Wednesday 8th August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

There was a torrential downpour in the evening which Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 3^rd August)  described as, “the heaviest downpour I have seen in France”.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 1^st July) returned to France, en route to re-joining the Battalion; he had been in England since being taken ill in April.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

Sgt. John Ratlidge (see 23^rd July), who was home on leave, married Mary Durkin at St. Annes’s Church, Keighley.

2Lt. John Robert Dickinson (see 17^th July), who was back in England having been treated for trench fever, reported for duty with 3DWR at North Shields. 

Pte. Eli Bradley (see 6^th May), serving in India with 1DWR, was admitted to hospital in Gharial, suffering from contusions; he would be discharged to duty after six days.

Tuesday 7th August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The Battalion marched to Acquin to be inspected by II Army Commander, Sir Herbert Plumer. 

Sgt. William Allen Sayer (see 16^th June) was severely reprimanded by Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 27^th July) for “conduct prejudicial to the maintenance of good order and military discipline; ie disputing violently on an issue of dinner to his platoon”. 

Pte. James Hague was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from a problem with his ears; he would be discharged after seven days and posted to no.7 Convalescent Camp. In the absence of a surviving service record I am able to make a positive identification of this man, but it is known that, to this point, he had served around one month with 10DWR and would subsequently (date and details unknown) be transferred to the Labour Corps.

Pte. Thomas Henry Swift; was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from scabies; he was a 23 year-old shop assistant from Sheffield and had served with the Battalion for around a month, although the precise date of his arrival in France is unknown. The details of his treatment and discharge are unknown.

Cpl. John Stewart (see 29^th June), L.Cpl. Israel Burnley (see 24^th June) and Ptes. Tom Lister Ellison (see 16^th March), John Hargreaves (18009) (see 25^th May) Sam Sunderland (see 31^st October 1916) and Walter Umpleby (see 21^st September 1914) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

On their return from ten days’ leave Ptes. Fred Riddiough (see 28^th July) and Isaac Robinson (see 28^th July) were transferred to the Brigade Light Trench Mortar Battery.

Pte. Samuel Stansfield (see 25^th July) re-joined the Battalion from 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, where he had been treated since reporting sick two weeks’ previously.

Pte. William Henry Thornton (see 22^nd April), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to the Army Pay Corps, based in Nottingham.

Pte. Harry Exley (see 11^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June and had been under treatment in England, was posted to 3DWR, en route to a return to active service.

Seven former members of 10DWR who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields were formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit. L.Cpl. Reyner Sutcliffe (see 6^th April) and Pte. Alfred Henry Green (see 14^th June) had been in England since having been wounded at Le Sars in October 1916. Pte. Edmund Jones (see 15^th September 1916). Pte. John Longfellow (known as Jack) (see 6^th April) had been in England since having been wounded in July 1916. Pte. Arthur Herbert Procter (see 2^nd February) had suffered multiple shrapnel wounds at Le Sars in October 1916. Pte. Fred Rigg (see 10^th July) was discharged as a result of the severe burns he had suffered to his right hand in an accident while on active service in December 1916. Pte. Frederick William Wilman (see 14^th April) had been treated for a corneal ulcer to his left eye. All seven men were awarded the Silver War Badge and a pension of 13s. 9d. per week, to be reviewed in one years’ time.. 

Pte. Arthur Harrison (see 6^th October 1916) was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he was assessed as having suffered a 50% disability and was awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension of £1 14s. 9d. per week.

Pte. Frank Marsden White (see 11^th September 1914) was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of sickness; he was awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension (details unknown). He had been posted to France with 10DWR in August 1915 and in May 1917 he had been evacuated to England suffering from pneumonia and pleurisy and had spent some time in hospital in Warrington. He had been an original member of the Battalion having enlisted in 1914 aged 38, married, with four children, living in Brighouse and working as a wire cleaner. In the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to establish any further details of his service.

Monday 6th August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

For the second time in a month Pte. Leonard Hurley (see 9^th July) was reported by Cpl. George Heeley (see 23^rd July) for having a dirty rifle; on the orders of Lt. Arthur Poynder Garratt (see 15^th June) he was to be confined to barracks for two days.

Pte. Harry Jessop (I am currently unable to make a positive identification of this man), who had been officer’s servant to the late Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 31^st July), submitted a claim to 20 Francs which was owed to him, for wages, at the time of Halstead’s death. As Halstead’s pay account was now suspended following his death, there would be a (protracted) investigation into the validity of Jessop’s claim.

Pte. Herbert Burgess (see 28^th July), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was reported for ‘breaking out of his billet about 6am and remaining absent until 10pm when warned for Headquarters Guard’; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Fred Addy (see 27^th May), who had been posted back to England, suffering from TB, in May, appeared before an Army Medical Board in Sheffield. The Board recommended that he be formally discharged as unfit for further service.

Recently-commissioned 2Lt. Fred Dyson (see 30^th July) was married to Edith May Wilkinson; he would later serve with 10DWR.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. George Gelling (see 14^th May) who had been killed in January; his widow, Julia, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Pte. George Gelling

Sunday 5th August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The heavy rain of the last week finally abated, and the day was fine, though with a thick mist in the morning.

Following the departure of Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 4^th July) to a senior officers’ course and Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 13^th July), who had been posted to duty with 23^rd Division, and with the Battalion short of senior, experienced officers, Maj. Edward Borrow, of 13DLI, was temporarily attached as second-in-command. Borrow was 37 years old (born 8^th November 1879) and originally from London. His father had worked as a grain broker and Edward had followed the same profession, working in the USA from 1906. He had served as a Lance Corporal with 69^th (Sussex) Company, 7^th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War and following the outbreak of war in 1914 he had volunteered for King Edward’s Horse, taking five years off his true on his attestation to be sure of being accepted.  After just a month he had been discharged to a commission as Second Lieutenant with 13DLI. He had been appointed Adjutant on 6^th November and promoted Lieutenant on 21^st November. He had married Alys Mabel Constance Read on 30^th April 1915. He had then been promoted Captain in May 1915 and had gone to France with his Battalion on 25^th August 1915, being further promoted Major on 4^th March 1917.

Maj. Edward Borrow

Pte. Samuel Garside Hardy (see 20^th July), who had been away from the Battalion for two weeks for treatment for scabies, re-joined.

Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 31^st July), who had been wounded on 14^th July, was transferred from 6^th Convalescent Depot at Etaples to 5^th Convalescent Depot at Wimereux.

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Saturday 4th August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The weather continued to be very wet, with heavy rain throughout the day.

Lt. Sydney Charles Ernest Farrance (see 7^th July), who had been with the Battalion for only a month, left to join 8DWR.

Ptes. George Towler Brown (see 5^th July) and David Doughty Glossop (see 5^th July), both of whom had been with the Battalion for less than a month, were admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance suffering from influenza.  Brown would be transferred to 58^th General Hospital at St. Omer and Glossop to 2^nd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Outreau.

Pte. Gott Fielding (see 5^th July) reported sick and was diagnosed as suffering from shellshock; he would be treated in France, but the details are unknown.

Ptes. Joseph Livesey (see 7^th June) and Smith Stephenson Whitaker (see 12^th July), both of whom had been wounded on 7^th June, re-joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. 

Pte. Harold Peel (see 30^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June, was discharged from 6^th Convalescent Depot at Etaples and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot, en route to a return to active service.

Pte. Percy France (see 10^th June) was discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques and posted to 1^st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne; he would subsequently (date and details unknown) be transferred to the Labour Corps.

Pte. Edwin Baldwin (see 18^th December 1916), serving with the Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps, departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see 23^rd June) was posted back to France to join 48^th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps as an observer.

Cpl. Harold Best (see 28^th July), back home in England on leave, was married to Alice Haste.

Pte. Cecil Stanley Pitblado (see 1^st December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to 89^th Training Reserve Battalion, based at Catterick; he was also promoted Sergeant.

