Tuesday 9th October 1917

Most of the Battalion in Camp (name unknown) north-west of Ypres; D Company and one platoon of B Company remained at Berthen, attached to 8Yorks. A showery day.

The Battalion remained on attachment to 2^nd Battalion Canadian Railway Troops for work in the construction of a light railway.

Pte. Joe Fawcett (see 21^st May) was transferred to 23^rd Division Military Police “on traffic control duties”.

Eight of the nine new officers who had arrived in France four days previously now reported for duty with 10DWR. They were 2Lts. Stephen Brown Airey (see 4th October), Keith Sagar Bain (see 4th October), Sam Benjamin Farrant (see 4th October), Edwin Everingham Ison (see 4th October), Aidan Nicholson (see 4th October), Percival Victor Thomas (see 4th October), Lawrence Tindill MM (see 4th October) and Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 30^th July). 2Lt. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 4th October) would not report for duty until 13^th October (reason unknown).

L.Cpl. William Stowell (see 20^th September), who had suffered a fractured skull on 20^th September, was evacuated to England (details unknown).

Pte. James Arthur Heap (see 20^th September), who had been in hospital in France since being wounded on 20^th September, was posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. He was now re-classified as fit only for base duties, due to defective hearing (presumably as a result of the injuries he had suffered). Four days later he would be formally transferred to 63^rd Labour Company, Labour Corps.

Three former members of 10DWR were killed in action while serving with 8DWR; all three have no known grave and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.

Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 30^th August).

Pte. John William Whitfield was initially reported wounded and missing; he would subsequently be presumed killed in action. He was 25 years old and from Linton-in-Craven. He had been an original member of the Battalion, having enlisted in January 1915 and had gone out to France with the Battalion in August 1915. At some point (details unknown) he had been transferred to the Royal Engineers, serving with 278^th Railway Company. He had then been transferred back to the West Ridings in September 1917, but had joined 8DWR rather than re-joining 10DWR.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Pte. Frank Woodall (see 13^th September 1916) would be described in a letter to Pte. Woodall’s family from Lt. J. Sutcliffe, “He was instantaneously killed by a shell whilst advancing with his Company to the attack. The men of the Company sadly feel the loss of one of their pals who was never found wanting when duty called. He died nobly, doing his duty like a British soldier”. 

Pte. John William Whitfield

Another former member of 10DWR, was also wounded while serving with 8DWR; L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) (see 12^th September) suffered facial wounds and would be admitted to hospital in Le Treport (details unknown).

Pte. James Wilson (see 28^th July), formerly of Tunstill’s Company, but now serving as a lorry driver with the Motor Transport Section of the ASC, departed from Devonport, bound for Dar es Salam.

Cpl. Ernest Wakeling, serving with 1^st/6^th DWR, was killed in action; he was the elder brother of Pte. Arnold Wakeling (see 30^th September) who had been wounded in early July 1916 while serving with 10DWR.

A payment of £8 8s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Berthelemy (see 8^th June), who had died of wounds on 8^th June; the payment would go to his mother, Maria. 


A payment of £4 5s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Frederick George Carlton (see 12^th June), who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his father, John.

Pte. Frederick George Carlton