Saturday 18th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

A fine and sunny day.

Pte. Ernest Townsend (see 22^nd March) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, with a mild case of ‘trench foot’.

Sgt. John Stephenson (see 11^th August) departed on ten days’ leave to the UK.

Pte. Erwin Wilkinson (see 9^th August), who had been in hospital for ten days suffering from entiritis, was discharged and re-joined the Battalion.

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 16^th August), current CO 10DWR and his replacement, Maj. Francis Washington Lethbridge (see 16^th August), along with other officers, dined with Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 16^th August). Lethbridge would assume command of the Battalion next day and would be promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel.

Pte. Richard Swallow (see 11^th May), serving in France with 2DWR, was admitted to 38^th Field Ambulance suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left thigh; he would be transferred, on 29^th August, to 6^th Stationary Hospital at Frevant. Form there, after two days, he would be transferred via 1^st Australian General Hospital at Rouen to 2^nd Convalescent Depot, also at Rouen.

Pte. Fred Morrell (see 28^th May), who had been in England since 28^th May, having been wounded in action, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields, en route to a return to active service.


Pte. Frank Gunson (see 6^th October 1916), who had been transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers, after having been wounded in October 1916 while serving with 10DWR, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of sickness. He was suffering from ‘D.A.H’ (D.A.H. was Disordered Action of the Heart' otherwise known as 'Soldier's Heart' or 'Effort Syndrome'); he was assessed as having suffered a 20% disability and was awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension of 5s. 6d. per week.