12.28 pm Mules with wire ordered up (B5)
1.30 pm The mauve line being reported held by 45th Bde with patrols in front with approval of B G C 48th Inf Bde. OC led up Nos 1 & 4 sections & attached Inf & 10 mules.
2.15 pm Report on contents of enemy dumps received from LIEUT DIXON (C4)
2.30 pm On arrival in dip between NORTH HOUSE and the HOSPICE, party was halted & OC & 2/Lt LEACH went forward. A hostile barrage dropped at this moment & 2/Lt LEACH wounded but able to get away. Party withdrawn behind S. BRICKSTACK, but had to be withdrawn further to replace carrying party.
5.0 pm Sent for Nos 2 & 3 sections (B6)
6.0 pm Started again and arrived at LEG COPSE (O.20.B) without further incident. No garrisons of strong points found for work. Sites selected for strong points N & S of LEG COPSE and circles wired. Battalion Commanders informed of positions of strong points. For details see report (Appendix D)
9.15 pm Arrived back at Bde HQ. Report received from LIEUT DIXON that the wiring of the BLACK LINE was complete (C5)
9.45 pm Orders received from B G C that no further work was required that night.
10.45 pm Report on days work sent to C RE, also report on state of German Dumps (B6A)
The diary of the 155th Field Coy Royal Engineers. Volume XIX
(At some stage during these entries, Cpl J Dunning was debilitated by gas. He was admitted to hospital in Rouen on 9 August 1917 suffering from headaches and pain all down the back. He never returned to the front)
4 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
O.C. with O.C. 157 Fd Coy proceeded to YPRES and 47th Bde HQ at MILL COT^ (I.5.a.2.6) and saw G.O.C. 47th Inf Bde relative to work to be carried out. Company marched at 11.0 am. To billets as ordered. LIEUT WEBSTER with Nos 1&2 sections and 50 attached infantry marched to billets in the RAMPARTS, YPRES (I.8.b.1.0) at 3. pm.
5 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
No’s 1 & 2 sections & Inf attached proceeded at 2 am to carry wire at pickets forward from POTIJZE DUMP (I.4.c.3.9.) and came under heavy fire. 2 Sappers wounded, 2 attached Inf killed & 4 wounded. Owing to continued barrage further progress impossible. O.C. with LIEUT DIXON reconnoitred proposed route by PICCADILLY forward. Billets at H.7.a.5.9 bombed by aeroplanes. 1 OR wounded. No. 1 section and 25 attached Inf paraded at 7.30 pm to carry wire & erect strong point wire at I.6.b.9.5. Position reached safely, but at 9.15 pm a very heavy barrage put down on site of work. Men collected in shell holes & remained for about 1 ½ hours when party was withdrawn as work was impossible. Most of men slightly affected by gas poisoning.
6 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
2 am Party returned to billets. Lieut DIXON & No. 2 section with infantry improving (10.0 am) new “J” track via PICCADILLY & IBEX DRIVE. O.C. accompanied G.O.C. 48th Inf Brigade round part of positions. Decided not to make strong point but to wire FREZENBERG REDOUBT. Party who attempted this were caught near POTIJZE CHATEAU in a barrage. 2 attached Infantry killed & 2 of Company & 4 attached Infantry wounded.
LIEUT J. O’SULLIVAN transferred to Co XIX corps school & struck off strength of Company.
7 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
Work continued on tracks, and another unsuccessful effort made to reach FREZENBERG REDOUBT. 2 men attached Infantry wounded.
8 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
No. 4 section relieved No. 1 section at the RAMPARTS. Work as before another unsuccessful attempt at FREZENBERG REDOUBT.
9 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
No. 3 section relieved No. 2 section at the RAMPARTS. The project of using FREZENBERG REDOUBT abandoned in favour of N. Station Building ((map 28.I.1.a.) Lieut HAUGH reached site by party under an attached Infantry officer lost their way. Work on J track and overhauling pumps of dug outs continued.
10 August 1917. BRANDHOEK
Work as before. A shell burst near cooks fires at ramparts causing casualties 155 Fd. Coy No 97908 Sapr Edwards Killed, No. 97738 Sapr Saunders died of wounds. (See footnote †) 4 O.R. wounded; attached Inf. 2 Killed, 1 died of wounds 3 wounded. No. 4. section got close to N. Station buildings but were prevented working owing to continued heavy shell fire. Stores sent up on mule train at 1.0 am to NEW COT.