Sunday 22nd October 1916

Billets in Poperinghe

Orders were received that the Battalion was to relieve 13DLI next day in the front line near Hooge.

Pte. Luke Dawson (see 22^nd July) was promoted Lance Corporal.

L.Cpl. Luke Dawson (standing left), with other NCO's of 'A' Company

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

There was also leave for some; Adjutant, Lt. Hugh William Lester (see 4^th October), for example, had leave to England from 22^nd-31^st October. Lester’s role as Adjutant was taken up by Lt. Leonard Norman Phillips (see 16^th October).

 

Image by kind permission of Scott Flaving

A memorial service was held at St. Aidan’s Church, Hellifield, to remember four local men who had been killed in the last few months, among them being Pte. Joseph Edward Preston (see 21^st October) and Pte. Kit Ralph (see 20^th October).

Pte. Joseph Preston

Pte. Kit Ralph

A similar service was also held at the United Methodist Church in Cowling, in remembrance of Sgt. John Hartley (see 20^th October). It was said that, “The spacious church was nearly filled by a sympathetic congregation. Mrs. Rennie Fort contributed Mendelssohn's 'O rest in the Lord', the choir gave Dr. Parry's anthem 'The Lord is my Shepherd', and Miss Whitaker played the Dead March in 'Saul' on the organ. Mr. James Bradley was the conductor”.

James Bradley’s son, Pte. Willie Bradley (see 11^th July) was himself a member of Tunstill’s Company and a friend of John Hartley.

Sgt. John Hartley

Pte. Willie Bradley

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 20^th September), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, once again found himself on a charge; on this occasion he was found to have been ”absent from tattoo until 12.40 am on 22^nd October; 2 hrs. 40 mins.”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for five days.

A Medical Board convened at 5^th Southern General Hospital, Southsea, considered the case of Capt. William Norman Town (see 20^thOctober). The Board found him unfit for duty and granted him three months sick leave.