Monday 24th April 1916

Beaumetz-les-Aires

The weather remained fine and the Battalion training programme continued; on this occasion the whole Battalion trained together.

Pte. Charles Horace Golding (see 12th March) was admitted to 18^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from rheumatic fever; he would be transferred, four days later, to 12^th General Hospital at Rouen.

Pte. James Broadbent (see 23^rd March), who had been serving at 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples for the previous month, was admitted to 24^th General Hospital, also at Etaples, for assessment of the in jury to his right wrist and hand. Three days later he would be evacuated to England onboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen; on arrival he would be admitted to the Great Northern Hospital in London.

John Hitchin of Long Preston, the father of John Henry Hitchin (see 22^nd April) travelled to London and visited his son at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank, London. Hitchin snr. secured a promise from his son, who had been absent without leave since 29^th December 1915, that he would write to the authorities and inform them of his whereabouts and give a full account of events.

L.Cpl Fred Helliwell Baume (see 23^rd March), who had previously served with 18^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, reported to begin his officer training with no.1 Officer Cadet Battalion at Denham, following one months’ leave; he would later join 10DWR.

Back home in England, Alice Holmes, wife of L.Cpl. Harry Holmes (see 14^th January) gave birth to the couple’s second child; the boy would be named George.