Pte. Thomas Delaney (see 29^th May) was transferred from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Joseph Fitzgerald (see 19^th September 1916), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, was formally transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

The Halifax Guardian reported the death of Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 31^st July) who had worked for the newspaper before enlisting.

HALIFAX OFFICER KILLED

Lieutenant A. Halstead MC - Former Member of the “Guardian” Staff

We deeply regret to state that Lt. A. Halstead, youngest son of Mrs. Halstead and of the late Mr. Elijah Halstead of 8 Buxton Street, Lee Mount, has passed away. A War Office telegram, dated August 1^st, has been received as follows: “Deeply regret to inform you that Lt. A. Halstead, West Riding Regiment, died at 12.40 on August 1^st, of bomb wounds right leg multiple, wounds left leg, accidental. The Army Council expresses their sympathy. Secretary, War Office”.

Lt. Halstead was only 23 years of age. In pre-war days he was on the staff of the Halifax Daily Guardian and warmly esteemed by all his colleagues. It was only a few weeks ago that we recorded the fact that he had been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the field. The facts were officially stated thus: “During the attack south of Hill 60 on 7^th June 1917, although wounded in the knee, he personally led an attack with great bravery and promptitude, against a hostile machine gun, capturing the gun and team of four men”.

He was later transferred from the front line to the base in order that he might act as bombing instructor to new men out, and, although the War Office message is brief, it seems clear that it was in this important work that he met his death. He was a capital type of young officer, with a full knowledge of what duty meant and the responsibilities which followed on promotion. He has been in France almost from the outbreak of hostilities, only returning for a short period of training when raised to commissioned rank.

He is the fourth “Daily Guardian” man to lay down his life in the way; those who have also answered the supreme call being: Private Norris Marshall, WRR, Private Harry Preston, West Yorkshire Regt, and Private Laurie Hargrave of the Royal Fusiliers. Others have been wounded, and, in fact, have suffered severely, out of the twenty-five men whom the “Guardian” office has supplied for military service.

A payment of £2 10s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Michael Edward McCuen (known as ‘Teddy’) (see 24^th April), who had had died of wounds on 24^th April; the payment would go to his father, Daniel.

Friday 3rd August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The weather remained very wet and the Battalion was again involved in musketry practice on the ranges.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 2^nd August) again despaired of the impact of the weather, “it was fine for a bit of the night but since then has again been pouring almost more heavily than ever. The trenches must be waterlogged! I suppose we shall be wanted somewhere soon, but meanwhile we are comparatively comfortable, though I wish we could have got on with some training instead of this endless rain”.

Ptes. Christopher Smith Birch (see 16^th January), Ernest Gee (see 11^th February), Alfred Hanson (see 17^th October 1916), William Edward Varley (see 16^th January) and Ernest Wilson (28985) (see 4^th May) were all promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Harry Hartley (see 8^th May 1916) was posted back to England; it would appear that he was ill, rather than having been wounded, but the details are unknown.

Pte. James Robert Ingleson (see 16^th July), who had suffered severe wounds three weeks’ previously, was evacuated to England for further treatment.

Pte. Thomas McDonald (see 23rd March), serving in France with 9DWR, was admitted to 51^st Field Ambulance (XVII Corps Rest Station) suffering from “P.U.O.” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin); he would be discharged and re-join his Battalion after 13 days.

Pte. Ernest Smith (29167) (see 17^th June) who had suffered wounds to his head and thigh on 7^th June, and had been under treatment at the Kitchener War Hospital in Brighton, was sufficiently recovered to be transferred to Auxiliary Hospital “A”, at Wych Cross, Forest Row, Sussex.

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 26^th July), who had been in England since been wounded on 7^th June, appeared before a further Medical Board. The Board concluded that he was to remain in hospital for further treatment to his injured foot, and would be re-examined in two months’ time.

