Wednesday 16th May 1917

Scottish Camp, south-west of Brandhoek

A much colder day, especially in the morning. More large working parties were provided for the Royal Engineers. Orders were issued for the Brigade to relieve 68^th Brigade in the trenches in the Hill 60 sector, with the relief to take place overnight 17^th/18^th. 10DWR would take over the right sector, with 8^th and 9^th Yorks to their left and 11^th West Yorks in reserve.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 8^th April) went missing from a bathing party at 1.30am, as attested to by Sgt. Richard Everson (see 4th October 1916; it is not known when he had been promoted), Cpl. George Wallace Fricker (see 7^th May) and L.Cpl. Horace Dunn (see 5^th May).

L.Cpl. Fred Atkinson (see 9^th September 1915) was ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Cpl. John Stewart (see 7^th May) was admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, to 23^rd Division Rest Station at the same location; he was suffering from ‘Pyrexia, NYD’ (high temperature, not yet diagnosed).

Pte. Frank Jowett (see 18^th October 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported ‘absent from tattoo’; he would report back later the same day and would be ordered to be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. Edward Grayshon (see 22^nd April) was discharged from hospital in England and posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. James Wilson (see 19^th April), who had been transferred to the ASC as a lorry driver with the Motor Transport Section in October 1915, and had recently been under treatment for dysentery at Addington Park War Hospital, Croydon, was transferred to D Division dysentery convalescent hospital, Barton, New Milton, Hants.

A payment of £2 5s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Martin Haran (see 10^th October 1916) who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his mother, Katherine. She was also awarded an Army pension of 7s. 6d. per week.

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Richard Dury, father of the late Sgt. Albert Edward Dury (see 27^th February) who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916, died.