Sunday 31st December 1916

Billets in the Cathedral, Hospice and Cavalry Barracks in Ypres

The Battalion returned to the same sector of the front line they had occupied over Christmas, relieving 11^th West Yorks. The relief was completed at around 9 pm and the night passed quietly. Three Companies were in the front line and one in support at Halifax Street.

Pte. Elijah Sudworth (see 19^th December), who had joined the Battalion less than two weeks earlier, was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from suspected pneumonia. Pte. Milton Sutcliffe (see 19^th December), who had joined the Battalion in the same draft, was admitted to hospital suffering from bronchitis.

Following two weeks’ treatment for influenza, Pte. Cuthbert Dyer (see 18^th December) was discharged from hospital and re-joined the Battalion.


Pte. Ferrand Wilkinson (see 17^th October), who had been at the St. John VAD Hospital in Cheltenham since having suffered severe wounds to his right arm and leg in October, underwent an operation for a further re-amputation of his right leg, this time at the level of the mid-thigh.

Dr. Stacey Southerden Burn, MRCS, of Tudor House, Richmond, Surrey, provided a statement of the fitness for service of Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 22^nd December), who had recently been compelled to relinquish his commission on grounds of ill-health. Dr. Burn stated that, “I have examined Captain Heale and, with the exception of a cold, he is now in good health and fit for duty. As he has spent sixteen years in South Africa and the West Indies, he is not likely to stand active service in a cold climate well”.

The family of Pte. James Edward Haley (see 29^th August), who had been taken prisoner on 29^th July, wrote the War Office informing them that their son had been moved to a new camp at Friedrichsfeld.

69^th Brigade War Diary recorded casualties for the Brigade for the month of December:

Killed                                        3 other ranks

Accidentally killed                  0

Died of wounds                      0

Wounded                              14 other ranks

Accidentally wounded          2 officers and 3 other ranks

Missing                                     0

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                       1

Accidentally killed                 0

Died of wounds                      0

Wounded                                4 (The Battalion War Diary records 7 wounded)

Accidentally wounded          1

Missing                                    0

These official casualty figures do not take account of the deaths of Ptes. Priestley and Hanson, both of whom had been wounded but had died subsequently from their wounds.

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France were now:

Killed                                        143

Accidentally killed                     4

Died of wounds                          7

Wounded                               721

Accidentally wounded           48

Missing                                   116