Thursday 20th July 1916

Molliens-au-Bois

Rest and training continued.

Staff at Frensham Hospital reported a rapid deterioration in the condition of Pte. Thomas Rigby (see 10^th July) who had been one of the Battalion’s stretcher-bearers and had suffered shrapnel wounds to his left arm in the advance on Contalmaison. Rigby had previously been reported as making good progress and had been visited by his parents, “who found him in capital spirits, in spite of the fact that he had undergone a couple of operations”.

Pte. Thomas Rigby

Pte. Robert Moody (see 8^th July), who was under treatment at King George’s Hospital, Stamford Street, London, having been evacuated to England suffering from shellshock, appeared before an Army Medical Board. The Board reported: “Origin 7.7.16 France. He has an old trephine wound in left parietal region with absence of bone (7 years old). During a bombardment he was much shaken and unable to keep himself still. He was consequently sent back, labelled as shellshock. Previous to this he had been 12 months in trenches. Is rather nervous, has tremors of hands and sweating of hands and feet and complains of headaches. Otherwise he is cheerful and well. Not the result of, but aggravated by, service. Permanent. Prevents ½ for 6 months”.

The War Office formally rejected an appeal by 2Lt. William Neville Dawson (see 10^th July) against their recent decision that he should relinquish his commission:

“I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10^th instant, and to inform you that the decision already communicated to you must be adhered to. I am to add that as the decision was based on reports of inefficiency, you cannot be considered for Extra Regimental employment, and your request for notice of relinquishing to be worded “on account of ill-health” cannot be acceded to.”

Pte. Thomas Bulcock (see 15^th June), who had been in England for the previous five weeks, was posted to 11DWr at Brocton Camp, Staffs..

The funeral took place at the parish church, Thames Ditton, of Marion Carpenter; she had been the eldest sister of Capt. Herbert Montagu Soames Carpenter (see 19^th July), who had been killed in action on 5^th July. Marion had, on 15^th July, “died from shock at her brother’s death”.

Capt. H.M.S. Carpenter

(Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton)