Monday 11th December 1916

Front line trenches near Zouave Wood

In the evening, the Battalion was again relieved by 11^th West Yorks and again took over their billets in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres. As on their earlier stay, large working parties were provided overnight for the Royal Engineers.

Pte. Ernest Heyhirst was reported by Cpl. Thomas Sheldon (see below) as “having a dirty rifle whilst on sentry” and “having rifle unloaded whilst on guard”; on the orders of Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see 9^th October) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Cpl. Thomas Sheldon was an original member of the Battalion; he was a 32 year-old married man from Bradford.

Pte. Albert John Start (see 28^th November), attached for duty to the heavy branch of the Machine Gun Corps, was admitted to 12^th Stationary Hospital at St. Pol, suffering from influenza.

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 17^th November) was discharged from 1^st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

John Widdup, younger brother of 2Lt. Harry Widdup (see 20^th September) completed his attestation papers in Skipton; he was 27 years old, married and his wife, Frances, was pregnant with their first child. Harry had been working in the family cotton manufacturing business in Barnoldswick.