Saturday 14th July 1917

Support trenches in the left sector of the Divisional front near Observatory Ridge. Battalion HQ and one Company were positioned in Hedge Street Tunells about I.24.d.5.1; one Company in Canada dugouts about I.30.a.9.4; one Company at Rudkin House Tunnels about I.24.a.0.1; and one Company in Metropolitan Left about I.29.a.8.2.

Capt. James Watson Paterson (see 5^th July), who had arrived in France ten days previously, reported for duty with the Battalion.

The intensity of the artillery exchanges over the next week was noted in the Brigade War Diary, “Artillery very active on both sides during this period. Our guns of all calibres were firing incessantly on enemy positions and communications. Hostile retaliation was heavy at times, especially on the raods, gun positions and back areas generally. Gas shells being freely used during these shoots. The forward area was subjected to heavy shell fire from guns of 4.2” calibre and upwards from about 3am to 5am each morning and several bursts of shell fire were put over our front line area at intervals during the night.”

The Battalion provided carrying and working parties for the front line. In the course of one of these carrying parties, overnight 14^th/15^th July, taking ammunition to the Mount Sorrel sector for 69^th Machine Gun Company, Pte. John Foster (see 16^th January) slipped and injured his right knee. He reported sick the following morning and would be admitted to 5^th London Field Ambulance before being transferred via 46^th Casualty Clearing Station to 47^th General Hospital at Le Treport.

Pte. Fred Hargreaves (29267) (see 16^th January) was wounded, suffering a broken finger and bruising to his left hand; he was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance and would be transferred via 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings to 2^nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux. He was then transferred again to 8^th General Hospital at Rouen. Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 5^th July) was also wounded; he suffered shrapnel wounds to his right foot. He was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 17^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings and from there to 18^th General Hospital at Camiers.

Pte. Fred Hargreaves (29267)

Image by kind permission of Patrick Hargreaves

Pte. Herbert Willis Pickles (see 29^th April), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was transferred to 3DWR at North Shields.

L.Cpl. Joseph Simpson (see 2^nd January), serving in England with 14^th Training Reserve Battalion, was transferred to the Labour Corps, to serve with 493^rd (Home Service) Employment Company.