Monday 20th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

On another fine, hot day, training continued with the Battalion carrying out “a demonstration, on the X Corps School grenade ground at Inglinghem, of a platoon in the attack, bringing into use the co-operation of all weapons available and including the co-operation from Stokes Mortars”.

Pte. Peter Herity (see 6^th July) was reported by Sgt. William Allen Sayer (see 7^th August) as being “deficient of iron rations (tea and sugar); on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 19^th June) he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Enquiries were made regarding the injury sustained by Pte. John Foster (see 27^th July), who had injured his knee whilst on a carrying party a month previously and had subsequently been evacuated to England. Statements were taken from Sgt. George Manning of 69^th Machine Gun Company and Pte. Arthur Greenbank (see 16^th January 1917) who, like Foster himself, was on attachment to the carrying party. Manning reported that “On Saturday 14^th July I was in charge of a carrying party with ammunition for the front line. No.29648 Pte. Foster, J., was with my party. On Sunday morning, 15^th July, he reported to me that he had sprained his knee. I told him to report sick”. Greenbank confirmed what Manning had said and added that, “Pte. Foster told me he had fallen on a railway track”.

2Lt. Leopold Henry Burrow (see 24^th July), who had been in hospital for the previous five weeks after reporting sick with an injury to his right leg,  was discharged from 83^rd General Hospital in Boulogne and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Farrand Kayley (see 27^th March 1916), brother of Tunstill’s recruits James (see 27^th March 1916) and Job Kayley (see 29^th July 1916), who was serving in France with 1^st/6^th Battalion West Ridings as a transport driver, returned to England on ten days’ leave.

A payment of £1 17s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late LCpl. Leonard Green (see 7^th June); the payment would go to his father, Arthur.

Sunday 19th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

On another fine, sunny day, field firing practices were carried out on the ranges at Guemy near Tournehem (three miles to the east); the results were described as “very favourable – practices were carried out by Companies supported by Lewis Guns on the flanks and with machine guns firing overhead and in a few cases in co-operation with Stokes Mortars”. All of this training was directed towards the part to be played by the Brigade in forthcoming actions.

Just ten days after re-joining the Battalion from seven months treatment for wounds, Pte. Willie Holmes (see 9^th August) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from influenza; he would be discharged to duty four days later.

Ptes. Fred Hargreaves (20214) (see 17^th July 1916) and Arnold Robson (see 16^th July) were both admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques. Pte. Hargreaves would be treated for conjunctivitis and discharged to duty after three days and Pte. Robson for myopia and discharged after five days.

Pte. Matthew Stone (see 17^th July 1916), who was currently under medical treatment with the RAMC (details and location unknown) was reported for ‘neglect of duty whilst acting orderly man”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. John Edward Bartle MM (see 16th August), who had been wounded a month previously, was evacuated to England.

Pte. Clarence George Heyworth (see 11^th August), who had been wounded eight days previously while serving in France with 8DWR, died from his wounds at 32^nd Casualty Clearing Station at Brandhoek. He would be buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No.3.

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. John Anderson Mitchell (see 17^th December 1916), serving in France with Machine Gun Corps, departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Pte. Edward Smith (12262) (see 29^th June), who had been posted back to the Battalion in June, was posted back to England “for employment under the special agricultural programme as an agriculturalist”.

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.

Friday 17th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

A fine bright morning, which developed into a hot and sunny day.

Sgt. Fred Metcalfe was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques suffering from dental caries; he would discharge to duty after eight days. He had been an original member of 10DWR (13032), having enlisted on 8^th September 1914. On enlisting he was 28 years old, married and living with his wife and three children in Beamsley, near Skipton, where he worked as a woodman.

Sgt. Harry Raistrick (see 12^th June), Cpls. George Heeley (see 10^th August) and Thomas Anthony Swale (see 3^rd July) and Ptes. Joseph Dent (see 29^th December 1916), Albert Edon (see 28^th March), Henry Fielding (see 12^th December 1916) and Clifford Gough (see 25^th August 1916), departed on ten days’ leave to England.

A.Sgt. Thomas Walsh (see 8^th June) was posted back to England; he would have a period of leave before beginning a course of officer training. Whilst on leave his address was to be 7 Brook Street, Clitheroe.

A.Sgt. Thomas Walsh (seated), with (left to right) Sgt. Luke Dawson, CSM Charles Edgar Parker MM and Sgt. Benson (unidentified)

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Joseph Holmes (see 15^th June) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from entiritis; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after one week.

Pte. Thomas Henry Wood (see 5^th July) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from influenza.

Pte. Clifford Midwood (see 11^th June), serving with 1^st/5^th DWR, suffered the effects of gas poisoning; the details of his treatment are unknown but he remained in France with his Battalion.

Pte. Herbert Burgess (see 28^th July), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was appointed Acting Corporal.

