Monday 9th April 1917

Scottish Camp, south-west of Brandhoek

Training continued. On the morning of Easter Monday, the Germans launched a massive bombardment against the section of the British lines currently held by 70^th Brigade (see 8^th April) which lasted throughout the day with devastating effect; “The damage done was appalling. The front line had been practically obliterated”. The same evening German troops attacked and succeeded in entering the British lines at a number of points; their objective being to attack the mine shafts and galleries which were being prepared all along the front in readiness for the attacks planned for the Summer. The attacks were repulsed, although at great cost, with more than 270 casualties among 70^th Brigade. However, the defence of these positions was of supreme importance; “Had the attack succeeded in its object, the capture and destruction of our main shafts, it would have had the disastrous effect, not only of losing the fruits of months of labour, but of necessitating an entire alteration in offensive plans for the future.”

Pte. Samuel Wilson (see 16^th June 1916) was admitted to hospital (reason not stated).

L.Cpl. George William Keeling (see 27th March) was reported by Cpl. James Edward Kaye (see below) as having a “dirty bayonet on parade”; he was reprimanded by Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 7^th April).

Cpl. James Edward Kaye was 22 years old and from Huddersfield, where he had worked in the textile mills; it is unclear when he had joined the Battalion.

Pte. Joseph McDermott (see 23^rd March) again found himself on a charge, this time for “smoking when falling in on parade”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for two days.

Four men from the Battalion were mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches dated 9^th April. They were Battalion Transport Officer Lt. Charles Frederick Wolfe (see 8^th May 1916); and Lance Corporals Josias Bailey (see 15^th December 1916), John Hudson (see 1^st December 1916) and Stephen Grady (see 9^th March). Grady was currently serving with the Brigade Trench Mortar Battery.