Tuesday 28th December 1915

Divisional Reserve at Rue Dormoire.

At long last there was some improvement in the weather, with the heavy rain finally abating and the strong winds, “having a good drying effect upon the ground”. Artillery, on both sides, remained active.

The Battalion received orders to be prepared to move, next day, back to their former billets in and around Rue Marle. It was noted that the new defensive scheme which had been issued two weeks earlier (see 13^th December), which provided for only two companies from each Battalion to hold the front line, would be temporarily suspended. For the time being, three companies from each Battalion would be in the front line “to cope with the work required to repair parapets etc”. This decision seems to have been taken in anticipation of specific offensive action which was planned for overnight on 31^st December/1^st January.

L.Cpl. Michael Kenefick (see 5^th December) departed for England on one weeks’ leave.

Confirmation was issued by HQ staff at Etaples that CSM Harry Dewhirst (see 27^th December) was not considered fit to be either Sergeant Major or QMS of a Base Depot.

Capt. Pereira of ‘D’ Company (see 24^th December), having recovered from the illness which had seen him invalided home, joined 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffordshire.

Charles Archibald Milford (see 1^st December), was posted to join 28^th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles) which was an officer training battalion, based at Richmond Park.

Cpl. Edward Kent Waite, serving with 10^th East Yorks arrived in Egypt with his Battalion; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. He was 24 years old (born 9^th August 1890) and was the eldest of five children of Tom and Mary Ann Waite. The family lived in Willerby, Lincs., where Tom worked as a farm bailiff for Hull Corporation. On leaving school, Edward had joined the Civil Service as a clerk.