Saturday 22nd January 1916

Divisional reserve billets in Hallobeau.

Orders were received that 69^th Brigade was to return to the front line, replacing 24^th Brigade in the right (southern) section of the Bois Grenier sector. Front line positions were to be occupied initially by 8^th and 9^th Yorkshires, with 11^th West Yorks and 10DWR in Brigade reserve.

Pte. Thomas Warburton joined the Battalion; he had enlisted in March 1915 and trained with 3DWR in North Shileds before arriving in France three weeks previously. On arrival he had been admitted to hospital (cause unknown). He was a 25 year-old collier from Oldham, and was married, with one son.

J.B. Priestley, in a letter to his family, referred to the death of L.Cpl Herbert Waddington (see 13^th January) which had occurred whilst Priestley himself had been away from the Battalion having suffered a minor wound from the explosion of a rifle grenade: “By some strange irony of fate, each time I have been away from the Battalion, I have lost a very dear friend. First it was Ellis (Sgt. Irvine Ellis, for whom see 21^st January) and now it seems that Waddington (whom you met at the station) is either dead or wounded in the hands of the Germans. I am feeling rather lonely these days, and the loss of these chums has a greater effect on me than the experiences I go through personally”

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 5^th September), who had left 10DWR in September 1915, was transferred from the Regimental Depot to join 11^th Battalion, based at Brocton Camp. Cannock Chase, Staffs.