Tuesday 1st August 1916

Reserve trenches near Scots Redoubt

There was further shelling by the German artillery through the day, though “without anything of a more exciting nature”. At 5pm the Battalion was relieved by 8th Yorkshires and marched off to take up billets in Rue Bapaume, Albert. German shells were still periodically falling in the town, but the Battalion suffered no casualties and little material damage was done.

Pte. Harold Normington (see 29^th July), who had been wounded three days previously, died of his wounds at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations based at Gezaincourt, near Doullens; he would be buried at the adjacent Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. He was 24 years old and from Keighley. Rev. W.C. Stanley would write, on 3^rd August, to Pte. Normington’s brother, “I think you have already had the sad news of your brother’s death from wounds in the clearing station. He was brought here on 30^th July suffering from wounds which left no hope of recovery and he passed away quite peacefully on 1^st August. He was attended by a skilful surgeon and nursed with the tenderest attention, and you can rest assured that everything was done to aid his recovery and relieve his pain. I was with him several times and he was able to join with me in saying the Lord’s Prayer and to follow the other prayers with great reverence. Just before he died I commended his soul to God and blessed him with the sign of the cross. He sent his dear love to all at home and I am sure he died at peace with God. I buried him yesterday at 2pm at the beautiful cemetery at Gezaincourt with full military honours and his grave will be marked by two crosses … Perhaps after a while it will comfort you to remember that he died bravely facing the future as a good soldier of his God and country”.

Image and additional information by kind permission of @MenofWorth

Pte. Charles Marsden (see 29th July) was promoted Corporal.

A/Cpl. John Thomas Matthews (see 3^rd March) was promoted Lance Sergeant.

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison, 2Lt. Ernest Cyril Coke and 2Lt. Charles Crowther Hart (see 29^th July), who had all been wounded in the fighting around Munster Alley, left no.8 hospital at Rouen and were evacuated to England for further treatment. They travelled onboard the SS Asturias from Le Havre to Southampton. 2Lt. Bob Perks (see 29^th July) was also evacuated to England and his family received a telegram from the War Office confirming that he had been wounded in the actions near Munster Alley;

“Regret to inform you that 2^nd Lt. R C Perks West Riding Regiment admitted 1 Red Cross Hospital Le Touquet July 29 slight shrapnel wound left hand and face.  Any further news will be reported.  Please supply name address relationship next of Kin.
Secretary War Office”.

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence).

2Lt. Robert Clement Perks

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

In a letter home to his wife Brig. Genl. T.S. Lambert, commanding 69^th Brigade, commented on recent events (I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me to reproduce the letters here).

“I think we are going to take a couple of days or so out today … Our last little biff was not quite so full of results but it kept the men’s tails up all right. I think I shall be able to see and talk to them today. I hope to …Things are comparatively quiet this morning so far”

Brig. Genl. Thomas Stanton Lambert

Image by kind permission of Juliet Lambert

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 5^th July), on attachment with 176^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, was discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques and would re-join 10DWR; he had been suffering from “P.U.O” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin).

Pte. William Leach (see 10^th July) was transferred back to 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth from hospital in Weybridge (details unknown).

Pte. William Leach

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth