Tuesday 25th April 1916

Beaumetz-les-Aires

It was reported in the War Diary that the training programme of the previous days had been successful and that, “good results have been obtained”. Orders were received that the Battalion was to return to Hersin on the following day. Battalion transport was to travel by road, but the men were to march twelve miles to Pernes, where they would then board a train to be conveyed to Barlin, before then completing the final two-mile march to their former billets in Hersin.

Pte. Sam Shuttleworth was found to be drunk in his billet at 1.50pm, as reported by Sgt. George Smitham  (see 17^th April) and Cpl. Billy Rawlinson (see 23^rd January). He was awarded ten day’s field punishment number two. He had earlier brushes with military discipline already on his record (see 29^th May 1915).

2Lt. Henry Herbert Owen Stafford (see 20^th April) reported for duty with 10DWR, joining ‘D’ Company.

Further attempts were made to resolve the case of 2Lt. William Neville Dawson, regarded as unfit to continue as a platoon commander with 10DWR (see 23^rd April). An enquiry was now made as to whether he might be suited to employment with a Labour Battalion; it was acknowledged at Divisional level, that, “It is difficult to know how to dispose of this officer if some suggestion is not put forward as to how he could be suitably employed in the event of it being considered desirable to retain his services”.

Pte. Fred Teal (see 2nd April) was discharged from 4^th Stationery Hospital at Arques, after suffering from ‘dental caries’, and re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. Matthew Woodward (see 20^th March), who had been wounded five weeks’ previously, was evacuated to England from 26^th General Hospital at Etaples; on arrival in England he would be admitted to the Bevan Hospital, Sandgate, Kent.

2Lt. Harry Thornton Pickles (see 20^th January), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company before being commissioned, wrote home to his family. He was now serving with 9^th Battalion West Ridings, in front line trenches near Houplines.

2Lt. Harry Thornton Pickles

Pte. Fred Richmond (see 10^th March), who had been seriously wounded while serving with Tunstill’s Company in November 1915, and had subsequently been serving with 11^th (Reserve) Battalion West Ridings at Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, Staffs, was transferred back to the Regimental Depot at Halifax.

Pte. William Hissett (see 10^th February), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was reported as ‘absent off pass from 12.05am’; he would report back at 8.30pm on 27^th and would be deprived of three days’ pay.

Aidan Nicholson was rejected from his officer training course with no.4 Cadet Battalion, Oxford, on the grounds of insufficient physical development; it was noted that he was, “A charming little boy. Looks much younger than his years. Good manners and smart. Only 5ft 3inches high”. He would, however, subsequently be appointed to a commission and serve with 10DWR.

Aidan Nicholson was born 11^th May 1897, the youngest of six children of Ralph and Mary Nicholson; Ralph Nicholson owned a draper’s business in Carlisle. Aidan had been a student at Durham University and a member of the OTC there since July 1915 and on 19^th January 1916 had applied for a commission in either ASC or ACC; he had joined no.4 Officer Cadet Battalion on 3^rd March.