Thursday 3rd February 1916

Brigade reserve billets at La Rolanderie.

Another fine, cold day; it was reported that, “A strong breeze is blowing which is having a good drying effect upon the ground”. Once again there was nothing to report beyond the usual exchanges of artillery fire. Orders were received for the Battalion to be prepared to relieve 8^th Yorkshires next day.

La Rolanderie farm, January 2016; photos by kind permission of Dominique Bascour

L.Cpl. Willie Marsden (see 21^st January) was reduced to the rank of Private on account of (unspecified) ‘misconduct’.

Pte. John McGlynn (see 18^th December 1915) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left heel; he would spend five days at 23^rd Division Rest Station before re-joining the Battalion.

Pte. Harry Killeen (see 25^th January) who had been wounded three weeks earlier was repatriated to England for further treatment in the Western General Hospital in Manchester. He never re-joined 10DWR, but recovered sufficiently from his wounds to serve out the remainder of the war in England with 2^nd and 1^st/6^th Battalions. Harry’s younger brother, Reggie, had been killed in action on 25^th January.

Pte. James Gordge (see 24^th December 1915) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

In an attempt to resolve several months of administrative confusion, III Army HQ staff forwarded copies of all correspondence relating to CSM Harry Dewhirst (see 26^th January) to the Infantry Records Office in York.

Pte. Michael Hopkins (see 12^th December 1915), who had been in prison in Leeds when 10DWR sailed for France in August, was now posted to France from 11DWR, but would join 9DWR.

Mary Ann Cardwell, having received the personal effects belonging to her son, Pte. John Cardwell (see 31^st January) who had been killed in November 1915, wrote to the Infantry Record Office in York. Her letter, whilst simple and formal, gives some indication of her sense of loss in the death of her son.

Dear Sir

I was very much disappointed at the very few things returned to me, as I sent a parcel of clothing away only five days before he was killed. He would not have received them; the boys of his company wrote and told us they had returned them and we have not had them sent on to us; also he had a pocket knife, cigarette case, a match book and he would have a lot of letters no doubt besides what he may have bought in France, it is not altogether the value of these articles why I should have wished for them but rather the sake of him poor lad, however I suppose we will never get them now, but if they should turn up, we shall be very thankful to have them.

I remain,

Yours respectfully

M.A. Cardwell