Monday 17th January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Another quiet day in good weather, enlivened only by an incident in the early afternoon when a British aeroplane suffering engine trouble made an unscheduled landing just a few hundred yards from the billets. 

Official notification was sent, by telegram, to the parents of 2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover that their son was missing (see 13^th January). Glover’s father immediately wrote back confirming receipt of the message and stating that, “He (referring to himself in the third person) anxiously awaits further information & details which he hopes you may able to send at an early date”.

2Lt. Samuel Lawrence Glover

Within days the family received a letter from Capt. Herbert Carpenter (see 5th September), commanding ‘B’ Company, informing that he believed that their son had indeed been killed, although it had not been possible to recover his body. He went on to say that, "Your son was a magnificent young officer, keen on his work and brave to a fault. The men of his platoon would have followed him anywhere; all are most upset at losing so good a friend and soldier. I should like to express the deep sorrow I and the other officers of ‘B' Company feel on losing a comrade." Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfrid L. Henderson (see 21st November 1915), also wrote: "Your sorrow is shared by all his brother officers and men. We have lost a good comrade. He was a fine manly fellow, full of pluck and will be much missed in the battalion. Both officers and men wish me to express to you their deep sympathy." At some point Glover’s remaining effects which he had left behind when he went on patrol, were forwarded to his family; they comprised of “2 purses, letter, pocket book, 2 photographs”.

Capt. Carpenter, photographed in England in May 1915 (photograph by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

A payment of £3 8s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Arthur France (see 7^th November 1915), who had died of wounds in November 1915; the payment would go to his mother, Emma. 

Pte. George Arthur France

A payment of £7 6s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Norman Lancelot Young (see 10^th November 1915), who had been killed in action in November 1915; the payment would go to his mother, Elizabeth.

Pte. Norman Lancelot Young