Wednesday 21st February 1917

Trenches near Observatory Ridge (I.24.d.7.1 to I.24.d.8.6)

Much milder weather set in, though with a thick mist persisting for much of the day, and, with the consequent thawing of the previously-frozen ground, the trenches became very wet. In the evening the Battalion was relieved by 11^th West Yorks, with the relief complete by 8pm, and went into Brigade Reserve. As previously, the Battalion was divided among different locations. On this occasion, one and a half Companies went to Stafford Street, in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.3.5); two platoons to the Redan, just north of Rudkin House; and the remaining two Companies to the north-west edge of Zillebeke Bund (I.21.a.1.5).

Pte. Harold Peel (see 12^th November 1916) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from an infection to his lip; he would spend five days being treated before re-joining the Battalion on 26^th February.

Pte. Sam Brook (see 19^th December 1916) was evacuated to England having suffered wounds to his left buttock which had severely damaged his sciatic nerve. It is not clear when he had been wounded and the details of his treatment are also unknown.

Pte. Arthur Clarke (see 2nd December 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in July 1916, was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

Following five months’ treatment for shellshock, Pte. Thomas Angus McAndrew (see 26^th September 1915) was posted to 6^th Infantry Labour Company, Durham Light Infantry.

A review of the army pension award to Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 29^th January), who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service and was still in hospital under treatment for TB, extended his current pension of 20s. per week for a further six months. The review board also noted that Branthwaite reported that he had “had no pension since November 1916”.

L.Cpl. Sam Benjamin Farrant (see 1^st December 1916), serving with 2^nd Battalion East Lancs., having recently applied for a commission, was posted back to England. He would have a period of leave before beginning his officer training course. He would later serve with 10DWR.  

In England, Pte. Harry Shaw (12316) (see 8^th September 1916) died from pulmonary TB. He would be buried at St. Leonard’s Church, Burton Leonard, near Ripon. 

A payment of £5 8s. 10d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. William Currey (see 6^th October 1916) who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would be divided between his two brothers, Charles and James, and his sister, Elizabeth.