Thursday 22nd March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

A very cold day, with some snow during the morning, with sun and further showers later in the day. It was noted that there was “very little ground available for training purposes”. The Brigade inter-Battalion competitions began with 10DWR playing a football match against 11^th West Yorks.; the match ended in a snowstorm, with the West Yorks. winning 3-2. 

Ptes. Clarence Best (see 2^nd March), Richard Metcalfe (see 3rd March) and Tom Midgley (see 14^th December 1916) were ordered to be confined to barracks for seven days having been found to have been late on parade at 6.15am. They were reported by Sgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 16^th March) and the sentence imposed by Maj. Charles Bathurst (see 14^th March).

Pte. Ernest Heyhirst (see 14^th February) was reported by L.Cpl. Arthur Gears (see below) and Sgt. Joseph Bona (see 14^th February) for “falling out without permission from 6.15am parade”; on the orders of Maj. Charles Bathurst (see above) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

L.Cpl. Arthur Gears was an original member of the Battalion. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.

Pte. Charles William Hird (see 19^th December 1916) was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques suffering from myalgia; he would be discharged to duty after five days.

After treatment for scabies, Ptes. Herbert Newton (see 12^th March) and Ernest Townsend (see 11^th March), re-joined the Battalion from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques.

Brig Genl. Lambert (see 20^th March) had made arrangements for a trophy to be presented to the overall champions in the Brigade competitions. In a letter of 5^th March, he had enlisted the help of his wife, back in England, to arrange for a suitable trophy to be made, “We are having a lot of competitions in athletic and other exercises and I have promised to give a shield of some sort. What I want to get is a silver salver set into a round wooden shield which could easily be made for it. The salver would perhaps be interesting afterwards and could be used but at present it wants to have some means of hanging it up as a shield for the winners and I think it could easily have a round wooden platter made into which the feet could be temporarily screwed so as to be removable at will. I think you should be able to get one for about £10. It need not be very large as we cannot carry big things about. I have drawn a picture of what I mean. It would have to have some inscriptions such as I have put on it. The centre would be a diamond with ‘69’ in the middle. I daresay you could get it done in Cheltenham quite well but I want it as soon as possible as the competitions will be held here and we shall not have long I suppose. … I don’t mind if it costs more than £10 but I think that ought to produce a decent one”.

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Ptes. James Bradley (18319) (see 14^th December 1916) and Joseph Walton (see 29^th July 1916), who had been in England since 1916, were posted back to France. However, they would not re-join 10DWR, but would instead to posted to 2DWR.

Pte. Ferrand Wilkinson (see 31^st December 1916), who had had his right leg amputated whilst at the St. John VAD Hospital in Cheltenham having suffered severe wounds to his right arm and leg in October 1916, was transferred to the King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London.

At home in Halifax, Eric Nicholl, the two year-old son of Pte. Arthur Nicholl (see 11^th January) died from ‘broncho-pneumonia and convulsions’.

Wednesday 21st March 1917

Houtkerque

Starting out at 9.39am on another cold and windy day, the Battalion completed their march back towards the front line, covering eight miles, via Watou and Sint Jan ter Biezen, before arriving near Proven, one and a half miles north-west of Poperinghe, at ‘L Camp’. This was commonly known by the rather more exotic name of ‘Earl’s Court Kaffir Village’. The Battalion took over from 13DLI and found the camp in a very bad state. In the following days much work would be done on improving conditions as well as further training, with an emphasis on bayonet fighting and the use of the Lewis gun.

Capt. Edgar Stanton (see 16^th March) reported for duty with the Battalion. It would appear that he took over command of ‘D’ Company which had previously been commanded by Lt. John Edward Lennard Payne (see 11^th March) who had temporarily been promoted Captain whilst commanding the Company two months earlier, but had recently reverted to Lieutenant.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 2^nd March), who had been under treatment for gonorrhoea at no.51 General Hospital at Etaples, was posted to no.34 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples; it was noted in his record that, in accordance with Army regulations, he would not be paid for the period from 14^th February to 21^st March on account of his having been hospitalised due to venereal disease.

Pte. Joseph Clayton (see 5^th October), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, died at Nuns Lane School, Gateshead; his cause of death was stated to have been ‘valvular disease of the heart’. He would be buried at St. Andrew’s and Jesmond Cemetery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.


Pte. John Dalby (see 28^th February), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported as ‘absent from final leave at 11.55pm’; he would not report back until 9.30pm on 26^th March and would be ordered to forfeit six days’ pay and to undertake 144 hours of extra duties.

Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 18^th January), currently serving with 3DWR at North Shields, withdrew his application for a permanent commission in the Indian Army.

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira

Pte. George Hirst (see 5^th March) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class W and released to take up munitions work as a furnace man at Low Moor Ironworks in Bradford.

A payment of £7 13s 10d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl William Rawnsley, MM (see 30^th November 1916); the payment would go to his father, Kendal.

