Saturday 24th June 1916

Billets at Enquin-les-Mines

The Battalion’s move to the Somme area began with Lt. Leonard Hammond (see 8^th May) and a loading party proceeding to Berguette by motor lorry at 11.45am to begin entraining supplies ahead of the arrival of the men. The move was a matter of some urgency and strict orders were issued to ensure that there were no unnecessary delays. The Battalion transport, along with Lewis gun limbers, mess carts etc. were to follow immediately behind the loading party and Sgt. George Smitham (see 25^th April) was to, “select the most convenient place for the issue of tea on the Lamres - Mollinghem road, west of Mollinghem. Tea to be ready for issue on arrival of Battalion. This must be done without delay and the cookers proceed as quickly as possible to Berguette Station”. Five NCOs were also to cycle to Berguette, ahead of the main party. Company Commanders were to ride to Berguette where they would then hand their mounts over to Transport Officer, Lt. Charles Wolfe (see 11^th May) for them to be boarded onto the train. 2Lt. John Smith (see 28^th May) and one NCO from each Company were detailed to follow in rear of the Battalion and “bring along any stragglers”. In the event the march  of over ten miles, which the Battalion began at 2.25pm, was completed in three hours with only a single, ten-minute, stop to take tea from Sgt. Smitham and his colleagues. The Battalion arrived just in time to be swiftly loaded into box wagons, with an average of 45 men per truck, to begin their journey. The train pulled out at 6pm. 

The train journey lasted through the night, taking more than eight hours  to cover just ninety miles. Lt. Dick Bolton (see 8^th June) later recalled, not surprisingly, that it was “a night with very little rest”. The route passed through Lillers, Chocques, Calonne Riccart, St Pol and Doullens, Vignacourt and Amiens before arriving at Longueau at 2.30am on 25^th June.

At some point during the day L.Cpl. Harold William Crowther (see 13^th June) suffered an accidental injury whilst at duty, which resulted in minor abrasions to his left ankle; he would be admitted to 22^nd General Hospital at Camiers on 26^th June but would then be discharged to duty after three days.

Prior to the move, 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 22^nd June), who had been reported as being unfit to continue as a platoon officer, finally left the Battalion. He travelled to Boulogne, and from there, next day, to Folkestone. 

2Lt. Arthur Poynder Garratt (see 22^nd June), serving with 9^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s, who had suffered an injury whilst wrestling two days’ earlier, left his Battalion for further medical treatment. His injury was now diagnosed as being a “simple fracture of left fibula”.

Pte. Harry Hinchliffe (see 11^th June) was transferred from 3DWR at North Shields to 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs.