Friday 25th February 1916

Between Neuf Berquin and Estaires

The weather remained bitterly cold and the Battalion passed a second day on stand-by, but received no further instructions.

Pte. Patrick Conley (see 2^nd January) was admitted via 7^th Casualty Clearing Station to 5^th General Hospital at Rouen suffering from ‘trench foot’.

Pte. Harry Wood (see 14^th January), who had been wounded six weeks previously, was discharged from 18^th General Hospital at Camiers and posted to Etaples, en route to re-joining 10DWR.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported on the poignancy of a letter written just days before his death by Pte. Harry Iredale (see 18^th February):

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT - A PATHETIC REMINDER

Pathetic interest attaches to the following letter, written only three days before he was mortally wounded, from Pte. H. Iredale of the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment, whose death at the age of 19 years was recorded last week:-

5th February, 1916

"Dear Mr. Bartley, - I received the parcel about a fortnight ago, but as several of the lads have not yet received their parcels I thought I would defer writing. We do very well for clothes and socks, and as a rule we have a bath and change of underclothing every five days, so that socks and comforts from home are hardly necessary. We all do very well for food, though it is plain, but we can hardly expect anything else out there, so we have to rely on the parcels sent from home. The weather is gradually changing for the better, and, I suppose, harder fighting. Our regiment has been out here nearly six months now so we are expecting the usual month's rest, and probably a pass. We received a parcel for Pte. Greenwood, who is in hospital, but as men in hospital are not allowed parcels we divided it amongst the lads. We have not much time to spare in the trenches, so I shall have to bring this letter to a close, again thanking you for the most welcome parcel.

"I remain, yours sincerely, H. IREDALE."

Pte, Harry Iredale

The same edition also reported on the recent marriage of Sgt. Tom Pickles (see 12^th February):

From the Trenches to the Altar

Sergt. Tom Pickles, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who arrived home from France on a week’s leave on the 11^th inst. was married on the following Saturday, the 12^th, at the Baptist Church, Colne, to Miss Nora Leach, of 3 Calder Street, Colne. The bridegroom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pickles of Walden House, Barnoldswick. He has been in France several months.

There was also notice of the continuing fund-raising efforts of Mrs. Geraldine Tunstill (see 14^th January):

GIFTS ACKNOWLEDGED

Mrs. H.G. Tunstill acknowledges with most grateful thanks the following gifts for “A” Company, 10^th West Riding Regiment: 22 pairs of socks, 1 muffler from Cawood (per Mrs. Hemsworth); 3 pairs of socks from Mrs. Thorpe, Settle; 20 pairs of socks from Halton West Sewing Party (per Mrs. Yorke); 4 pairs of mittens, £2 (monthly subscription), Mrs. H.G. Tunstill; 24 pairs of scoks from Slaidburn and District (per Mrs. King-Wilkinson); 4 pairs of socks, 1 muffler from “A friend of the Soldiers”; 24 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of mittens, 1 scarf from Newton and District (per Mrs. Peel). These comforts have been sent with 2,500 cigarettes, 12 bottles lemon squash, 1 dozen Tommy’s cookers, 300 candles, 100 pipes to Captain Tunstill for distribution to the men.

Many more socks are required, also shirts, which will be gratefully acknowledged if sent to Mrs. Tunstill, Otterburn, Bell Busk.

  

Major Paul Hammond, who was the elder brother of Lt. Leonard Hammond, Transport Officer for 10DWR, died at No.1 General Hospital, Etretat, having been wounded a week earlier (see 17^th February). Although he had initially made a good recovery, Paul Hammond had contracted pneumonia; he was buried at Etretat Churchyard.

Lt. Leonard Hammond

Major Paul Hammond