Saturday 30th December 1916

Billets in the Cathedral, Hospice and Cavalry Barracks in Ypres

Working parties continued as did the German shelling of Ypres. A 5.9-inch German shell landed in the courtyard of the Hospice, where one Company was billeted, killing Sgt. Sam Phillips; he had originally served with 2DWR, arriving in France first on 30^th November 1914. It is not clear when, or under what circumstances, he joined 10DWR. Sam Phillips was married with one daughter. He was buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Ypres. 

Just two weeks after joining 8DWR Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 15^th December) was taken ill, suffering from diarrohoea; he would be admitted first to 33^rd Field Ambulance, and from there transferred to 44^th Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers and eventually to 4^th General Hospital at Camiers.

Pte. Francis Wilson Stockell (see 8^th July), who had been in England since having been wounded on 8^th July, was transferred to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead.

L.Cpl. Ronald Ferguson (see 27^th November), in training with the Inns of Court OTC, was promoted Corporal; once commissioned he would serve with 10DWR.

Percival Victor Thomas completed his attestation papers to join 28^th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles) which was an officer training battalion, based at Richmond Park. He was 22 years old, living in Shepherd’s Bush and working as a ‘seal engraver and gem sculptor’. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. He was one of eight children (two of whom had died) of John and Alice Sophie Thomas.

The Halifax Courier published a list of names of men from whom letters had been received in acknowledgement of Christmas gifts; among those listed was Pte. William Henry Jones (see 6^th October 1915), writing from North Shields, where he was most likely serving with 3DWR. In the absence of a surviving service record the date and circumstances of his posting back to England are unknown, but he would subsequently be transferred to the Labour Corps before being discharged from the Army ‘sick’, suffering from ‘chronic sycosis’ (facial inflammation).