Friday 24th December 1915

Divisional Reserve at Rue Dormoire.

With heavy rain continuing to fall, conditions were by now so bad that it was reported that even simply “to walk about is difficult”.

Pte. Reyner Sutcliffe was ordered to undergo ten days’ Field Punishment No. 2; the details of his offence are unknown. He was a 22 year-old labourer from Elland and had been an original member of the Battalion having enlisted in Halifax in September 1914.

J.B. Priestley wrote home, enclosing an embroidered handkerchief as a gift for his sister, Winnie, “it comes from a little town only three miles from the trenches, a little town that is often shelled by the Germans. If I could have got to one of the larger towns further back I could have got some very pretty souvenirs, though they are expensive".

The Brighouse Echo published extracts from letters which had been received from a number of men which had been sent in acknowledgement of having received parcels from the Brighouse Committee. The parcels had contained, “A Christmas cake, packet of sweets, tin of toffee, two packets of chocolates, gingerbread biscuits, apples, parkin, café-au-lait, packet of cocoa, tin of Zam-Buk, two handkerchiefs, nuts, Oxo, cigarettes, tin of sardines, tin of crab and a Christmas card”. Pte. George Frederick Barkham (see 14^th July) had written, “Just a few lines to let you know that I have received a parcel from the Brighouse Christmas Fund. It is very good of the people to think of the boys who are out here. I wish you all every success”. Pte. Frank Butler (he was a 27 year-old labourer from Rastrick and was married, with one daughter) had written, “I am now again in the firing line after spending four days in reserve (written on 14^th December). The weather has been very wet lately and the trenches are worse than they otherwise would have been. I am in fairly good health and am looking forward to getting my leave”. Pte. William Hartley (he was a 37 year-old wood sawyer, originally from London but had been living in Brighouse; he was married, with four children) had written, “The parcel is a heavy one and there is not a thing that is not useful. They could not have sent anything better. As for the spice loaf, I must congratulate the person who made it. I gave some of my comrades a share of it and they are all of the same opinion as myself. There are some of the Brighouse men in this Battalion who have not got a parcel yet, but I expect they will do so in their turn”. Pte. Joseph Dent (he was a 31 year-old silk dresser, originally from Leeds but had been living in Brighouse) had written, “The parcel arrived safely to hand a few days ago and I quite enjoyed the contents. We are having it very wet, but simply do our best and soldier on. It is very nice to know that we are not forgotten out in the foreign land this Christmas time. Am pleased to say I am keeping well and hope to continue so during the whole campaign”..

Pte. Albert Henry Nutter (see 6^th November) had also recently written home, extracts from his letter were published in The Todmorden & District News; “Pte. Albert Henry Nutter said he got the parcel just when he came out of the trenches for a few days rest, and it was a God-send, as he had nothing to eat, and when one was wet to the skin and no dry things to put on they wanted something to eat to keep the cold out. He was in the best of health and hoped to come and thank them sometime in the New Year. It was grand to think that although in the trenches up to the knees in mud and water one was not forgotten by those left behind”.

Pte. Albert Henry Nutter

Pte. Albert Edward White (see 6^th August) was reported by Sgt. Henry Herbert Stroud (see below) as ‘absent off 2pm parade’; on the orders of Capt. John Atkinson (see 5^th October) he would be confined to barracks for four days. 

Henry Herbert Stroud was an original member of the Battalion. However, in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or establish any further details of his service.

Ptes. James Baines, Albert Bateson, John Tempest Colyer, John William Dawson, James Gordge, Arthur Gregory, Alfred Guy, William Hampton, Frank Harrison (3/11632) (see 24^th October), James Heaton, David Long and Arthur Wellock joined the Battalion, having been posted to France from 11DWR on 13^th December. James Baines was a 34 year-old labourer from Chesterfield. He had originally served with 8DWR but had been transferred to 11DWR rather than departing for Gallipoli with his battalion. Whilst in training he had been four times reported as absent off pass. Albert Bateson was a 24 year-old drayman from Bradford; he had served with the Dukes’ territorial battalion from 1907 and had been called up in August 1914 and posted to 11DWR. Whilst in training he had been twice reported as absent off pass. John Tempest Colyer was a 22 year-old ‘film artist’ from Leytonstone. He had a long string of disciplinary offences whilst in training having been reported as: ‘absent from parade’; ‘neglect of duty, ie not being shaved’; ‘not cleaning his kit’; ‘not complying with an order’; ‘using obscene language’; ‘having a dirty rifle and boots on parade’; and ‘not standing to attention when ordered by an officer’. John William Dawson was a 21 year-old woolcomber from Bradford; he had originally served with 8DWR but had been transferred to 11DWR rather than departing for Gallipoli with his battalion. He had been reported, whilst in training, for ‘refusing to obey an order and using obscene language to an NCO’ and for having been absent for three days until surrendering himself to the civil police on 27^th November’; in total he had spent 21 days confined to barracks. James Gordge was a 38 year-old boiler fireman from Huddersfield; he was married and had seven children. Arthur Harold Gregory was a 39 year-old steel mill labourer from Sheffield; he was married, with four children. Alfred Guy was a 23 year-old blacksmith’s striker from Halifax; he was married, with one son. William Hampton was from Halifax. James Heaton was a 19 year-old wire dresser from Halifax; he was one of 14 children of Sam and Minnie Heaton. Arthur Wellock was a 21 year-old cotton piecer from Mytholmroyd.

Pte. Joseph Simpson (see 27^th September), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company, but had been wounded and invalided home, was reported missing from Brocton Camp. Staffordshire, where he was serving with 11DWR. 

Capt. Pereira of ‘D’ Company, who had been taken ill in October and subsequently sent back to England (see 12th November) was examined by a Medical Board meeting at Caxton Hall and declared fit for general service.