"The
following is some information I managed to find on Rgt #163 Cpl
Harold Lidstone:
The
action in which he was involved was associated with the British
offensive in 1917 known as the Third Battle of Ypres. This was a
major offensive by the British and consisted of a number of separate
battles related to the capture of Passchendaele Ridge. Included were
the Battles of Langemarck, Messines, and Passchendaele.
In
July and August 1917, the 1st Newfoundland Regiment participated in
action along the Yser Canal, north of Ypres and assaults over the
Steenbeek and Broenbeek Rivers as part of the Battle of Langemarck.
A "Battle Honour" to recognize the Regiment's efforts at
Langemarck is emblazoned on the Colours of the Royal Newfoundland
Regiment.
From
July 6 to 12, the Newfoundland Regiment was deployed along the Yser
Canal in an area which had for so many months formed the British
front line encircling the Ypres Salient. With the exception of the
men in the fire trenches, most of the men in A, B, C, and D Companies
were assigned to maintenance work on the treaches, including
revetting wet trenches and building new ones. Throughout most of
this toiling work, enemy shellfire continued to fall on the soldiers,
and from 6 to 12 July, when they were relieved, the Newfoundland
Regiment lost ten killed and twenty-three wounded.
A
digression came for a small group of Newfoundlanders on the night of
the relief. For two weeks prior to 12 July, some thirty members of
the Regiment had been involved in special training in enemy
harrassment. The group, known as "The Raiders" were
detailed to make their first raid on enemy lines on the night of
July 12/13. Shortly after mid-night they entered the German
front-line in search of prisoners. That night drew a blank, because
the particular trench was unoccupied. However, five nights later the
raiders tried once again and this time they were successful. They cut
their way through enemy barbed wire, entered his fire trench and
captured a soldier of the 102nd Saxon Regiment, killing a reported
five others. The raiders suffered no casulaties. That night's
exploits brought recognition of the gallantry displayed by two St
John's men, Rgt #42 Cpl Frank Best and Rgt #163 L/Cpl Harold
Lidstone. Both were awarded the Military Medal for their heroic deeds
during the raid. Cpl Best would die at the Broembeek River on 9
October 1917 and Cpl Lidstone, slightly over a month later would
die on 20 Nov 1917 at Marcoing during the Battle of Cambrai."
