Thursday 17th August 1916

Billets in Metrien

The Battalion was made ready for a return to the line. At 9 am a billeting party under the command of 2Lt. Henry Kelly (see 10^th July) was despatched to take over bivouacs in the Steenwerck area where the Battalion was to spend one night before moving on to reserve trenches at Creslow,  at the south-western corner of Ploegsteert Wood, on 18^th to relieve 32^nd Royal Fusiliers. In preparation for the move an advance party led by Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale  MC(see 14^th August) departed by motor bus to 124^th Infantry Brigade HQ in order to familiarise themselves with the Battalion’s new area of operations and to act as guides when the remainder of the Battalion moved forward to Creslow on the morning of 18^th. The Battalion duly moved off on the afternoon of the 17^th and marched the eight miles to Steenwerck.

2Lt. Henry Kelly

Lt. George Reginald Charles Heale

Pte. Edwin Kenyon (see 6^th June) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from influenza.

Pte. Frederick Maltby (see 22^nd July), who had been wounded on 11^th July, was discharged from the V.A.D. hospital in Arbroath. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish details of his posting but he would subsequently return to France.

2Lt. Bob Perks (see 2^nd August) who had been in hospital receiving treatment for wounds suffered in the actions near Munster Alley returned home on one week’s leave; he sent a telegram to his father from St. Pancras Station:

To Perks, Hebden, Skipton

Due weeks leave please arrange taxi Skipton 8.24 pm today

Bob

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

 

2Lt. Bob Perks

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. Robert Moody (see 20^th July), who had been in England since early July and had been declared unfit for further service by an Army Medical Board a month previously, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service; he was awarded an Army pension of  10s. per week, to be reviewed after six months.

Pte. George Richard Goodchild (see 19^th July), serving in England with 3DWR, who had been promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal a month earlier now began to be paid in the role; he would later serve with Tunstill’s Company.

Pte. George Richard Goodchild

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton.