Thursday 16th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

Another fine day.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 8^th August) noted in his diary, “Raymer to be relieved by Lethbridge?”; this referred to the impending replacement, as Commanding Officer of 10DWR, of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 14^th August) by Maj. Francis Washington Lethbridge. Lethbridge, who was 50 years old (born 3^rd February 1867), had been a regular soldier for 14 years. He had attended Sandhurst and had been commissioned in 1887, serving until 1901, rising to the rank of Captain and serving in India before retiring from the Army. He had joined 8DWR on the outbreak of war and, as Captain, had been severely wounded at Suvla Bay. He had then been promoted Major and served as 2IC with 8DWR. He would be promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel on taking command of 10DWR.

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer

Three men from 10DWR were admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques. Pte. Hugh Flanagan (see 5^th July 1917) was suffering from ‘myopic astigmatism’; Pte. Ernest Jones (see 17^th October 1916) was suffering from ‘hypermytropia’ (long-sightedness), and Pte. Albert Moore (see 9^th August) was suffering from dental caries. All three men would be discharged and return to duty within four days.

A number of former 10DWR men who had recently returned to France were posted back to duty from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. However, they were posted to other Dukes’ Battalions, rather than re-joining 10DWR. Among them was Ptes. Ambrose Birdsall (see 29^th July) and Francis John Bottomley (see 29^th July) who had both been in England since being taken ill in March; they went to 2/4^th DWR. Pte. John William Dean (see 29^th July) who had been in England for the previous eleven months after suffering gas poisoning in August 1916 was posted to 2/5^th DWR.  Ptes. Albert William Knight (see 29^th July) and Ernest Taylor (29168) (see 29^th July), who had returned to France having been under medical treatment in England since reporting sick with severe cases of ‘trench foot’ in February, went to 2/6^th and 2/7^th DWR respectively. Pte. Harold Wider (see 30^th July), had been in England since being wounded in January, was posted to 2/7^th DWR.

Pte. Greenwood Speak (see 10^th June), who had suffered a number of wounds, including a fractured right arm on 10^th June, was evacuated to England.

The Supplement to the London Gazette published the award of the Military Medal to fifteen other ranks serving with the Battalion, many of whom had also been promoted in the interim, for their actions on and around 7^th June. They were Cpls. Josias Bailey (see 21^st July) and William Walker Rossall (see 12^th June); L.Cpls. John Smith Hodgson (see 3^rd July), William (Billy) Hoyle (see 11^th June) Arthur Lee (see 15^th June); Frank Mallinson (see 12^th August) and Victor Race (see 29^th June); and Ptes. John Edward Bartle (see 19^th July), Joseph Binns (24162) (see 7^th June); Michael Cooney (see 7th June); Arthur Charles Elkington (see 7^th June); Tom Feather (see 7^th June); Harold Frost (see 7^th June); James Arthur Markinson (see 10^th July); and Enoch Wilson Rhodes (see 3^rd August 1916). There was also a Military Medal for Pte. Herbert Smith (11837) (see 23^rd May 1916), who had been transferred from 10DWR to 69^th Brigade Pigeon Station. 

Lt. Harold Lockhart Waite, (see 6^th June 1916), who had served with the Battalion from its creation until being transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in May 1916, was wounded while on an offensive patrol with 19 Squadron; he suffered wounds to his left side and arm.

An official at the War Office wrote to the Imperial Life Assurance Company regarding the affairs of the late Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 18^th July) who had been reported wounded and missing while serving with 2DWR in May:

“I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that, as the latest official report regarding this officer is to the effect that he was wounded and missing on 3^rd May 1917, this Department is not in a position to issue a formal certificate of death. Looking, however, to the evidence contained in a letter which has been received from Second Lieutenant S.A. Belshaw, West Riding Regiment (a prisoner of war in Germany), to the effect that Captain Heale died from wounds, the Army Council are regretfully constrained to conclude, for official purposes, that Captain Heale is dead, and that his death occurred on 3^rd May 1917, from wounds received in action.

I am to add that the Army Council have, unfortunately, no doubt as to the death of this officer, and to explain that their action, as set forth above, is notified to those concerned, upon application for a certificate of death, with a view to assisting them in dealing with the estates of offciers whose deaths have not been reported to this Department in a formal, individual written statement. It is understood that these letters, which may be used in place of a formal certificate of death, are, as a rule, accepted for probate and for other purposes.

With regard to your request for further information, I am to state that, in his form of application for a commission, this officer gave his date of birth as 26^th January 1882; that there is no record in this Department of his place of birth; and that his next of kin, as registered in this office, is Rev. J.N. Heale (father), ‘Rosclare’, 15 Arlington Road, St. Margaret’s on Thames, England.”

Capt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC

A payment of £2 10s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Hubert Henry (‘Bertie’) Greensmith (see 24^th January), who had been killed on 24^th January; the payment would go to his father, William.

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