Monday 4th June 1917

Bivouac between Brandhoek and Ouderdom.

Another fine, hot day. In the afternoon the Battalion was addressed by Brig. Genl. Lambert, commanding 69^th Brigade, before the bulk of the Battalion moved again to the area known as ‘Railway Dugouts’, just a mile and a half behind the front line. However, as was the case ahead of any major attack, “Several officers and a proportion of NCO's and men were left behind at the Reinforcement Camp”. These men would form the nucleus around which the Battalion would be ‘rebuilt’ in the event of heavy losses in the coming action. It seems that Capt. Dick Bolton (see 31^st May), having only just returned from leave on 31^st May, may have been one of the senior officers charged with this task as he did not lead ‘A’ Company when they went into action a few days later.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Military Cross to Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips (see 3^rd June). This award was not related to any specific action, but on the basis of Phillips’ general service.

Pte. Joe Arthur Bentley (see 16^th January) was admitted to 23^rd Division Rest Station at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, suffering from “P.U.O” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin).

Pte. William Boodle (see 26^th May), who had been wounded on 22^nd May was evacuated to England. Once returned to England and sufficiently recovered from his injuries, he would be transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

2Lt. Thomas Arnold Woodcock (see 24^th May), who had served with the Battalion for only three weeks before reporting sick on 7^th April, was transferred to England from no.14 General Hospital at Boulogne. He travelled onboard the hospital ship St. Patrick and on arrival in England would be admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

2Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 1^st March) arrived in France en route to joining 10DWR.

A payment of £4 11s 6d was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Moore (see 19^th March); the payment would go to his mother, Harriet.