Saturday 28th October 1916

Front line trenches south-west of Hooge

Another quiet day, with further repairs and improvements to the trenches being carried out. The usual patrolling continued, but with nothing of note to report.

Acting CQMS, ‘A’ Company, Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 18^th October) was now confirmed in his post.

Pte. John Roebuck (see 26^th October) was transferred to England, having been recently taken ill suffering from ICT (inflammation of connective tissue) in buttocks and thighs. On arrival in England he would be admitted to Edmonton War Hospital. 


Pte. Reginald Jerry Northin (see 16^th September), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was reported as ‘overstaying his pass from 3am’ and would not report back until 9.30pm the following day; he would be deprived of two days’ pay and confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Reginald Hancock (see 7^th October), who had been severely wounded in the chest during the advance on Contalmaison, was posted, on the expiry of three weeks’ leave, to 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion DWR at North Shields. 

Ernest Cyril Coke (see 28^th September), who had been wounded in the actions around Munster Alley, losing the tip of the middle finger of his left hand, and was now serving with 3DWR (83^rd Training Reserve) at North Shields, wrote to the Adjutant of his Battalion, requesting that his application for a wound gratuity be forwarded to the War Office. He confirmed the details of his case, “On July 29^th 1916, whilst in action near Pozieres I received a gun shot wound in the left hand, which shattered the top half of the centre finger. I was in Osborne Hospital from August 2^nd until 28^th and was on sick leave until Sept. 11^th when a board awarded me one month’s light duty”.

A payment of £7 7s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Walter Blamires (see 11^th July), who had died of wounds in July; the payment would go to his father, Joseph.