Friday 24th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

Starting at 9.45am the Battalion marched three miles north-east to Watten, where they were due to board a train at 11am to travel the 23 miles east to Abele, south-west of Poperinghe. In fact the train did not leave until 2pm and the rail journey then took two and a half hours. From Abele they marched the short distance to Patricia Camp, on the road between Abele and Poperinghe.

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 18^th August) left to return to England, on leave in the first instance, though in fact he would never re-join the Battalion. He had been replaced as CO by Maj. Francis Washington Lethbridge (see 18^th August), who would be promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel.

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer

L.Cpls. Arthur Lee MM (see 16^th August) and William Edward Varley (see 3^rd August) both began to be paid according to their rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Pte. Richard Harrison (see 19^th June) was reported by CSM Bob Harrison (see 8^th June) for ‘irregular conduct – stealing fruit from an orchard’; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 22^nd August) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Samuel Cordingley (see 12^th August) was reported by Sgt. Willie Nichols (see 15^th August) and Pte. Ben Pedder (see 12^th August) as having overstayed his leave; he would return two days later and would forfeit two days’ pay on the orders of Lt.Col. Lethbridge.

Pte. Philip Pankhurst (see 5^th July) was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from scabies; after five days he would be discharged and posted to 7^th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne.

Pte. John Perrin (see 5^th July) was admitted via 70th Field Ambulance and 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to 11^th General Hospital at Camiers; he was suffering from ‘trench foot’.

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 1^st July), serving at VI Corps HQ, departed for England on ten days’ leave; whilst on leave he would be formally transferred to the Labour Corps and on his return to France would join 266^th Area Employment Company.

Sgt. Wilfred Fletcher (see 21^st July), who had been in England since having been wounded in July, was discharged from Quarry Hill VAD Hospital in Tonbridge. He would have two weeks leave before reporting to 3DWR at North Shields on 4^th September.

Pte. John James Cowling (see 3^rd August), who had been wounded in January, was formally discharged from the Army, with the award of the Silver War Badge and a pension of 27s. 6d per week, to be reviewed after six months.

A grant of probate was issued in respect of the estate of the late Pte. Harold Precious (see 4^th July) who had died at the East Leeds War Hospital on 4^th July, a month after being wounded; his estate was valued at the substantial sum of £2,144 13s. 5d. and was to be administered by his widow, Ann.

The surviving effects of the late L Cpl. Leonard Green (see 20^th August) were sent to his father, Arthur; they comprised simply of “letters, photos, card”. Having received so little his father would write to the War Office, asking for “the other things that he had because the few things that we have received were taken from his pocket wallet, in which he had the other things which we should like such as a silver ring which he wore”. The response of the War Office is not known, but, as in other cases, is likely simply to have informed the family of the difficulties associated with recovering any effects.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried a report regarding John Henry Hitchin (see 25^th May 1916). He had been one of Tunstill’s original volunteers, before being granted a commission. However, he had subsequently been stripped of his commission having been absent without leave. He had subsequently re-enlisted, joining the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. It should be noted that, in contrast to what is reported in the article, there is no evidence among official records of the award to Military Medal to Hitchin.

MILITARY MEDAL FOR A LONG PRESTON SOLDIER

During the fighting near Arras last May, whilst acting as messenger for a superior officer, Lance Corporal Hitchin (youngest son of Mr. John Hitchin, of Long Preston) of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was severely wounded, but managed to run back with his return message although buried almost to the head with earth, a shell bursting near. He was recommended for the Military Medal and has received the ribbon; the medal is to follow later. The recipient is now on a fair way to recovery and is in a convalescent camp at Ballykinlar, near Newcastle, Co. Down.

L.Cpl. John Henry Hitchin

There was also news of the death in action of the brother of late Pte. Percy Hodgson (see 24^th February), who had died of wounds following the actions at Le Sars in October 1916.

TOSSIDE - ANOTHER SUPREME SACRIFICE

Official news was received last week of the death of Private Tom Hodgson, Grenadier Guards, B.E.F., France, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson, of Stephen Moor Lodge, Tosside. Private Hodgson was called up in September 1916, went out to France on March 5th 1917, and was killed in action on July 31st in his 20th year. Much sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson and family in their sad bereavement. This is Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson's second bereavement.

Pte. J. Baggott, B.E.F., France, writes to Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson:- "I am sorry to have to write to you on such a sad occasion, but I thought it would be a great consolation for you to know that Tom was buried properly - the chaplain being present at his burial. Tom and I met in the train to join the Army. Since then we have always been the best of friends. I have never met a better fellow, doing all in his power to make everyone happy. His death came as a great shock to all of us who knew him. I was not with him at the time he was killed, being in another company, but I saw him buried. He was hit by a piece of shell just above the right hip. Tom seemed to have passed away very peacefully, the expression on his face being very peaceful. In your sad loss, Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson, I offer you and your family my deepest sympathy, praying and trusting that God will give you strength to bear you up in your great grief."

Private Joshua Hodgson, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson, has been wounded in his left arm, but is improving nicely. Private Hodgson is now in a convalescent home at Ipswich.

A memorial service will be held at Mount Zion Chapel, Tosside, on Sunday, August 26^th