Monday 23rd October 1916

Billets in Poperinghe

The weather turned milder, but misty.

The Battalion left Poperinghe to go into the front line trenches south of the Menin Road, near Hooge. The men assembled outside their billets at 5.15 pm and completed the short march to Poperinghe station, from where they were scheduled to leave at 6pm. 2Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 26^th September) was waiting for  them atthe station and was to supervise the entrainment, before re-joining ‘A’ Company. In the event, there was a short delay and the train did not pull away until 7 pm. On arrival at Ypres the Battalion was met by their guides and proceeded via Hellfire Corner and towards the front line south-west of Hooge. The darkness and the poor condition of the roads and tracks, with rain again falling, slowed progress somewhat and although the relief was underway by 9.30pm it would be 1.30 am on 24^th before it was complete.

Having received news of the death of his father, Cpl. Fred Swale (see 17^th October) was granted one week’s compassionate leave. Following his arrival home in Austwick, the Craven Herald said of him, “He has seen fourteen months hard fighting, and has been in many stiff encounters, but is in the best of health and very bright and cheerful”.

Cpl. Fred Swale

Image by kind permission of Joan Rigg

Acting Sgt. John Stewart (see 6^th October) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance with a diagnosis of ‘PYO’ (meaning pyrexia, or raised temperature, of unknown origin); as a result of his incapacity he lost his acting rank and reverted to Corporal.

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 20^th May) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from myalgia.

Pte. Louis Feather (see 9^th June 1915) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance suffering from colic; he would be transferred via 10^th Casualty Clearing Station to 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne.

Pte. Edgar Johnson (see 5^th October), who had suffered severe wounds to his left leg in the actions at Le Sars, was evacuated to England. On arrival he would be admitted to the Lord Derby Hospital in Warrington. His wounds were such that his left leg would be amputated below the knee.

2Lt. Fred Baume (see 14^th October), who had been wounded during the actions at Le Sars, appeared before a Medical Board at 3^rd Southern General Hospital, Oxford. The Board found that, “He was wounded by fuse base of a shell on the externo-anterior surface of the left thigh. The wound has almost healed. He is still lame.” He was declared unfit for duty and given six weeks leave, on the expiry of which he would attend another Medical Board.

2Lt. John Redington (see 23^rd August), who had been in England since July having been taken, appeared before a further Medical Board; a decision was deferred for a further month.

The War Office wrote to 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 28^th September) at his family home (The Green House, Hebden, Skipton), where Perks was currently recovering from wounds. Perks was informed that arrangements were in hand for him to receive his DSO personally from the King and requested that he confirm whether he would be able to attend at Buckingham Palace on Saturday 28^th October.

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

  

Sgt. Frederick Griggs (see 19^th October), who had been one of Tunstill’s original Company but was now serving with 2DWR, was, for the second time in ten days, promoted Acting Company Sergeant Major.

Back home in England, the official film version of the Battle of the Somme was being shown in local cinemas. The Clitheroe Times later reported on the showings:

“Clitheroe picture goers and many who rarely visit a cinema show have this week been thrilled by the official pictures illustrating the Battle of the Somme, shown at both local houses, at the King Lane picture house in the early part and at the Palace at the latter end of the week. The audiences have been large and the impression created, profound. The film is a great example of what may be termed cinema journalism and it shows the realities – the sadness and the horrors, the cheerfulness and the pleasures – of life in France at this moment as no pen pictures ever can. There is still an opportunity of seeing the picture, at the Palace, this weekend”.

Sgt. Norman Roberts (see 13^th October) had commented on the presence of the official film-makers in a later home to his father, “ I reckon most of the pictures you saw were ‘made up’, but a few days ago I saw a camera man out here in the trenches. He ‘took’ some of our Battalion whilst they were carrying bombs up to the line”.
A payment of 15s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Walter Edwards (see 10^th July 1916), who had been killed in action in July; the payment would go to this widow, Emma.

A payment of £4 8s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. James Kettlewell (see 28^th July), who had been killed in action on 28^th July; the payment would go to this mother, Dorothy.

L. Cpl. James Kettlewell