Tuesday 19th June 1917

Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen

There were thunderstorms in the morning but the weather became fine later. The Brigade horse show was held during the afternoon and would be described by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 16^th June) as a “huge success”. In a letter to his wife he also added that, “the last event was a mule race over the hurdles, a comic event of course, but most thrilling!”.

There were three victories for 10DWR; Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 15^th June) and Temp. Major. Hugh William Lester MC (see 16^th June) won the team jumping in pairs event; the Battalion team won the Lewis Gun competition, in which they were required to unload and dismantle the gun before then re-assembling the gun ready for action; and there was also a victory in the event in which a limber and pair had to be driven between marker pegs. After the event Lambert and Lester dined with the officers of 10DWR.

Four officers of the Battalion pictured at the Brigade Horse Show; from left, Capt. Cecil Berry (see 15th June), Maj. Charles Bathurst (see above), Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 15^th June) and Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 15^th June).

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Richard Harrison (see 20^th May) was reported by Sgt. Harry Benson (see 4th October 1916) as being ‘dirty on parade’ on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 15^th June) he was to be confined to barracks for two days.

Pte. Joseph Livesey (see 7^th June), who had suffered a relatively minor wound to his left leg on 7^th June, was discharged from 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. James Allen (see 29^th May) who had been admitted to 51^st General Hospital at Etaples three weeks earlier was now discharged and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Cpl. Robert William Buckingham (see 29^th April), serving at the Regimental Depot at Halifax, was reported for ‘1. Neglect of duty, ie not reporting an absentee when Acting Company Orderly Sergeant; 2. Falsifying the case list’; he was severely reprimanded but suffered no further punishment.

Pte. Richard Harper (see 29^th July), who had been shellshocked on the Somme in July 1916, was discharged from the Army as no longer fit for military service due to neurasthenia (shellshock) and awarded the Silver War Badge. He was awarded an Army pension of 7s. 6d. per week.