Friday 2nd March 1917

Eperlecques

The weather was very mild, but rather foggy. The day was spent with the men employed on a general clean up.

L.Cpl. John Stephenson (see 13^th January) was promoted Corporal.

L.Cpl. Clarence Best (see 26^th January) was deprived of his rank and reverted to Private, having been found to have been gambling. This was declared on the evidence given by Major Bathurst (see 14th February) and 2Lt. White (see 23^rd January).

Pte. Francis John Bottomley (see 11^th February), who had only been with the Battalion for three weeks, was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 10^th Stationary Hospital at St. Omer, suffering from paralysis of his left forearm.

Pte. Willie Kershaw (see 17^th September 1916) was posted back to England (reason unknown).

Pte. John Onion (see 19^th January), serving in France with 2DWR, was reported for ‘losing his greatcoat’; he would be admonished and required to pay for the lost item.

Pte. Reginald Hancock (see 28^th October 1916), who had been severely wounded in the chest during the advance on Contalmaison in July 1916, and had been under medical treatment ever since, was now re-classified as medical category C2. This meant that he was deemed fit only for labour services at home; he was posted to 3DWR based at North Shields.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 13^th February), currently under treatment for gonorrhoea at no.51 General Hospital at Etaples, once again found himself in breach of military discipline. On this occasion he was found to have “hesitated to obey an order” and “shown insolence to an NCO”. He was sentenced to seven days’ field punishment no.2.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Joseph Haywood (see 6th August 1916), who had been killed in action on 11^th July 1916; his widow, Ada, was awarded 18s. 6d. per week for herself and her two children.

The weekly edition of the West Yorkshire Pioneer included an extract from a letter written by Pte. Reuben Smith (see 24^th December 1916); there was also mention of his brother, Pte. Craven Smith.

ADDINGHAM SOLDIERS’ LETTERS

Mr. Flint has received the following letters acknowledging receipt of parcels:

Pte. R. Smith writes: “Received parcel and appreciate your kindness very much. The contents are just the things we need out here. I met Arthur Holmes the other night and he didn’t recognise me until I told him who I was. I have seen a fair lot of Addingham chaps out here. It does one good to see a few familiar faces”.

Cpl. Sylvester Selby writes: “I had the good fortune to come across two of our Addingham lads out here yesterday, and though the meeting was brief it seemed to bring me nearer home. The meeting came about this way: I was making a bee-line with a very healthy appetite for the cook-house when suddenly a brass band struck up “Who were you with last night?”. So, forgetting for the moment about dinner and thinking I might see someone I knew I waited for them to come up. I saw from their cap badge that they were the West Yorks. and before many files had gone a cheery voice bellowed, “Hello Syl, how are you going on?”. It was Craven Smith and the only means of holding conversation was to march alongside. He told me to look out for Sergt. Horace Hustwick, which I did and had a little chat with him. Then a head puts out from an old building just on my right and a voice I knew well yells out, “Is that thee Syl?” and I answered, “Well I’m blowed, whoever thought of seeing you here Snowden?” Best of all we are both likely to be here a week or so yet.”