Saturday 5th May 1917

Billets at Steenvorde

Training continued and the weather reamined hot for much of the day, before turning much colder, with a strong north-easterly gale in the evening.

Cpls. Harry Holmes (see 25^th April) and William Allen Sayer (see 13^th January) were both promoted Sergeant. L.Cpl. Walter Appleby (see 1^st April) was promoted (Acting) Corporal. Ptes. Clarence Best (see 22^nd March), Horace Dunn (see 7^th April 1915), Joseph Dunn (see 11^th February), Louis Feather (see 27^th December 1915), Leonard Green (see 13^th January), James Henry Howarth (see 11^th January), John Jackson (19555) (see 31^st March), Norman Moorhouse (see 16^th January), Robert Arthur Watkinson (see 10^th November 1916) and Dennis Waller (see 11^th February) were all promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. John Killerby (see 25^th April) again found himself on a charge, this time for “talking on parade”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days. Pte. Joseph McDermott (see 9^th April) also once again found himself on a charge, this time for “drinking without permission on the line of march”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days. Pte. Cain Rothera (see 5^th April) was reported by Sgt. Michael Kenefick MM (see 12^th December 1916) for “drinking from water bottle without permission”; on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 14^th April) to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Harry Robinson (see 16^th January) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance at Landbouver Farm, north-west of Reninghest, suffering from boils.

After spending a week in hospital being treated for a high temperature Pte. Charles Smith (29004) (see 29^th April) was discharged from the Divisional Rest Station at Waratah Camp, near Poperinghe and returned to duty.

Pte. William Mellor (see 4^th April) re-joined the Battalion following one months’ leave to England.

Pte. Harold Dale (see 29^th April) was transferred from no.4 Stationary Hospital at Arques to no.7 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne.

Pte. George Bernard Hardy (see 26^th April) was transferred from a Convalescent Depot at Boulogne to no.34 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Following three weeks in hospital, Pte. Bertie Constantine (see 20^th April), serving in France with 2^nd/4^thDWR, was discharged from 11^th Casualty Clearing Station at Varennes and re-joined his Battalion.


Pte. Ferrand Wilkinson (see 23^rd March), who had had his right leg amputated having suffered severe wounds to his right arm and leg in October 1916, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he was awarded an Army pension of £1 7s. 6d. for nine weeks, reducing thereafter to 16s. 6d. per week for life.

A payment of £1 12s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Rowland Greenwood (see 23rd April), who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Alice.

A gratuity (amount uknown) in lieu of a pension was awarded in the case of Pte. Edward Williams (see 6^th October 1916) who had been officially reported missing in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his sister, Ann.