Pte. Ronald Bray (see 11^th July), who had been wounded in July while serving with the Divisional Machine Gun Company, was discharged from 4^th London General Hospital; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting to Northern Command Depot on 27^th August.

Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see 4^th August), who had served with 10DWR for eight months between October 1916 and June 1917 before being transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an observer, was mortally wounded whilst on patrol with 48^th Squadron in France. The Bristol F.2. fighter in which he was an observer, was attacked while on patrol and although the pilot, 2Lt. H.F. Gough, was able to bring the aircraft home, Reincke died of his wounds. He would be buried at Zuydcoote Military Cemetery near Dunkirk. 

Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 13^th August), serving with 1^st (Garrison) Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was severely reprimanded having been reported for “irregular conduct when in charge of a prisoner, ie, allowing him to proceed to his home and take intoxicating liquour”.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of the official acceptance of the death of Pte. Percy Wharton (see 3^rd November 1916); he was the brother of Sergt. Allan Wharton (see 1^st June), who had been one of Tunstill’s orginal volunteers but was now serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers:

EARBY - MISSING MAN'S DEATH PRESUMED

The Army Council have sent to Mr. and Mrs. M. Wharton, 8, George Street, Earby, an official intimation presuming the death in France of their youngest son, Private Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who had been missing since September 3rd of last year. He was 22 years of age and unmarried. Before enlisting he was employed at Messrs. A. J. Birley's Ltd. as a weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have two sons still in France who have been there two years, and two in training in England. A son-in-law (Rifleman Robert Duxbury) has been missing since May 12th, and another son-in-law is serving in India.

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 16^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.

.

Wednesday 15th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

After all the recent rain, a fine, dry day

Company commanders were taken by bus six miles north-east to Volckerinckhove for a three-day course in preparation for the planned forthcoming offensive actions.

RQMS David Hinchcliffe (see 2^nd February) was posted back to England as a candidate for a commission as a quartermaster.

Cpl. Willie Nichols (see 1^st June) was promoted Sergeant.

Pte. Henry Jarratt (see 24^th July) was again in trouble; on this occasion for ‘talking on 3pm parade’. He was reported by Sgt. Arthur Kilburn Robinson (see 24^th July) and was to be confined to barracks for two days on the orders of Lt. Herbert Sparling (see 1^st July).

Pte. Cain Rothera (see 5^th May) was reported by CSM Pattison as “absent off 2.40pm parade”; on the orders of Lt. Arthur Poynder Garratt (see 13^th August)  he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

A week after returning to France, Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 8^th August), who had been in England since being taken ill in April, re-joined the Battalion.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

Cpl. George Wallace Fricker (see 8^th June) was posted back to England, having been accepted as a candidate for a commission. He would have a period of leave before beginning his officer training.

Pte. William Hissett (see 29^th June), serving in France with 9DWR, departed for England on ten days’ leave. He would return late from his leave and be ordered to forfeit two days’ pay and undergo ten days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. Alfred Spencer (see 5^th June), who was on attachment at the permanent base of IV Corps at Albert, having suffered from shellshock two months previously, was appointed Acting Lance Corporal.

Pte. John Gaunt (see 2^nd July 1915), who had served with 1^st/6^th DWR, was discharged from the Army, with the award of the Silver War Badge, on account of wounds; the details of his service are unknown but, according to newspaper reports, he had “spent many months in hospital”. He was the brother of Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 5^th July), who was in England on an officer training course.

Tuesday 14th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

Another largely fine day, though once again there was heavy rain in the evening.

Pte. Alec Radcliffe (see 27^th July), who had suffered relatively minor wounds to his right leg on 7^th June, re-joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 11^th August), who had been absent without leave since 9.30pm on 11^th August, now returned. On the orders of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 7th August) he would forfeit four days’ pay and be sentenced to 28 days’ Field Punishment No.1

Pte. William Ward Pickles joined the Battalion. He had enlisted in February 1915, aged 35, and had been living in Sowerby Bridge, where he worked as a bricklayer; he was a married man, but had no children. He had been posted to 8DWR and had served with them at Gallipoli from August 1915 to July 1916, before returning to France with the Battalion. He had been wounded in October 1916, suffering a wound to his left thigh and had been treated at Bellahouston Red Cross Hospital, before being posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion on 22^nd November. He had returned to France on 3^rd May but had stayed for three months at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples until joining 10DWR.

Pte. Willie Dyson (see 23^rd July) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from influenza; he would be transferred to 23^rd Division Rest Station the following day.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 9^th August), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, was reported absent without leave and in possession of another man’s pass, from 14^th Australian General Hospital at Abassia. On his return he would be deprived of four days’ pay. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 9^th August), who was back in England having been wounded on 7^th June.

Pte. James Beatty (see 23^rd March 1916) was formally discharged from the army as no longer physically fit for service. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to identify the nature and origin of his injuries or illness.