Tuesday 26th December 1916

Trenches east of Armagh Wood

There was a sharp increase in trench mortar activity from the Germans and the trenches in Winnipeg Street in particular were said to be “a good deal knocked about”. The Divisional Trench Mortar Battery fired “15 rounds retaliation”.

There was a sharp increase in trench mortar activity from the Germans and the trenches in Winnipeg Street in particular were said to be “a good deal knocked about”. The Divisonal Trench Mortar Battery fired “15 rounds retaliation”. Pte. Fred Heppinstall (see 17^th October) suffered a minor wound to his right arm; he was admitted, via 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, to 69^th Field Ambulance, where he would be treated for ten days before returning to duty.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 21^st November), currently on light duty 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Brighton Road Schools, Gateshead appeared before a Medical Board assembled atTynemouth. The Board found that, “he states that occasionally he feels that something gives way in the joint and then is sore for a day or two. There is no swelling of the joint, creaking or evident injury”. He was deemed unfit for general service for a further month, but fit to continue duties at home before being examined again in a months’ time.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill

Image by kind permission of Henry Blton

Pte. Reginald Jerry Northin (see 21^st December), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported as ‘willfully absenting himself from parade at 9am until 5pm’; he would be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Irvine Clark (see 21^st October) serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, was reported absent without leave. 

2Lt. Harry Widdup (see 20^th December), who had reported sick ten days earlier while serving with 9DWR, was evacuated to England for further treatment. He travelled via Rouen to Le Havre and embarked at Southampton onboard the hospital ship, St Andrew. Having arrived in England he was admitted to 1^st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham.

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Edward Tetlow (see 31^st July), who had been killed in June whilst attached to 181^st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers; his mother, Eliza, was awarded 5s. per week. 

The identity disc and chain belonging to the late Lt. Harry Harris (see 19^th December) were forwarded to Messrs Cox & Co. for them to then send them on to the Harris family.

 

Lt. Harry Harris