Sunday 26th September 1915

Front line trenches near Bois Grenier.

Having served twelve days and nights in the trenches the men were now described as ‘completely worn out’.  Trench conditions had become increasingly difficult as the weather deteriorated and the men were covered from head to foot in mud. Fortunately, on the morning of 26 September a Brigade order was received to the effect that the Battalion would be relieved by 11th Battalion West Yorks. 

Pte. Harry Waller (see 25^th September) wrote to his family describing conditions, “The night before the attack (ie 24^th September) it began to rain and it kept it up till this morning when it cleared again but the trenches are in a horrible state: ankle deep and sometimes knee deep in mud and water. I am wet through from the knees downward and plastered with mud from head to foot. We are leaving the trenches tonight for a rest which we badly need, as we have not had above five hours’ sleep in the twenty-four since we came in. I am still feeling ‘as fit as a fiddle’ and have not had a scratch up to now. Give my regards to all in Todmorden”.

Pte. Harry Waller

The day passed quietly and a series of encouraging reports were received about the progress of the advance. Finally, at 7.30 pm the men began to make their way out of the trenches and towards their billets near Rue Marle, a mile and a half north-west of Bois Grenier. Despite the communication trenches being mired in mud (the War Diary of 11^th West Yorkshires stated: “Relief much hampered by mud in the trenches and bad roads to communication trench”), by 11.30 pm all men were clear of the trenches and all were settled in their billets soon after midnight. The billets comprised of small, purpose-built, huts, each of which housed twenty-four men.

Pte. James Leonard Bloomer (see 24^th September), who had been wounded two days previously, was evacuated to England from hospital at Camiers; on arrival in England he weould be admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich.

Pte. Albert Henry Nutter (see 21^st May), who was on leave while training with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs. and was shortly to join 10DWR, was married at Holy Trinity Church, Halifax, to Ethel Amps.

Pte. Albert Henry Nutter