Tuesday 28th September 1915

Billeted in huts near Rue Marle

Pte. John Etchells (see below) was reported by Pte. Robert William John Morris (see 23rd September) as having had a ‘dirty rifle on parade’; on the orders of Capt. Robert Harwar Gill (see 27^th August) he would be confined to barracks for two days. Pte. Willie Parkin (see 11^th September) was reported by Sgt. John Edward King (see below) as having ‘dirty equipment on parade’; on the orders of Capt. Gill he would be confined to barracks for three days. John Etchells had been an original member of the Battalion; he was a 42 year-old labourer from Uppermill and had previously served with the King’s Own Royal Lancasters. John Edward King was 43 years old, married with three children, and had been working as a labourer before re-joining the army. He had been an original member of 10DWR, having previously served with 1DWR and two years with 4DWR. He would subsequently (date and details unknown) be transferred to 1^st Infantry Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regiment.

The men continued to rest and doubtless others, like Pte. Harry Horner (see 27^th September) wrote home with news of their experiences. One man who appears to have done so was Pte. Charlie Branston (see 5^th September). He  sent home two postcard images of himself to his married sister, Ellen, along with news of his progress which Ellen then evidently passed on to (most likely) Charlie’s mother. She included the news that Charlie, “has been hit with a piece of shell on his boot but is now worse”.

The comment about the absence of a picture of ‘Tom’ doubtless refers to Charlie’s cousin, Tommy Cartman, with whom he had grown up and had enlisted in September 1914.

Pte. Harry Holmes (see 31^st July) was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.