Tuesday 28th March 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

Another fine day, with working parties again provided for the Royal Engineers.

LSgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 23^rd December 1915) was promoted Acting Sergeant.

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 24^th March), one of Tunstill’s fellow officers with ‘A’ Company, departed on one weeks’ leave to England.

Lt. Col. Hugh John Bartholomew, commanding 10DWR (see 26^th January), completed a formal report on the competence of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson who had now been with the Battalion for three months (see 27^th December 1915). Bartholomew expressed grave concerns about Dawson’s competence: “I do not consider 2/Lieut. Dawson is fitted for command of a platoon in the field. He does not possess the habit of command, and has no grip on his men. He is, moreover, very short sighted. This officer might be more suitably employed in the A.S.C., in the ranks of which he served for six months prior to receiving a commission in this Battalion.” The report was forwarded to 69^th Brigade HQ, with confirmation that “This report has been communicated to the officer in question”.

At 20^th General Hospital at Camiers, Pte. Arthur Halliday (see 20^th March) died of wounds received on 20^th March; he was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.

Pte. Herbert Ridley (see 20^th March) who had spent eight days at 4^th General Hospital at Camiers after being wounded was evacuated to England onboard the hospital ship St. David; on arrival in England he would be admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow, Bucks.

Trooper Claude Darwin, who had spent the last ten days in Sohag Hospital, suffering from nephritis, (see 5^th March) was transferred to Assuit Hospital, Egypt. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who was currently at the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, awaiting posting, after having been treated for ‘debility’ whilst serving with 10DWR (see 14^th February).