Sunday 19th September 1915

I was fascinated by the comment posted on 17th and would love to know more, but am unable to respond directly to the comment. Could I ask the contributor if they would be prepared to contact me via b.smith@theskiptonacademy.co.uk in order that we might exchange more information? Thanks.

Front line trenches near Bois Grenier.

The Battalion War Diary described the day: “Situation normal, all quiet except for a few snipers. Our Artillery were registering most of the day & the Germans retaliated on our trenches. Several hostile aeroplanes passed over during the day & much anti-aircraft gun ammunition was wasted on them. None were hit. The enemy sniping decreased somewhat & one or two Coys reported that they had knocked them out. At night the Germans shouted across to our line, but what they said was hardly audible as we were 400 yards from their trenches”.

The British artillery activity was in preparation for the opening of the Battle of Loos, which was to be launched on 25^th September.

Pte. Harry Waller (see 13^th September) wrote to his family, “We are now in the trenches but I cannot tell you whereabouts, except that we are in the safest part of the line. There has been no real fighting here for months. The Germans are 400 yards away and likely to stop there. I am on the reserve gun and three of us live in a dug out about 50 yards behind the firing line. We are safe from anything except big shells, and they are conspicuous by their absence. Just now, their artillery and ours are exchanging visiting cards. We can hear them whistling overhead, but they are not dropping anywhere near”.

Pte. Thomas Butler (see 24^th July) was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Frank Swindlehurst (see 5^th September) was discharged from 4^th Stationery Hospital at Arques and posted to one of the Base Depots (details unknown) en route to re-joining the Battalion; he had been suffering from scabies.