Saturday 11th March 1916

Billets in Bois de Bouvigny

The Battalion War Diary, in its matter-of-fact manner, reflected on the ordeal of the last few days, stating simply that, “The men were very dirty as a consequence of wading through much mud, also tired out and were accordingly rested”. 

Pte. George Edward Western (see 9^th February) was reported for having a ‘dirty rifle on parade’; on the orders of Capt. James Christopher Bull MC (see 18^th February) he would be confined to barracks for three days.

The new Battalion Medical Officer, replacing the late Lt. John David Wilson (see 9^th March) Capt. Cecil Berry reported for duty. He was 31 years old and had been born and brought up in Wigan. His father, William, had himself been a surgeon in the town but had died in 1910 (Cecil’s mother, Elizabeth, had died in 1890 aged just 33). Cecil Berry, having studied at Edinburgh and in Ireland, had practiced at Birkenhead Children’s Hospital; in the family practice in Wigan; and most recently as an ‘assistant tuberculosis officer’ in Stoke-on-Trent and Oldham.

Capt. Cecil Berry RAMC, standing rear

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 11^th March), who had originally been taken ill in early February, was discharged from hospital at Wimereux to the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

George Clark, who had served briefly with Tunstill’s Company in the Autumn of 1914 before absconding from Frensham Camp, and had subsequently re-enlisted in the ASC, was confirmed in his, previously unpaid, rank of Acting Corporal (see 11^th December 1915).

Another man who had previously served with Tunstill’s Company, Pte. Joseph Simpson (see 30^th December 1915), was married, in Maidstone, Kent, to Jessie Wood; it may well be that the couple had met during 10DWR’s training period in Kent in 1915. Simpson had been wounded in September 1915 and had been in England ever since.