Tuesday 20th March 1917

Bollezeele

The weather again turned much colder as the Battalion marched on, starting at 8.41am and covering thirteen miles, via Zeggers Cappel, Wormhoudt and Herzeele, to Houtkerque. Brig Genl. Lambert (see 18^th March), noted that, Although “the day was very stormy and unpleasant … we got through our march before the rain came to its worst”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Pte. William Brooke (see 8^th March), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported absent; he would ‘report himself to the Military Doctor at Hexham’ two days’ later. He would be admonished but would suffer no further punishment.

The War Office wrote to the mother of 2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 9^th October 1916), who had been officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the action at Munster Alley in July 1916, asking if she had received any further news about her son. 

2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards

A payment of £1 12s 3d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. William Hemp (see 14^th November 1916); the payment would go to his mother, Miriam.

Monday 19th March 1917

Eperlecques

On a morning marked by a very cold wind, the Battalion marched off at 8.24am and covered the ten miles back to Bollezeele, via Ganspette, Watten Bridge and Wulverdinghe.

Pte. James Hotchkiss (see 11^th February) was briefly admitted to hospital (cause unknown) but would be discharged to duty next day.

Pte. Edward Grayshon (see 20^th December 1916) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) ‘general’.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 5^th March), who had been in England since being wounded on the Somme in July and was currently serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, was again reported absent without leave.

Pte. James Thomas Sagar (see 1^st November 1916), who was serving at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, having been posted back to England, was reported absent without leave. He would return to duty on 21^st and would be sentenced to seven days confined to barracks and forfeit three days’ pay.

Maj. Stephen Minchin Mercer, ASC (see 21^st May 1915), who had taken a prominent role in raising recruits in the Craven area in the Autumn of 1914, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at York and was declared unfit for service (reason unknown) for a period of four weeks.

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Frederick Blackwell (see 2^nd February 1917), who had died of wounds in August 1916; his widow, Daisy, was awarded 10s. per week.

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Bertram Stanley Temperton (see 29^th July 1916) who had been killed in action in July 1916; his widow, Alice, was awarded 10s. per week.

Official notice was issued by the War Office to the families of Ptes. William Mitchell (see 6^th March) and Arthur Moore (see 5^th July 1916), both of whom had been reported missing in action near Contalmaison on 5^th July 1916, that their sons would now be considered as having died on or since that date.

Pte. William Mitchell

Sunday 18th March 1917

Eperlecques

The Spring weather continued and the Battalion remained in billets, preparing for the forthcoming move.

In a letter home to his wife Brig Genl. Lambert (see 1^st March) asked her to make arrangements to send a photograph to Lt. William Andrew Leo Kerridge (see 4^th January), who had been back in England since being gassed in July 1916. “Did I ever ask you to send one of the photographs of our group taken after Contalmaison (with the trophies) to a Lt. Kerridge Esq., The Marine Boarding House, Ventnor, Isle of Wight? He wrote to ask for one and I told him I would have one sent. There are still some in a Kodak envelope in the top small drawer of my chest of drawers I think. He was my Brigade Bomb Officer but was gassed and will not be fit again for a long time. As a matter of fact he had some gastric complaint which has troubled him most”.

The photograph to be sent to Lt. Kerridge shows him standing second from right, with Brig. Genl. Lambert seated centre

Image by kind permission of Juliet Lambert

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Saturday 17th March 1917

Eperlecques

A beautiful Spring day, with some eleven hours of sunshine, although with a strong wind at times. The officers of the Battalion played the officers of 11^th West Yorks at rugby, winning by 19-0.

Pte. Nathaniel Bather (see 16^th January) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from diarrhoea.

2Lts. Leopold Henry Burrow and Vincent Edwards (see 17^th March) who had arrived in France ten days earlier, now reported for duty with the Battalion.

Pte. Charlie Long also reported for duty; he had arrived in France on 5^th March and had originally been due to join 9DWR but had, instead, been re-posted to 10DWR. He was a 23 year-old carter from Thornton, Bradford and had worked for the Thornton Co-Operative Society.

Pte. Francis John Bottomley (see 2^nd March), who had only been with the Battalion for three weeks before being admitted to 10^th Stationary Hospital at St. Omer, suffering from paralysis of his left forearm, was evacuated to England onboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth.


Pte. James Edward Simpson (see 17^th September), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion in Gateshead, was reported for ‘gambling in the lines’; he was ordered to forfeit three days’ pay.

Pte. George Hayes (see 12^th December 1916) was posted from the Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News carried a report of the recent wounding of Cpl. James Shackleton MM (see 9^th March); there was also confirmation of the death in action of Cpl. Henry Feather, the younger brother of Pte. Joe Feather (see 27^th February):

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Corporal James Shackleton, West Riding Regiment, who formerly resided at 64 Catherine Street, Keighley, has been admitted to a Glasgow hospital suffering from wounds in the back and arm. He joined the forces in September 1914. In the latter part of 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal. Before the war he was employed by Messrs. A. Waterhouse & Son, drapers, South Street, Keighley.

