Monday 23rd July 1917

Micmac Camp, between Dickebusch and Ouderdom.

Another very hot day.

At 4.42pm the Battalion began a march via La Clytte and Westoutre back to their former billets at Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 18^th July) noted in his diary that, “10^th went without packs, which was quite wrong”. He also expressed his thoughts at being back at Berthen, “We are in the country again, back in the old farm and it is very pleasant to see the sun and warmth and hear the birds again … I hope a few days here will do us all good … We shall have plenty to do training the men and getting ready for our next trip”.

Sgt. Ronald Jeckell (see 12^th June) was reported as having been wounded in action, suffering a severe wound to his right knee. He was admitted first to 4^th London Field Ambulance and would be transferred via 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings to 12^th General Hospital at Rouen. Given the fact that the Battalion was out of the line and on the move at the time, the circumstances of his wounding are unclear. 

Cpl. George Heeley (see 9^th July) was reprimanded by Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 16^th July) for failing to comply with an order, as reported by Sgts. John Ratlidge (see 14th June) and Michael Kenefick MM (see 16th June).

A number of men joined the Battalion. Pte. Reginald Dayson had been posted to France a few weeks earlier. He was from Newcastle and had worked as a shipyard riveter before enlisting in 6^th Northumberland Fusiliers in July 1915, when he was actually only 16 years old. He had trained in England with the Battalion for four months before, because of his age, being transferred back to his former employment with Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick. He had been called up again in March 1916 and posted to France in July to join 5DWR. He had been wounded in action on 17^th September, suffering wounds to his back, and had been posted back to England. He had spent two months in hospital before being passed fit for duty and had then served with 3DWR before being posted back to France. He had several disciplinary issues on his record and had spent 28 days in detention just prior to returning to France, which had delayed his posting to 10DWR. Cpl. Ellis Rigby (see 1^st February 1916) was the younger brother of Pte. Thomas Rigby (see 3^rd August 1916), who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits and had died of wounds following the actions on the Somme in the Summer of 1916. Ellis had joined 3DWR in February 1916 and had been promoted Lance Corporal in June, and Corporal in October 1917; he had originally been posted to 2DWR on 6^th July, but had been re-posted to 10DWR. L.Cpl. Norman Wright was a 30 year-old butcher from Keighley. He had attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 but had only been called up in September 1916. He had been promoted Lance Corporal in January 1917 while in training with 3DWR.

Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 4^th May), now serving in France with the ASC, was ordered to forfeit ten days’ pay as a result of “a breach of censorship regulations by attempting to disclose his whereabouts by means of a picture postcard included with a letter”.