Pte. Joseph Clough (see 21^st May), who had been at Edinburgh War Hospital for the previous ten weeks, after being wounded, was discharged from hospital. He would have ten days’ leave before reporting to Northern Command Depot at Ripon. 

Maj. Harry Robert Hildyard, (see 20^th December 1916) who had been the original senior officer of Tunstill’s Company but who was now serving with 1^st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, Leics. Regt., having been declared no longer fit for active service, was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

Pte. James Bentley Crosland (see 13^th March), who had been in England for almost a year after being gassed in August 1916, was posted from 3DWR at North Shields to Northern Command Depot at Ripon, having been deemed unfit to return to service overseas.

Pte. John James Cowling (see 24^th January), who had been in England since being wounded in January, appeared before a Medical Board assembled at St. Luke’s Hospital, Halifax. The Board found him unfit for further service due to his wounds, and recommended that he be discharged from the Army. 

The funeral of Gnr. John George Waggitt (see 1^st August) was held at Addingham Parish Church. His body had been recovered, on the previous Tuesday, from shallow water just below the bridge at Heber's Ghyll, on the edge of Ilkley Moor. He was the brother of L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt (see 1^st August), who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916. The Craven Herald would subsequently (10^th August) report on the funeral;

“The members of the Addingham Platoon of the West Riding Volunteers, in command of Sergt. Baker, met the mourners at the top of the village, and formed an escort to the Church. The service in the Church and at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. J.W. Hall (rector). The firing party fired a military salute and the 'Last Post' was sounded. The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Waggitt, Miss Waggitt, Miss Hannah Waggitt, Miss Lily Waggitt (sisters), Mr. and. Mrs. Lister Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. C. Brown, Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Gregson (Moorside), Mr. Capstick (Woodhouse, Ilkley), Mr. Watson and Mr. E. Thackray (Netherwood), Mr. S. Whiteoak, Mr. John Rishworth, Mr. H. Todd, Mr. W. Lancaster, Mr. H. Moore, Mr. James Pighills, Mr. Bell, Mr. J. Gill, Mr. J. Rishworth, jun., Mr. A. Kendall, Mr. Charles Dewhurst (Moorside), Mr. L. Steel (Turner Lane), Mr. H. Mason, and Mr. R. Thompson (Gildersber).

Wreaths were sent from Nellie, Hannah, Lily, and Fred (somewhere in France), "In loving memory of our dear brothers John and Willie" (Willie fell in France about nine months ago), Mr. and Mrs. Nixon and Master Everitt and John Nixon. There was a large gathering of the public out of sympathy with the bereaved family”.

The Craven Herald also reported news of an appeal before the Skipton Military Tribunal by Mrs. Judith Carlton, mother of the late Pte. Frederick George Carlton (see 12th June), who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since the engagement at Le Sars on 5^th October. According to the report, in appealing on behalf of another son, who was a carter for the Midland Railway Company, Mrs. Carlton told the Tribunal that “two of her sons had already been wounded, another had been missing ten months, while a fourth son was at present on active service in France” and that, “They cannot take any more now unless they take me and my husband. I am willing to go if they will have me”. Her appeal was refused.

Pte. Frederick George Carlton

Thursday 2nd August 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

The weather remained very wet, with heavy rain continuing all day and through the night. Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 1^st August) again reflected on the problems caused by the heavy rain, “Here everything is in mud or water. It is exceptionally bad luck that it should have come on just on the day the big offensive started for the ground must be quite impossible to work on in this weather and the men must be having a rotten time”.

2Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson (see 23^rd January) was promoted Lieutenant.

2Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 16^th July), who had been wounded two weeks previously, was evacuated to England onboard the Hospital Ship St. David; on arrival in England he would be admitted to 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth.

Pte. Tom Stocks (see 6^th July) was posted back to duty from the Base Depot for the Machine Gun Corps at Camiers. However, he would not re-join 69^th Company but was instead posted to 126^th Company, which was one of the machine gun companies of 42^nd Division.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 31^st May), who had been in England for more than a year having been wounded on the Somme on 1^st July 1916, was declared fit for general service.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury