Thursday 8th March 1917

Eperlecques

There was further snow and a very cold wind; the Divisional Trench Mortar Battery reported that “weather so cold that parades were impossible”. A planned Brigade exercise was cancelled “owing to bad weather; the ground being covered with snow again and a strong wind blowing”.

L.Cpl. George Heeley (see 7^th February) was reported as being late on parade; he was reported by Cpl. Thomas Arthur Sturdy (see 7^th February) and reprimanded by Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 22^nd February).

Pte. Joseph Blackburn (29722) (see 25^th January) re-joined the Battalion after six weeks away having suffered a sprained ankle.

LCpl. Christopher Longstaff (see 27^th December 1916) completed his application for a temporary commission.

L.Cpl. Christopher Longstaff

                                                                     

(Acting) Lt. Charles Crowther Hart (see 13^th December 1916), who had held his rank for three months, reverted to Second Lieutenant “on ceasing to be employed with a Battalion” (the details of the temporary appointment are unknown).

Two more subalterns arrived in France, en route to join 10DWR; they were 2Lts. Leopold Henry Burrow and Vincent Edwards (see 25^th January).

Pte. William Brooke (see 29^th July 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in July 1916 and was now serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported for ‘refusing to obey and order’; he would be ordered to be confined to barracks for six days. Two days later, at Tynemouth, he would be convicted of larceny by a civil court and would be imprisoned for one day.

A payment of £5 14s 10d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Herbert Rooke (see 14^th October 1916), who had been killed at Le Sars; the payment would go to his widow, Annie.

Pte. Herbert Rooke