Sunday 7th January 1917

Billets in the Hospice and Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Ypres and at Zillebeke Bund

There was more German shelling of Ypres, but the Battalion suffered no casualties. The weather turned wet, and increasingly stormy, overnight.

Two of the men who had been wounded in the German shelling of Ypres two days earlier (see 5^th January) died of their wounds at 17^th Casualty Clearing Station; Sgt. Herbert Veal (see 5^th January) and Pte. John Greenwood (see 5^th January) would both be buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 28^th December 1916) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from pleurisy.

Pte. James Duncan Foster (see 1^st January), who had been wounded a week earlier, was evacuated to England from 8^th Stationery Hospital at Wimereux, onboard the hospital ship, Carisbroke Castle; it is not clear to which hospital he was admitted on arriving in England.

The Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfred L. Henderson (see 16^th October 1916) wrote to the parents of Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM who had been killed two days’ earlier (see 5^th January): “You will already have heard the sad news of the death of your son, but I just wish to say how deeply we all sympathise with you in your loss. It happened while we were in billets behind the line, an unfortunate shell killing and wounding many of our men; your son was very seriously wounded and died shortly afterwards. We buried him the following evening in a soldiers’ cemetery, and a short service was held at the graveside. A cross with his name and number will be put over his grave which will be forever kept sacred and reverently cared for. Your son will be much missed in the battalion; he had been with us long and had the love and respect of all. Believe me, our prayers and sympathy are with you in your great sorrow.”

 

Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM

Pte. Leonard Green (see 17^th July 1916) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from myalgia.

Cpl. John William Pontefract (see 2^nd August 1916), serving with 1^st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company in France, was promoted Temporary 2^nd Lieutenant (on probation) and posted direct to 10DWR. 

Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster (see 12^th December 1916), Quartermaster, 10DWR, who had been on sick leave in England since mid-November, was posted to 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion at North Shields, as being unfit for further service overseas.

Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum