Wednesday 13th September 1916

Billets at Henencourt Wood

The next two days, both of them dull and damp, were spent in preparation of arms, equipment and rations and in some training. 

Pte. Ernest Ashness (see 17^th July) was reported absent from parade at 2pm; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 1^st August) was awarded ten days’ Field Punishment no.1; the nature of his offence is unknown.

L.Cpl. Rennie Hirst (see 25^th July) was admitted via 141^st Field Ambulance and 45^th Casualty Clearing Station to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left leg.

Pte. William Andrew Leiper Long (see 3^rd September) was discharged from 34^th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne and posted to 1^st Convalescent Depot, also at Boulogne; he would remain there for five days before being posted 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples and from there back to 10DWR.

Enquiries continued regarding 2Lt Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 5^th September) who was officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the attack on Munster Alley. A statement was taken, at 8^th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, from Pte. Frank Woodall (see 28^th August), who was a member of ‘A’ Company and had been accidentally wounded two weeks’ previously. Woodall’s version of events was recorded, though not in his own words; “Very fair, clean-shaven, very young, about 6ft., informant thinks home North Shields (Brinsley-Richards was actually 29 years old; 5ft. 6 ½” tall; and had been living in London). On July 30^th. Regiment were in trenches near Thiepval (sic.). About 3am, A Company, which was informants’ company, relieved B Company, who had been on a bombing raid in charge of Lt. Richards. When informant got to the sap of the trench, he saw the Lt.’s body lying dead. He does not know where the Lt. was buried”. Frank Woodall, once recovered, would be transferred to 8DWR.

2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards

Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 8^th September) wrote to the War Office regarding a cheque signed by him which had been found among the effects of the late 2Lt. Walter Douglas Taylor (see 8^th September). Bull confirmed that he had issued the cheque in settlement of his account with the Company Officer’s Mess, of which Taylor had been President; he now issued a new cheque, payable, as requested, to the Assistant Financial Secretary, the War Office.