Wednesday 19th April 1916

Billets at Ourton

The day was miserably wet, with a steady drizzle falling throughout.  At 7.45 am the Battalion was formed up and, after taking breakfast at 8am, began a 16 mile march to Beaumetz-les-Aires, via Pernes, Sains and Fiefs. Dinner, comprising of bread and bully beef rations, was taken en route at 12 noon and, despite the constant rain, the march was completed by 2.30 pm. It was reported that, “the men marched well. There were 12 cases of men who were unable to keep the pace with the Btn. and were consequently allowed to place their packs on the 1^st Line Transport. These cases were investigated by the Medical Officer in charge and were found to be genuine”.

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 10^th April), suffering from ‘dental caries’ was transferred from 22^nd Casualty Clearing Station to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques.

Pte. George Albert Wright (see 20^th March) was discharged from 4^th General Hospital at Camiers and posted to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. James Pickering (see 22^nd July 1915) was posted back to England, suffering from haemmerhoids; on arrival in England he would be admitted to the V.A.D. Hospital in Cheltenham.

Pte. Edwin Everingham Ison arrived in France en route to join 1^st Battalion West Yorkshires; he would later be commissioned and serve with Tunstill’s Company. Ison was the eldest of seven children of William and Lucy Ison; the couple were natives of Leeds and William had worked for many years as a travelling salesman in the leather trade. Edwin had enlisted on 28^th June 1915, declaring himself to be aged 19 years and 4 months; in actual fact he had been born on 28^th February 1898, and thus had added two years to his age in order to be accepted for service. A month later he joined 19^th West Yorkshires, with whom he had remained in training until being posted to 1^st Battalion for overseas service.

Edwin Everingham Ison, pictured as a commissioned officer with 10DWR
(Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

Sgt. Herbert Henry Hoddinott (see 7^th September 1915), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., appeared before an Army Medical Board. The Board would recommend that he should be discharged as no longer physically fit for service due to ‘traumatic osteo arthritis’. The Board found that: “Sustained injury Dec. 1915 at Brocton Camp. Slipped in a hole and twisted his knee; knee subsequently swelling. There is some swelling of the right knee joint; the synovial membrane being thickened. Considerable grating felt on moving the joint. Walks at times with a slight limp. Result of ordinary military service; slipped and fell while doing duty as Battalion Orderly Sergeant. Duration 6 months; prevents one quarter”. A Military Court of Inquiry held a week later would find that, “Sergeant on duty and in no way to blame. The whole of the hospital stoppages remitted”.

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