Monday 3rd April 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The morning was rather hazy but as the day progressed so the weather improved and it became “very pleasant”. There was further activity from aircraft on both sides and continued exchanges of rifle grenades which on this occasion resulted in three casualties in the Battalion. The night passed quietly. Among the casualties was CSM Robert Cameron Watson (see below); he suffered severe wounds and would be evacuated to 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station. L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 4^th January)  suffered injuries to his back when part of the parapet was blown in by one of the explosions; his injuries were relatively minor and he was treated locally. Pte. Heaton Whitaker was also wounded; the nature of his wounds and the details of his treatment are unknown but he would be evacuated to England and admitted to hospital in Northumberland. Once sufficiently recovered, he would be posted to 11DWR at Brocton Camp. He was from Haworth, where he had worked in the textile mills, and only 18 years old, having enlisted underage in 1914. Pte. Joseph Chapman Syers (see 14^th September 1914) was also wounded; he appears to have remained with the Battalion.

Robert Cameron Watson was a 41 year-old married man from Kircudbright; he had previously served 14 years as a regular soldier with the Dukes before re-enlisting on the outbreak of war.

Pte. Heaton Whitaker

Image and additional information by kind permission of Andy Wade and 'MenofWorth'.

L.Cpl. Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 13^th March) was released from 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport, having been treated for an ingrowing toenail, and was ordered to join 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Cpl. Vincent Edwards (see 24^th March) having completed a ten day leave period following hospital treatment, joined 28^th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Fusiliers. He would later be commissioned and join 10DWR.