Friday 17th March 1916

Billets in Bruay

Orders were received for the Battalion to relieve 2^nd Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry in trenches in the Angres sector, north of Souchez. Advance parties were to take over the trenches on the morning of 19^th, with the main relief commencing from 5.30pm the same day. ‘A’ Company would take up a position on the right of the Battalion front, with ‘B’ and ‘D’ north of them and ‘C’ in close support.

Pte. John William Addison (see 29^th February) was discharged from 22^nd Casualty Clearing Station and re-joined the Battalion.

Sgt. Edward Hunter (see 9^th March), who had been wounded on 9^th March, was evacuated to England from 12^th General Hospital in Rouen, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship St. Andrew. On arrival in England he would be transferred to 3^rd Scottish General Hospital in Glasgow.

L.Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley was released from hospital in France having been treated for the previous three weeks following an accidental laceration to his nose. He re-joined his unit, 2^nd Battalion Royal Berkshires. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Acarnley was the eldest of four sons of John Anthony and Augusta Matilda Acarnley. He was born 28^th March 1884 and had been educated at St Paul’s School, Hackney, before following his father’s profession and working as a railway clerk. He had joined Royal Berkshires on 4^th September 1914 and had served three months in France from February 1915 before being wounded on 9^th May 1915. Following this he had spent almost five months in England, returning to France on 30^th September 1915 and being appointed Lance Corporal on 4^th November. He had suffered his injury on 21^st February 1916.