YOUNG CORPORAL’S DEATH IN ACTION

Mr. Robert Feather, of Fern Bank, Utley, the well-known Keighley auctioneer, has received news that one of his four soldier sons, Corporal H. Feather (21), West Yorkshire Regiment, has been killed in action. A smart and gentlemanly young fellow he enlisted shortly after the outbreak of the war and before being drafted to the front on which he met his death was serving in Egypt. Before the war he was learning the spinning business at the mill of Mr. Robert Calverley, Halifax Road, Keighley. The first intimation Mr. Feather received of his son’s death was contained in a sympathetic letter dated March 3 from Corporal Clifford Smith (Keighley). Corporal Smith wrote: “Your son was first reported missing and I waited until a thorough search had been made, and I have been making exhaustive enquiries. Today I have seen the man who found the body this morning, and he informs me that Harry was killed by an explosive bullet and death must have been instantaneous. Our chaplain buried him today along with his chums of our old section, Sergeant Little and Corporal Groves”.

Writing to Mr. Feather on March 9^th the chaplain (the Rev. John G. Thornton) said: “We are deeply grieved to lose one who has been with the Battalion so long, and who won the respect and confidence of all who worked with him. Your grief, however, is deeper still, I feel so sorry for you. Your son’s life seems cut off so short. The cost of this war falls heavily upon you yet in all your sorrow you will feel proud that your son did his duty nobly and bravely. He had answered voluntarily the call of his country in her hour of need. Even though she called him to die, he did not hesitate. If a new nation, with purer ideas and fresher life, arises out of this war, then your son’s precious blood will not have been spilt in vain. We must pray for this and may God help you bravely to bear this tremendous demand upon your home”. Mr. and Mrs. Feather have received numerous letters of sympathy, among then being from Mr. T.P. Watson, principal of the Trade and Grammar school, at which school the deceased soldier was formerly a pupil; and one from Mr. Robert Calverley, on behalf of himself and the workpeople at Hope Mills, Keighley. Corporal Feather had only just passed his twenty-first birthday.

 

Cpl. James Shackleton MM

Friday 16th March 1917

Eperlecques

Another very mild day. The Battalion worked in the vicinity of their billets. Orders were received at Brigade to prepare for a move back towards the front line.

L.Cpl. William Foulds (see 6^th January) was promoted Corporal.

Only two days after being disciplined for talking on parade, Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 14^th March) repeated his offence; he was again reported by Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 14^th March); this being his third offence in less than two weeks, his punishment was sanctioned by Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 4^th March), who authorised 14 days Field Punishment no.2.

CSM Albert Edgar Palmer (see 3rd March) completed a new form of will in his army paybook, leaving all his property and effects to his mother, Emma.

Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 4^th March) re-joined the Battalion after ten days’ treatment at 10^th Stationary Hospital at St. Omer; he had been suffering from inflammation of his right knee.

Pte. Ernest Mudd (see 27^th February) re-joined the Battalion from 70^th Field Ambulance; he had been suffering from inflammation to his right leg.

Pte. Arnold Robson (see 27^th February) re-joined the Battalion from 23^rd Division Rest Station, following treatment for a mild case of ‘trench foot’. 

Sgt. John Thomas Matthews (see 29^th January) was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from dental caries; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after 12 days.

Pte. Thomas Bownass (see 27^th October 1916), who had joined 10DWR in July 1916, was posted back to England; he was suffering from paresis (weakness or partial paralysis) of the right hand.

After spending seven weeks under treatment for impetigo, Pte. Fred Riddiough (see 5^th March) re-joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Herbert Greenwood Audsley (see 6^th November) returned to England on ten days’ leave from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Capt. Edgar Stanton arrived in France en route to join 10DWR. It has not yet been possible to make a full identification of this officer, but something is known of his recent military history. He had been commissioned Lieutenant to serve with 10^th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment on 16^th October 1914 and had then been transferred, as temporary Captain, to 9DWR on 10^th July 1915 and had gone out to France with the Battalion five days later. He had relinquished his commission on grounds of ill health with effect from 19^th April 1916, but had been re-appointed Captain on 29^th July 1916, to serve with the Training Reserve. On 19^th February 1917 he had been transferred out of the Training Reserve and posted to 10DWR.

2Lt. John Redington (see 30^h November 1916), who had previously been instructed to relinquish his commission on grounds of continuing ill health, was now declared fit to keep his commission, though only to take up office work on behalf of the Army. He was the younger brother of Capt. Frank Redington MC (see 13^th March); both men had previously served as officers with 10DWR.

Acting L.Cpl. John Widdup, younger brother of 2Lt. Harry Widdup (see 14^th March), serving with 322^nd Quarrying Company, Royal Engineers, was confirmed in his rank on a permanent basis. He embarked for France the following day.

Walter Ralph was called up for military service under the terms of the Military Service Acts, 1916 and posted to the York and Lancaster Regiment Depot for training; he was the elder brother of Pte. Kit Ralph (see 3^rd November 1916) who had been killed at Le Sars. Walter was 29 years old and married with two children; he had worked as a farm labourer before being called up.

 

Pte. Kit Ralph

A pension award was made in respect of the late A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King (see 8^th January), who had died of wounds in August 1916; his widow, Ada, was awarded £1 5s. 5d. per week for herself and their two children.

A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King
Image by kind permission of Clair Almond