Tuesday 27th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The cold weather of the previous day persisted. Training continued and in the afternoon there was the inter-Battalion cross-country race which had been postponed from the previous day; 10DWR finished in third place, behind 11^th West Yorks. and 9^th Yorks. Brig Genl. Lambert (see 22^nd March) described the event in some detail in a letter to his wife, “We held our cross country race and it was a very pretty sight at the start – 300 starters. The West Yorks. won rather easily but they had practiced more carefully than the others and so deserved it. It was nearly 2 ½ miles long and the first man was in in 12 minutes which is good going. We had time limits so it was not strictly a race except against time. Those who got home under 18 minutes counted 1 point; those outside 18 but under 25 counted zero; those over 25 lost a point for their side. The West Yorks. got the first 9 out of 10 and by means of a ‘whipper in’ got the whole of their pack of 50, except one, in under the 18 minutes. This last man was a few seconds late! It was quite a good run.”

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

Sgt. Edward Isger (see 17^th February) was reported by L.Cpl. George William Keeling (see 13^th January) as having been “absent from tattoo 9pm”; he would report for reveille the following morning and would be severely reprimanded by Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 16^th March).


L.Cpl. John Henry Crawshaw (see 6^th February) was reported by CSM Valentine Curson (see 11^th February) for ‘neglect of duty’ (details unknown); he would be reprimanded by Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 24^th March) but would suffer no further punishment.

Lt. William Andrew Leo Kerridge (see 18^th March), had recovered sufficiently, having been on sick leave, to join 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 19^th March), who had been in England since being wounded on the Somme in July, returned to duty with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, having been absent without leave for ten days; the nature of his punishment is not known.

Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 16^th September 1916) was reported to have deserted from 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion; he had suffered shellshock at Contalmaison in July 1916 and it may be that his actions were triggered by news of an impending return to active service, though, of course, this cannot be confirmed.

Pte. Sam Tinkler (see 29^th November 1916) was formally transferred to 15th Infantry Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regt. Also transferred to the same unit on the same day was another original member of 10DWR. Pte. Eber Casson Sykes (see 6^th July 1916) had enlisted in Huddersfield on 9^th September 1914, aged 30 and having been working as a millhand. He had been wounded in the actions around Contalmaison and had been evacuated back to England on 11^th July 1916, being treated for some time at a Red Cross Hospital in Hove before being posted back to 3DWR.

Pte. Sam Tinkler

At home in Huddersfield, Lena Frame, wife of Pte. Willie Davenport Frame (see 16^th January), gave birth to the couple’s fifth child; she would be named Madge.


Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 21^st February) who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service was admitted to Ida Convalescent Hospital, Leeds.

Ida Convalescent Hospital, Leeds

A payment of £11 10s 4d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. Arthur Bearpark (see 10^th October 1916) who had been killed at Le Sars; the payment would go to his brother, Harry

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Fred Benson (see 31^st October 1916) who had been killed in action in July 1916; his widowed mother, Ann, was awarded 5s. 6d. per week for life.

Pte. Fred Benson