Friday 12th October 1917

Camp near Wiltshire Farm, east of Dickebusch.

A wet day.

The Battalion made a short march north-west to Brewery Camp, on the road between Dickebusch and Vijverhoek. Here they were joined by the detached party of D Company and one platoon of B Company, which had spent the previous eight days resting, while attached to 8Yorks.

Four days after re-joining the Battalion, Capt. Dick Bolton (see 8^th October) departed for England on ten days’ leave. L.Cpl. Alfred Hanson (see 3^rd August), and Pte. Harry Squire (see 26^th July) also departed on ten days’ leave to England.

L.Cpl. John Henry Eastwood (see 3^rd December 1916), serving with the Non Combatant at Les Attaques, was formally transferred to the Labour Corps and joined 860^th Area Employment Company.

Pte. Walter Pedley (see 10^th August), who had been in England since being wounded on 19^th May,  was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to the Dukes’ Regimental Depot at Halifax.

Pte. Frederick McKell (see 28^th September), who had been in England having suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs, hands and face on 20^th September, was sufficiently recovered to be posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Charles William Hird (see 31^st July), who was serving at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, having been wounded 8^th June, was reported absent without leave. He would apprehended by the Civil Police in Otley at 3.30 the following morning. He would subsequently be confined to barracks for seven days and forfeit three days pay.

A series of articles concerning former members of 10DWR appeared in the weekly edition of the Craven Herald.

SILSDEN - PRIVATE ERNEST HARDCASTLE

Mr. and Mrs. H. Hardcastle of Swartha, Silsden, have received official information that their son, Private Ernest Hardcastle (see 21^st September), of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, was killed in action on the 2lst of September. Company Quarter-Master Sergeant M.H. Denham, (Maurice Harcourt Denham, see 20th September) in a letter to the bereaved parents, states- "It is with deepest regret and sympathy that I write to inform you of your son's death on the 21st of September. He was in an attack on the previous day, and was killed whilst engaged holding the line he had helped to wrest from the enemy. He died a victorious soldier's death, and his country need be proud of him. It may be some comfort to you to know that he was respectably buried not far from the scene of his death, and where his grave will receive every attention. He was a lad of great promise and a favourite with all. His many friends also desire me to express sympathy with you on their behalf. May God comfort you in your great loss."

Private Hardcastle was 19 years of age. He joined the Colours in December last and went out to France in June. He was formerly employed as a warp twister by Messrs. Driver Bros., North Street, Silsden. Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle have two more sons serving - Signaller Cyril Hardcastle, and Private Willie Hardcastle, of the R.A.M.C. who has been in Mesopotamia almost since the campaign in that quarter was commenced.

Pte. Ernest Hardcastle

BARNOLDSWICK - PRIVATE MICHAEL TAYLOR KILLED

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, 239, Gisburn Road, have received news of the death of their son, Pte. Michael Taylor (see 20^th September), Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who was killed in action on the 20th ult. He was 22 years of age and had been in France a year and seven months. He was home on leave six weeks ago. Before joining up he was a weaver at Bankfield Shed (Bradley Bros.). Two of his brothers are serving, one of whom is in France. The news of Pte. Taylor's death came in a letter from a Barnoldswick comrade (L.Cpl Howarth Reid, see 12^th August) in the same battalion, who wrote stating that two of his pals were killed on the same date while attacking a strong enemy position.

Pte. Michael Taylor

AUSTWICK

Lance Corporal Wilson Pritchard M.M. (see 17^th September), who was at home a few weeks ago on leave, prior to training for a commission, has, since he went back, been in hospital at Chatham, suffering from a slight touch of typhoid fever. He is now making satisfactory progress.

There was also an In Memoriam notice,

In ever loving memory of Pte. Percy Hodgson (see 24^th August), the beloved son of Thomas and Mary Jane Hodgson, who died of wounds October 13th, 1916.

Not dead to those who loved him,

Not lost but gone before;

He lives with us in memory still,

And will do ever more.

When all the toilsome journey o'er,

And all the weary voyage done;

Upon the happy heavenly shore

Once more the parted shall be one.

From Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers

 

Pte. Percy Hodgson