Thursday 4th January 1917

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

Thursday 4th January 1917

Trenches east of Armagh Wood

In the evening the Battalion was relieved by 11^th West Yorks and returned again to Ypres. On this occasion ‘B’ and ‘D’ companies were billeted at St. Peter’s Church, ‘C’ at the Cavalry Barracks and ‘A’ Company was based at the Hospice, along with Battalion HQ.

(It is not clear whether the ‘Hospice’ refers to the ‘Hospice Belle’ or Women’s Asylum, or to the ‘Hospice Notre Dame’; both were located in the centre of Ypres, just off the Grande Place. The Cavalry Barracks were just south of the Infantry Barracks, close to St Peter’s Church).

Pte. Ernest Carter (see 18^th April 1916), attached to 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged and return to duty after ten days.

Ptes. Thomas Bulcock (see 1^st September 1916) and Reginald Jerry Northin (see 26^th December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, were posted back to France to join 2DWR.

Cpl. Michael Loughlin (see 13^h July 1916), who had been in hospital since having been in July 1916, was posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead.

Pte. Samuel Williams (13552) (see 6^th November 1916) was discharged from Keighley War Hospital; he was to be discharged from the Army on account of wounds suffered in action.

Pte. Samuel Williams

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and 'Men Of Worth'

The London Gazette published the list of names of those receiving a mention in despatches on account of their “distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty” by Field Marshall Haig, dated 13^th November 1916. Among those listed were Maj. Robert Harwar Gill (see 14^th December 1916); Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 27^th October 1916); Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 27^th December 1916); Lt. William Andrew Leo Kerridge (see 12^th August 1916); and 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 1^st January).