Monday 12th February 1917

Trenches near Observatory Ridge

Conditions remained quiet. The weather became somewhat milder and a slight thaw of the frozen ground began, though the lake at Zillebeke remained frozen solid.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 11^th February) again visited the front line trenches; on this occasion he inspected the sector further south, held by 8^th Yorks and noted that, “wiring and patrolling parties not working satisfactorily”. He also visited 10DWR HQ at Valley Cottages, meeting temporary C.O., Major Ashton St. Hill (see 11^th February).

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me to quote from Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Pte. George King (16475) (see 31^st January) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station suffering from bronchitis; he would be discharged to duty after five days.

Pte. Francis Seed (see 16^th January) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from “ICT, left knee”; he would spend some time at 23^rd Divisional Rest Station before being discharged to duty on 22^nd February.

Pte. William Robson (see 9^th March 1916), serving on attachment from 10DWR (details unknown) with 176^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers near Carency, was wounded, suffering a wound to his forehead. He would be evacuated via 11^th Canadian Field Ambulance and no.17 Ambulance Train to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers; on 17^th February he would be evacuated to England and admitted to the Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow, Bucks.

Pte. Bertie Constantine (see 18^th November 1917), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, was reported absent off pass from 5pm. He would remain absent until reporting himself at 4.30pm on the 19^th; on returning he would be posted to 3DWR at North Shields and be ordered to undergo seven days’ detention.

Pte. Walter Lee (see 10^th October), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, was reported absent. He would remain absent until reporting himself on 17^th February; the nature of his punishment is unknown.

Pte. Lewis Walton (see 15^th January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported as absent off pass; he would report back at 8.50pm the following day and would be sentenced to four days confined to barracks.

Sgt. George Clifford Sugden (see 14^th November 1916), 10^th East Yorkshires, was posted back to England; he would have a period of leave before embarking on a course of officer training. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Arthur Bell (see 25^th October 1916) who had died of wounds in July 1916; his widow, Harriet, was awarded £1 8s. 6d. per week for herself and her seven children.

A payment of £12 8s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Robert William Bell (see 27^th October 1916); the payment would go to his father, Joseph.

Pte. Robert William Bell

A payment of £12 10s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Walter Lingwood (see 4^th October) who had died of wounds in October 1916; the payment would be divided between his mother, Mrs. Rose Cunningham (£6 7s. 2d.), his brother, Edward (£3 3s. &d.) and married sister, Mrs. Mary Cooper (£3).

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth