Tuesday 14th March 1916

Billets in Bruay

The five-day stay in Bruay provided the Battalion with a well-earned rest, with the men engaged in cleaning equipment and clothing and “general interior economy”. Pte. Irvine Clark (see 10^th March) considered Bruay to be “a pretty little town” and the War Diary reported that, “The French people in the town of Bruay appear to be pleased with the troops and great friendliness prevails”.  Lt. Dick Bolton (see 9^th March) recalled that, “The few days spent there (ie in the trenches near Souchez) was enough to satisfy the toughest of troops and it was a relief in more senses than one to get back to Bruay”. He went on, “Being the first British troops to be quartered there, the inhabitants did all they could to make the stay a pleasant one. The owner of a brewery where part of the men were billeted celebrated the occasion by keeping a barrel on tap for them. Needless to say he soon learnt that he had to stop it or go bankrupt".

Pte. Robert Moody (see 11^th September 1915) was reported by Sgt. Herbert Lawton (see 21^st August 1915) and L.Cpl. Matthew Best (see 6^th March)  and as having been ‘unshaven on parade at 3.45pm’ and for ‘quitting his billet whilst a prisoner’; on the orders of Capt. Tunstill he would be ordered to be confined to barracks for five days.

John Henry Hitchin (see 7^th February) who had been stripped of his commission having been absent without leave from 11^th Battalion West Ridings since 29^th December 1915, was operated on at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank, London, following a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. He had originally presented himself at Charing Cross Hospital having been taken ill. It was subsequently reported that no notice had been given to the military authorities as, “The case was one of urgency, the patient was in uniform, and there was nothing to arouse suspicion as to his being other than he seemed”. Hitchin would continue to be treated at the hospital for the next six weeks without any report being passed to the authorities.

Pte. Farrand Kayley (see 13^th March), brother of Tunstill’s recruits James and Job Kayley (see 14^th January), arrived at the Base Depot at Etaples en route to service as a transport driver with 1^st/6^th Battalion West Ridings.