Friday 18th February 1916

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque

The weather remained good and training continued.

Pte. Rennie Hirst (see 7^th October 1915) was reported by Sgt. Albert Edgar Palmer (see 23^rd January) as ‘absent from parade at 7.15am’; on the orders of Capt. James Christopher Bull MC (see 9th February) he would be confined to barracks for three days.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried a report on the death of Pte. Harry Iredale (see 12^th February):

EARBY SOLDIER KILLED

The sad news of the death, on February 11^th (sic), of another Earby soldier was received on Wednesday morning, referring to Pte. Harry Iredale, of the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Deceased, who was only 19 years of age, was the only son of Mrs. Iredale, Colne Road, and grandson of the late P.C. Iredale, of Earby. He joined the Army in September, 1914, and had been in France about six months. Before enlisting he was employed as a weaver at Messrs. J. S. Watson and Sons, Albion Shed.

The sad news was contained in the following letter from Pte. M. Beaumont, a stretcher-bearer in the 'A' Company:-

February 12^th, 1916.

"Just a few lines to convey to you the sad news of your son's death, which I am sure will be a terrible shock and loss to you. I was one of the stretcher bearers who helped to carry him to the dressing station, where his wound was quickly attended to. I will try to give you the details as near as I can. He was getting up on to the fire step when he was struck by a bullet in the head. Seeing he was in the same platoon to which I belonged, I thought it my duty to express our sympathy with you. I am sure he will be missed, for he was a true soldier and friend to all who knew him. The platoon sergeant carried him on his back to the communication trench, and then we carried him forward to the dressing station. From the time he was hit, about 6 in the morning of the 8^th inst., until reaching the hospital there was no time lost. Along with the section I again express our deepest sympathy with you in your loss.

Yours sincerely, PTE. M. BEAUMONT, Stretcher bearer."

Pte. Harry Iredale

Trooper Claude Darwin, (see 11^th February) serving at Heliopolis in Egypt, with 5^th Australian Army Service Corps was admitted to the local Field Ambulance Unit, suffering from mumps. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who was currently being treated for ‘debility’ whilst serving with 10DWR (see 14^th February).