Sunday 1st July and Monday 2nd July 1917

Support trenches, in the area of Hill 60 and the Caterpillar; A Company at Larch Wood; B Company at The Caterpillar; C Company at The Dump and D Company at Imperial Trench (about I.34.a.7.2).

A fine day. There was heavy German shelling of reserve positions and intensive shelling of British front line around dawn.

Overnight 1st/2nd the Battalion relieved 8Yorks in the front line on the right sector of the Divisional Front. One Company remained at the Caterpillar (I.35.a.9.2) and three Companies were positioned on the eastern edge of Battle Wood between O.6.a.2.5 and I.36.b.2.3; Battalion HQ was located at I.35.a.35.20. The line in this sector was by no means continuous or secure and was actually held by a series of posts.

Three officers serving with the Battalion were promoted Lieutenant. Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 28^th June) was already holding his more senior rank in an acting capacity whilst commanding a Company; 2Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 15^th June) and 2Lt. Herbert Sparling (see 15^th June) were also promoted.

Capt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

2Lts. Conrad Anderson (see 20^th June) and Ronald Ferguson (see 20^th June), who had arrived in France ten days previously, reported for duty with 10DWR. 

There were also promotions for a number of former officers of 10DWR who were now in England, having been wounded or taken ill on active service. 2Lt. Frederick Lowther Dawson Barker (see 22^nd September 1916), who had been taken ill in September 1916; 2Lt. Harry Foster (see 8^th July 1916), who had been in England since suffering shellshock on the Somme in July 1916; 2Lt. Ernest Cyril Coke (see 11^th January), who had been wounded on the Somme in July 1916 and was now serving with 3DWR at North Shields; and 2Lts. Stanley Currington (see 4^th October 1916) and John Keighley Snowden (see 28^th June), both of whom had been wounded at Le Sars in October 1916, were all promoted Lieutenant. 2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 7^th April), who had been taken ill in April, and 2Lt. John Redington (see 10^th April), who had been taken ill in July 1916 and was now employed at the Army Recruiting Office in Wolverhampton, were also both promoted Lieutenant.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 27^th November 1916), serving at VI Corps HQ, was awarded Class I Proficiency Pay.

For the second time in less than a month Pte. Albert Saville (see 7^th June) was reported absent without leave from 298^th Labour Company, based at Ripon. On this occasion he was apprehended, on the same evening, by a member of the Military Police. On returning he was confined to barracks for three days.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 9^th June), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, who had been in hospital for the previous two weeks suffering from an abcess to his neck, was transferred to the Citadel General Hospital in Cairo. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 26^th June), who had recently been evacuated to England having been wounded on 7^th June

Following the death of James Hatton Kershaw (see 13^th June) there was a review of his pension arrangements. Henceforth the pension was to payable at the ‘motherless rate’ of 14s. per week in respect of his two sons. 7s. per week was to be payable to the paternal grandmother, Eliza Kershaw as guardian of the elder son, William Riley Kershaw, aged seven, and 7s. per week to the maternal grandfather, Arthur Wilson, as guardian of the younger son, Stanley Lister Wilson Kershaw, aged three.

Monday 2nd July

Front line trenches in Battle Wood; one company at the Caterpillar (I.35.a.9.2) and three Companies between O.6.a.2.5 and I.36.b.2.3.

Another fine and hot day. The front line was very heavily shelled around dawn. 

Pte. Albert Edward Ford was buried by a shell explosion; I am unable to establish the details of his medical treatment. He was 21 years old and had enlisted in August 1915; he had originally served with 9DWR and had suffered wounds to his left arm in August 1916. The date and details of his transfer to 10DWR are unknown.

Pte. Albert Edward Ford (standing, left)

Image by kind permission of Kirstie Ford

L.Cpl. Thomas Riding (see 25^th June) and Ptes. Albert Nixon (see 3^rd May 1916) and Fred Teal (see 5^th December 1916) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Pte. James Arthur Markinson (see 7^th June) was admitted, via 5^th London Ambulance, to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station for treatment for inflammation (‘ICT’) in his left hand.

Ptes. Ernest Ashness (see 25^th June) and Herbert Willoughby (see 25^th June) were discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station and returned to duty. 

Cpl. Thomas Arthur Sturdy (see 6^th June), who had suffered severe wounds to his left leg on 6^th June, was evacuated to England for further treatment. Pte. Fred Mitchell (see 8^th June), who had had his right leg amputated having been wounded on 8^th June, was also evacuated to England.

Cpl. Billy Rawlinson (see 12^th June), who had been severely wounded at Contalmaison, was formally discharged from the Army, with the award of the Silver War Badge. His character reference on discharge described him as, “A steady, willing, intelligent and reliable man; has been a non-commissioned officer for over two years and served 11 months at the front where he gave satisfaction. Received multiple wounds in action”. 

A payment of £20 4s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Acting CQMS Thomas Doyne (see 17^th February); the payment would go to his daughter and sole legatee, Eileen. His widow, Bridget, was an inmate at Richmond Asylum, Dublin.