Thursday 28th December 1916

Billets in the Cathedral, Hospice and Cavalry Barracks in Ypres

The whole Battalion was employed daily on working parties for the Royal Engineers, either in the line or in Ypres itself. There was shelling of the main square every day by the Germans.

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 5^th December) was ordered to undergo 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1 (the nature of his offence is unknown).

Pte. Cain Rothera (see 12^th December 1916) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from tonsillitis; he would be discharged to duty on 6^th January.

2Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 2^nd September) wrote to the mother of the late Pte. Edwin Isherwood (see 27^th October), who had been killed in action at Le Sars.

Dear Mrs Isherwood

I write to tell you how sorry I was to hear, on my return to the Battalion from Hospital the other day, of the death of your son in action. He was in my platoon and I always found him a very good man and a willing soldier.

Unfortunately I was in Hospital when he was killed, and can only say that he lies near Le Sars. If you require any further particulars and I can get them I shall be very pleased to send them to you.

Yours very sincerely

A. Halstead

Exactly when, and for what reason 2Lt. Halstead had been in hospital has not been established.

Pte. Edwin Isherwood

2Lt. Frederick Millward (see 4^th December), who had been in hospital in England for the previous three weeks, having been severely injured during the trench raid carried out in November, appeared before a Medical Board at 2^nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds. The Board found that “He is quite well. The stump is now fit for an artificial limb for right leg. It is possible that this officer may be fit for some form of military duty when he has been fitted with an artificial leg”. He was instructed to return home and await further orders.

2Lt. John Keighley Snowden (see 20^th October), who had been wounded at Le Sars, appeared before a Medical Board; he was declared unfit for duty, with his case to be reviewed in another month.

A payment of £1 2s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Charles Holgate (see 29^th July 1916), who had been killed in action in July; the payment would go to his father, Joe.