Wednesday 28th February 1917

‘Z’ Camp, east of Poperinghe

The move to Corps Reserve continued on another fine, bright day, with the Battalion departing at 8.15am and marching a further seventeen miles to billets in the Bollezeele area, via Watou, Houtkerque, Herzeele, Wormhoudt, Esquelbecq and Zeggers Cappel. Because of the extended nature of the day’s march, in addition to the hourly ten-minute halt, dinner was to be taken between 12.30 and 1.30 with the men taken off to the roadside if at all possible. Reflecting on the day, Brig Genl. Lambert (see 26^th February), noted in his diary, “Marched to Bollezeeele area. Billetted at Mayor’s house. Mess in estaminet in square. Troops much scattered in billets. Men marched well, except 10^th (ie 10DWR) who were a bit ragged”.

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

Pte. Ronald Bray (see 16^th January) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance suffering from “ICT, heel, right” (trench foot); three days later he would be transferred to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Remy Sidings.

Pte. Fred Light Pashley joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples where he had spent the three weeks since arriving in France. He was a 26 year-old dyers’ labourer (working at Ripley’s dyeworks) from Bradford; although married with a four year-old son, Charles Arthur, he was separated from his wife and had been living with his mother prior to attesting under the Derby Scheme in November 1915. He had been called up in April 1916 and had trained with 3DWR before being posted to France.

Pte. John Dalby (see 7^th October 1916), who had been transferred (date and details unknown) from 83^rd Training Resere Battalion to 3DWR at North Shields, was reported for ‘not complying with an order; ie not having hair cut short on CO’s parade’; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days.

A payment of £6 12s was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Charlie Branston (see 3^rd November 1916); the payment would go to his widowed mother, Hannah.

Pte. Charlie Branston

69^th Brigade War Diary recorded casualties for the Brigade for the month of February:

Killed                                       12 other ranks

Accidentally killed                  0

Died of wounds                      0

Wounded                                1 officer and 59 other ranks

Accidentally wounded          0

Missing                                    0

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                       3

Accidentally killed                 0

Died of wounds                     0

Wounded                             16

Accidentally wounded         0

Missing                                   0

These official casualty figures do not take account of the deaths of three men who had died while serving away from the Battalion or who had been wounded but had died subsequently from their wounds.

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France were now:

Killed                                    157

Accidentally killed                  4

Died of wounds                       7

Wounded                             772

Accidentally wounded         49

Missing                                 116