Wednesday 2nd May 1917

Billets at Steenvorde

On another fine, warm day, the Battalion was inspected, along with the rest of the Brigade, in fighting order, by Divisional Commander, Major General Sir J. M. Babington KCMG, who presented the ribbon of the Military Medal to Pte. Arthur Foster of  ‘C’ Company; he had been awarded the decoration as a result of his conduct during a German gas attack in February (see 14^th February). 

Pte. William Stokes (see 9^th November 1916) was reported by L.Cpl. James Walker (see 24^th December 1916) as “dirty on GOC’s parade and having a rusty bayonet”; he would be confined to barracks for seven days.

Cpl. Fred Swale (see 12^th March) was posted to England in preparation for a course of officer training, prior to which he would have a period of leave. When he returned to England, Swale was reported by the Craven Herald as being, “one of few left of Captain Tunstill’s hundred”. Indeed of the original “hundred” (who in actually fact numbered 87) who had been recruited personally by Tunstill in Settle and district, fewer than twenty-five were now still with the Battalion. Eighteen men had been killed and the remainder wounded, discharged on medical grounds, transferred or commissioned.

Cpl. Fred Swale

Pte. Samuel Durham, serving in France with 9DWR, was one of 20 men wounded (suffering wounds to his thigh) when an accidental explosion occurred at a camp north-east of Arras whilst bombs were being issued to men in preparation for a move to trenches. Pte. Durham would be admitted to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers before being evacuated (date and details unknown) to England where he was admitted to hospital in Stoke-on-Trent. He had been an original member of 10^th Battalion and had been posted to France with the Battalion on 26^th August 1915; the date and circumstances of his transfer to 9DWR are unknown. He was married with two children and had lived in Shipley where he had worked as a stone mason.

Pte. Harry Hinchliffe (see 1^st September 1916), serving in France with 9DWR, was posted back to England having been wounded (date unknown); he had suffered severe facial wounds, including a compound fracture to his lower jaw.

At home in Bingley, Hannah Earnshaw, wife of Pte. Harry Earnshaw (see 11^th January), gave birth to the couple’s fourth child; the girl would be named Hilda. 

Pte. Clement Wilson (see 4^th April), currently on leave in England, was admitted to Huddersfield War Hospital, suffering from dyspnoea (shortness of breath).

In accordance with the recommendation of a Medical Board held two months earlier, Pte. Harold Rushworth (see 3^rd March) was now formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class P; he was to take up munitions work under his new classification. Harold Rushworth returned to his home in Shipley and lived there, having never married, until his death on 20^th March 1960, aged 79; probate of his estate was granted to his unmarried sister, Annie.

Having received two letters, forward by Arthur Henderson M.P. from Frederick Ernest Green, who was the uncle of 2Lt. Maurice Tribe MC (see 18^th April), W.H.T. Ottley, replied on behalf of the War Office, with a rather sparse statement regarding Tribe’s case:

“I return the enclosures to your letter of 23^rd of last month. 

2^nd Lieutenant M.O. Tribe was examined by a Medical Board on 29^th March, who were of the opinion that he was unfit for General Service for 3 months; unfit for Home Service for two months; and unfit for light duties at Home for six weeks. He was accordingly recommended for six weeks leave. As he has not been passed fit for General Service, the chief grievance in Mr. Green’s letter ceases to exist. When this officer is passed fit for duty, he will re-join his 3^rd Reserve Battalion at home”.

A payment of £20 11s was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. Herbert Veal (see 7^th January) who had died of wounds following the German shelling of the Battalion billets in Ypres in January. The payment would go to his mother, Sarah.

A further payment, of 16s. 11d. was authorised, being the second instalment of the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Sgt. William McLoughlin (see 20^th December 1916), who had been killed in July 1916; at the request of his brother, Robert, the payment would go to his their grandmother, Elizabeth McLoughlin.