Wednesday 13th June 1917

Halifax Camp (between Vlamertinghe and Ouderdom).

The Battalion moved again, marching eight miles south-west to Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen.

Pte. Arthur Wood (29524) (see 11^th January) was reported by CQMS Frank Stephenson (see 7th June) for “irregular conduct; ie when ordered to proceed to transport lines for his pack at 10am did not return until 4.30pm”; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 8^th June),  he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Alfred Whittaker (see 27^th May) was reported by Battalion M.O., Capt. Cecil Berry (see 30^th March) for “reporting sick without cause”; on the orders of 2Lt. Bob Perks DSO (see 12^th June) he would be confined to barracks for five days.

Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see 13^th December 1916) and 2Lt. Eric Dixon (see 12^th November 1916) left the Battalion; both were to be transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to be trained as observers.

2Lt. Eric Dixon

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Edward Guay, who was a Roman Catholic Chaplain at 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, wrote to the family of Pte. Reuben Smith (see 11^th June), who had died of wounds two days previously. He told them, “Your son went to our hospital and I had the privilege to give him the last sacrament. I deeply regret to inform you that he died in our hospital. I buried him in our cemetery close to the hospital. His grave is Plot 14E27. The burial took place yesterday the 12th June. I beg you to accept in this trial for yourself and your family my most sincere condolences. I can assure you that he will have a part in my prayers more especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

Pte. Reuben Smith

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 7^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June, was evacuated to England, from Le Havre to Southampton, onboard the hospital ship Warilda; it is has not been established to which hospital he was admitted on arrival.

2Lt. John Davis MM (see 7^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June, was evacuated to England onboard the hospital ship St. Patrick; on arrival in England he would be admitted to hospital in Exeter. On arrival there a report was prepared on his condition: “whilst in trenches consolidating after an attack he was hit in the right arm by a fragment of a high explosive. The fragment was removed from the arm the same day. There is now a scar adherent to the radius about 2” by 1” in middle of right arm. He states that X ray showed a break in the radius. Grip of hand, pronation and supination are at present slightly affected”. The injury was regarded as ‘slight and not permanent’ and it was estimated that it would likely be three months before Davis was fit for normal duties. However, he was to be re-examined by a Medical Board in a months’ time.

 

2Lt. John Davis MM

Ptes. Ernest William Evans (see 8^th June); Ernest Fozard (see 7^th June); and Michael Henry Rourke (see 7^th June) were all evacuated to England for further medical treatment; the details of their treatment have not been established. 

Pte. Ernest Arthur Carter (see 7^th June), who had originally been reported wounded, was now confirmed as having been killed in action. He had been buried close to the old British front line opposite the Caterpillar (I.35.a.0.6).

Pte. Richard Harper (see 29^th July), who had been wounded on the Somme in July 1916, was discharged from the Army as no longer fit for military service and awarded the Silver War Badge. I am, as yet, unable to make a firm identification of this man.

James Hatton Kershaw (see 23^rd May) who had been discharged from the Army in July 1916, suffering from tuberculosis, died at his home in Rastrick. He would be buried, with full military honours, three days later at Rastrick Cemetery. Probate on his estate, valued at £100 10s. 10d., would be awarded to his mother, Eliza.

A payment of £2 9s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. John William Green (see 3^rd August 1916) who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since August 1916; the payment would go to his mother, Rosetta. A further payment, of 7s. 1d. was originally to have been made to Pte. Green’s brother, Pery, but would, at Percy’s request, subsequently (5^th September 1917) also be paid to their mother.