Thursday 8th June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

Another quiet day, with further training carried out.

In the evening, orders were received to relieve the 13^th Durham Light Infantry in the trenches north of Souchez. All billets were to be cleaned and the main company parties ready to move off by 4pm next day. Two Companies of Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who had recently arrived in France and had been gaining trench experience alongside 13DLI, were now to be attached to the Battalion for further trench training. According to Lt. Dick Bolton (see 26^th May) the former sailors had their own trench jargon, drawing on their previous experience, “a dugout was ‘below’, the trench was the ‘deck’, out of trenches was ‘ashore’ but I never heard them speak of being ‘at sea’ when in the line”. 

Advance parties from each Company were to take over trench stores from the Durham Light Infantry before the main parties marched, via Aix Noulette, and rendezvoused with their guides at 10pm. From there, Companies would proceed to their assigned sector, with ‘A’ Company stationed in close support in Bois Six Trench. The poor state of the defences was acknowledged and there was emphasis in the orders on the need for dugouts to be improved by the provision of working parties. Companies, including ‘A’ from close support, were each to supply twenty men who were to be employed, “solely for work on dugouts, except in emergencies. These men will work night and day on all dugouts in Battalion area. Work to commence at 9am 10^th inst. and thence forward to be continuous”.

There was heavy rain in the evening.

Pte. Thomas Delaney (see 26^th May) re-joined the Battalion from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques.

One man from 10DWR, Pte. Edward Tetlow (see below) was killed whilst attached to 181^st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers; he was buried at Maroeuil British Cemetery, alongside Pte. Allen of 2^nd Northants who was also attached to the same Company. Both may have been killed in the explosion of a German camouflet which was used against British mining operations in the Souchez area overnight on 7^th/8^th June. Edward Tetlow had been an original member of the Battalion and was 21 years old and from Stanedge, near Dobcross.

Pte. Tom Nixon (11904) (see 26^th May), who was 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples having recently been discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques following dental treatment, was evacuated to England suffering from ‘debility’ and complaining of ‘pains in stomach, pain between shoulders and headaches’; he would be admitted to a military hospital in England (details unknown).

L.Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 17^th March), who would later serve as a commissioned officer with 10DWR, serving with 2^nd Royal Berkshires, was admitted to hospital suffering from myalgia and “PUO” (pyrexia of unknown origin); these were the typical features of what was often known as ‘trench fever’. He would remain under medical care for the next 17 days. 

L.Sgt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood, serving with 16^th West Yorkshires, was admitted to 93^rd Field Ambulance, suffering from seborrhea (a form of dermatitis, usually affecting the scalp). He would later be commissioned and would serve with 10DWR. Mark Wood was born 12^th July 1890, the only son of John William and Florence Wood (nee Allan) of Bradford. Mark had been educated at Belle Vue Technical College in Bradford and had been working as a textile designer. He had also spent some time in the USA, returning to England in June 1914. On 20^th September 1914 he had volunteered and had joined 16^th West Yorkshires. He trained with his Battalion in England through 1914 and 1915, being promoted Lance Corporal and then Corporal in September 1915. The Battalion was posted to Egypt in December 1915, and Mark Wood was promoted Lance Sergeant on the eve of their departure. They remained in Egypt until embarking for France on 29^th February 1916, arriving at Marseilles on 7^th March.