It is impossible to be certain as to why there was a special
recommendation, but it is likely that a friend of the Dewhirsts was already an
officer in the same unit and offered to look after him. As was common
for many junior officers, Stanley Dewhirst attained and relinquished
acting ranks with regularity as he was temporarily in command of his battery.
Promotions for short periods could be granted to cover periods of leave or
hospitalisation.
Sadly, Stanley Dewhirst suffered enormously in the war and eventually he was
retired from the Army as unfit for further service. In April 1917, near Arras, he was blown across
a street by an exploding shell. Although not physically wounded the incident
affected him greatly and although he did not report sick for a further three
months, it is clear that this was the beginning of his problems. A report made
out at 59 (Northern) General Hospital at St Omer stated that he presented as
very run down, had a heavy look, and poor appetite. It further stated that he
was sleeping badly and that what sleep he got was disturbed by dreams. He had
endured very arduous duties and had been present during very heavy shelling of
his battery’s positions during a period of ‘many weeks’. His symptoms received
a diagnosis of neurasthenia and he was transferred to the base by ambulance
train. Evidently his health continued to deteriorate and once it became
clear to the Army that he would not recover sufficiently to return to active
duty the was retired on ill-health grounds, and this was announced in the
London Gazette in the following terms:
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 7 OCTOBER, 1918.
War Office, 7th October, 1918.
TERRITORIAL FORCE.ROYAL HORSE
AND ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
Lt. S. Dewhirst relinquishes
his commission on account of ill-health contracted on active service, and is granted
the hon. rank of Lt. 8th
Oct. 1918.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 2 NOVEMBER, 1918.
War Office,2nd November, 1918.
TERRITORIAL FORCE.ROYAL HORSE
AND ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
Lt. (actg:. Capt.) S. Dewhirst
relinquishes his commission on account of ill-health contracted on active
service, and is granted the hon. rank of Capt. 8th Oct. 1918. (Substituted for that which
appeared in the Gazette of 7th Oct. 1918.)
Records show that Harold Dewhirst gained his Royal Aero Club
Certificate on 29th
August 1916 so it appears that an officer was not appointed the
Royal Flying Corps until he was qualified. Unfortunately, his flying career was
cut short by a crash in which he was seriously injured, although it was not
known how seriously at the time. He was employed as a ferry pilot delivering an
aircraft from Farnborough in Hampshire to St Omer in France on 13th September 1916 when the
engine failed at low altitude and the aircraft turned over and crashed. He
suffered an intracapsular fracture to the neck of his right femur which was not
diagnosed for over a year until he was examined with X-rays. As a result, his
right leg lost over 1 inch from its length and he had to endure marked
limitations in movement at the hip. The disability was permanent, and he was
medically downgraded which took him away from flying duties to sedentary
duties. After spending months in several different hospitals all over England
and a period spent convalescing, he was returned to his flying squadron (12
Squadron) to await a posting order. After returning to duty, he was
promoted:
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON
GAZETTE, 11 AUGUST, 1917.
TERRITORIAL FORCE.
ROYAL HORSE AND ROYAL FIELD
ARTILLERY
The undermentioned to be Lts.
1st June1916, except where otherwise stated: —
2nd Lt. H. Dewhirst,
with precedence as from 1st
June 1916, and to remain seconded.
12th Aug. 1917.
Harold Dewhirst’s final posting was at No. 1 (T) Wireless School
in Winchester,
Hampshire and he was demobilised from this unit on 10th February 1919. He
returned home to his wife at their home at Beechwood, in Halton, Leeds. Lieutenant Harold Dewhirst claimed his medals, a
British War Medal and Victory Medal pair, in early 1922 and by this time he and
his wife had moved closer to Stanley
in Roundhay. They had a home at Hedlea, North Park Grove, Roundhay, Leeds.