Saturday 7th July 1917

Billets in the Steenworde area.

The weather remained fine.

2Lt. Sydney Charles Ernest Farrance (see 4^th July), who had joined the Battalion just three days previously, was promoted Lieutenant.

Pte. Harry Squire (see 29^th June), who had spent a week under treatment for a mild case of ‘trench foot’, returned to duty.

Pte. John Dennis Moss (see 30^th June), who had been wounded a week earlier, was evacuated to England. 

Lt. Henry Kelly VC (see 19^th January) who had been in England since being taken ill on Christmas Day 1916, returned to France en route to re-join 10DWR. However, on arrival he again seems to have been taken ill (details unknown) and he would return to England just two days later, having never actually reported to 10DWR.

Lt. Henry Kelly VC

Pte. Alexander Wallace reported for duty with the Battalion; he was 20 years old and originally from Fife. He had volunteered (though under age) in August 1914 and had served in France with the Army Cyclist Corps between October 1915 and May 1916, when he had been transferred to 9DWR. In November 1916 he had been invalided back to England having suffered from swelling to his left knee. He had remained in England until being posted back to France on 14^th June.

Pte. Edwin Wood (see 17^th May) was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Fred Smith (15149) (see 14^th May) was discharged from 3^rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 14^th June), currently serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Brighton Road Schools, Gateshead, was readmitted to Hammerton VAD Hospital in Sunderland. It was reported that, “His foot was painful and he was unable to walk without limping. His foot has been put in Plaster of Paris”. He was to stay in hospital for further investigation and treatment.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill

Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 28^th June) reported for duty at Northern Command Depot at Ripon; he had been in England since being wounded in January.

Pte. William Kendall (see 26^th December 1915) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of bronchitis; he would be awarded the Silver War Badge and a pension of £1 11s. 9d. per week, reflecting a 50% disability. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish the date and circumstances of his having been taken ill or any further details of his service.

The North Eastern Daily Gazette published the text of a letter from Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 5^th July) to the Mayor of Middlesbrough, regarding the part played by 69^th Brigade in the Messines attack,

“I think you will be interested to hear once again how well the men of Middlesbrough and the rest of Yorkshire have done. We had a big task during the Messines battle. It entailed long preparations and much hard work.

On 6^th June we got into our positions during the evening, and there lying out, we watched the mine explosions which were to be the signal for the great advance. They were a stupendous sight, and were followed immediately by the outburst of our artillery and machine guns under which the men advanced. They went splendidly as ever right under our barrage and, except for one or two ‘pokets’ of Germans who were dealt with in due course, without a halt, to what were known repectively as the red and the blue objectives. Within an hour machine guns, Lewis guns and platoons were each in their allotted place, finishing off with the bayonet and bullet the Germans who resisted, and passing back numbers of prisoners. The place was soon made defensible and a good many Huns were dealt with as they made off out of their dug-outs.

The explosion of the mines must have had a serious effect on them. It was impossible, of course, to say how many were caught up in them, but there is no doubt the number was considerable and those that were not close enough to be killed had a very severe shock! Of course we lost some valuable lives but no troops could have behaved better and no success more complete.

Other parts of the Brigade now passed through the blue line and met with almost equal success in a further advance, so that practically the whole of the objective was soon taken and the demoralied Huns who remained were chased away or killed or taken prisoner. I daresay some of our wounded will already have told you some of our exciting adventures. I can only say that Middlesbrough can be as proud this year as it had cause to be on the Somme last year of its representatives in the Brigade. We took a dozen machine guns and many other trophies. I have asked that some of the trophies may some day be sent to your city where I am sure they will be received and treated with honour in memory of those who fought so well for their country.”