Wednesday 29th December 1915

Divisional Reserve at Rue Dormoire.

The recent drier weather continued as the Battalion was moved forward the four miles into billets in empty houses in and around Rue Marle in close reserve to the Bois Grenier line. Billetting parties from each Company left at 1.30pm to take over billets and stores and the move for the rest of the Battalion began at 3.25 pm and was completed by 6 pm. Pte. Job Kayley (see 27^th November) told his family that “The people have just left them (the houses) but plenty are living close up to the front line and won’t shift”. 

Pte. Reginald Jerry Northin was awarded ten days’ Field Punishment no.2; the nature of his offence is unknown. He was a 21 year-old twister (working for Ripley’s) from West Bowling, Bradford and had enlisted in September 1914.

2Lt. John Henry Hitchin, who had been the first man to volunteer to join Tunstill’s Company, and who had subsequently been commissioned (see 24^th December 1914) was reported as absent without leave from 11^th Battalion West Riding Regiment, based at Brocton Camp. Cannock Chase, Staffs.

At home in Middlesbrough, May Hermiston, wife of CQMS Andrew Hermiston (see 4^th December) gave birth to the couple’s second child; the boy would be named Maurice.