Friday 1st September 1916

Front line trenches east of Ploegsteert Wood

At 1.30am further gas attacks were carried out by 36^th Division on the left of the Battalion. The German response was noted in the War Diary; “the first warning signals issued by the enemy were two whistle blasts and came from the direction of Barricade Avenue at 1.45am. Immediately afterwards bells and gongs were sounded and lasted about 30 seconds, it is generally thought that these alarms were sounded from some distance behind their front line system. There was the usual amount of machine gun fire during the night from the enemy who also threw about 20 trench mortar shells at our lines without doing damage”.

The rest of the day was dull, but remained dry. There was rather more trench mortar activity than usual from the Germans and also British artillery activity, though it was noted that this appeared largely to be directed against the German reserve positions. Orders were received for the Battalion to be relieved next day by 11^th West Yorks, and to retire to reserve trenches at Lewisham Lodge in Ploegsteert Wood. 

At least one man was wounded; Pte. George Henry Collinson would be evacuated to 2^nd Casualty Clearing Station near Bailleul. He was a 35 year-old carter from Huddersfield; he had enlisted on the outbreak of war and had originally served with 2DWR, going out to France in December 1914. He had been wounded in April 1915, but the details of his treatment, and the date and circumstances of his joining 10DWR are unknown.

Pte. Sydney Charles Nicholls left the Battalion and was admitted to a General Hospital in Boulogne, suffering from inflammation of the tissue in his forearm. He had been one of the men from other local villages who had been added to Tunstill’s original volunteers in September 1916. His family originated from Norfolk, where his father, Charles, had been a gamekeeper. Sydney, who was born in 1879, however, had moved to Yorkshire and had married Eleanor Kirkbright on 11^th March 1900 at Pateley Bridge. The couple set up home in Peel Place, Burley-in-Wharfedale. By the time Sydney enlisted, in Burley, on 17^th September 1914, the couple had seven children and Sydney was working as a stonemason’s labourer.

Pte. Fred Riddiough (see 17^th June) was admitted to 109^th Field Ambulance at Remy Sidings, Lijssenthoek, suffering from rheumatism.

Ptes. Harry Hinchliffe (see 24^th June) and Stanley Basil Studd (see 22^nd July), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp in Staffordshire, were posted back to France. However, they would not re-join 10DWR, but would instead be posted to 9DWR, joining their new Battalion on 28^th September. 

Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 27^th November 1915), Cpl. George Wallace Fricker (see 23^rd May), L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 18^th August) and Pte. Thomas Bulcock (see 20^th July), serving with11DWR, at Brocton Camp in Staffordshire, were posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Having recovered from shrapnel wounds suffered in July, Pte. Clifford Midwood (see 23^rd August) was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 19^th February), now serving with the ASC at Cirencester, was transferred from territorial service to the regular ASC.

Pte. Fred Richmond (see 15^th July), who had been seriously wounded while serving with Tunstill’s Company in November 1915, was transferred, from 11^th (Reserve) Battalion West Ridings at Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, Staffs., to the newly-formed 12^th Training Reserve Battalion.

Pte. Harry Smith (see 9^th July) was transferred from 11DWR to the newly-formed 13^th Battalion, Training Reserve.

Another man who had previously served with Tunstill’s Company, Pte. Joseph Simpson (see 11^th March), was transferred from 11DWR to 14^th Training Reserve Battalion. He had been wounded almost a year earlier.

Official notice was published in the London Gazette of the award of the Military Medal to Sgts. Thomas Henry Edmondson (see 29^th July) and Michael Kenefick (see 30^th July) for their actions at Contalmaison. Sgt. Edmondson had subsequently been seriously wounded and evacuated to England.

2Lt. John Edward Lennard (sic.) Payne (see 25^th August) who was en route to join 10DWR, was promoted Lieutenant. 

Pte. Andrew Aaron Jackson, (see 4^th August) who would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR, was transferred from 27^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Portobello, near Edinburgh, to 103^rd Training Reserve Battalion.

The doctor who had recently treated Lt. Paul James Sainsbury, (see 3^rd August) who would later serve with 10DWR, reported on his current condition, “I operated on the right maxillary antrum (sinus) on August 3^rd, letting out much pus. The patient is now able to pass a tube and wash out the antrum by himself. Since August 18^th the washing has been clean or have contained a little mucus.” Sainsbury was due to appear before a Medical Board to consider the extent of his recovery from the symptoms of shellshock which had arisen following 1^st July.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury

Cpl. Vincent Edwards (see 16^th June) serving with 28^th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was transferred to 104^th Training Reserve Battalion; he would later be commissioned and join 10DWR.

Albert Hoggarth (see 25^th August), who had originally attested under the Derby Scheme in November 1915, was mobilized for active service and posted to the West Riding Regimental Depot at Halifax; he would later be posted to 10DWR and serve with ‘A’ Company.

Pte. Patrick Larvin (see 6^th June), who had been severely wounded in May, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he was assessed as having 100% disability and was awarded an Army pension (amount unknown).