Saturday 5th August 1916

Bivouac near Scots Redoubt

There was a continuation of the artillery duels of the last few days and it was noted that “a good many” German shells had struck Albert.

Around noon ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies re-joined the remainder of the Battalion at Scots Redoubt and in the early evening the whole Battalion moved forward the short distance north-east to Peake Wood to relieve 9^th Yorkshires. Despite continuing artillery exchanges, this move was effected without casualties.

Cpl. John William Wardman (see 16^th July) who had been suffering from influenza, re-joined the Battalion.

Lt. George Reginald Charles Heale (MC see 29^th July) reported sick, suffering from boils on the back of the neck; he was treated locally in the first instance and it was soon reported that his condition had improved.

Lt. George Reginald Charles Heale, MC

Pte. Michael Hopkins (see 3^rd February), serving with 9DWR, was posted back to England, having suffered wounds to his left arm in recent actions (details unknown).

Pte. Heaton Whitaker (see 3^rd April), who was serving with 11DWR having been in England since being wounded in April, was accidentally drowned. The circumstances of his death would be described to his family by Lt. James Watson Paterson (see below), who was in temporary charge of Pte. Whitaker’s company when the accident occurred: “It is with very sincere regret that I have to inform you of the death by drowning of your son, Private Whitaker. It appears that he went with some of his chums yesterday afternoon to bathe in a river near here, and that he got entangled in the weeds in the river bed and was drowned before any assistance could be given him. The coroner’s inquest will be held tomorrow or Tuesday morning, after which arrangements can be made for the burial. He can be buried here or the body sent home to you, just as you prefer. In case you decide on the latter course, the officers and men will bear the expense of sending the body to you. On behalf of the commanding officer and men of ‘D’ Company, I would like to express the sincere sympathy which goes out to you at this time of great bereavement. The deceased will be missed amongst us, and we mourn the death of one or our most beloved comrades.” The family would also receive a letter from Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see below), commander of ‘D’ Company: “I was very sorry indeed upon returning to camp last Sunday night to hear that your boy, Private Whitaker, of this company, had been drowned whilst bathing … He was a special friend of mine in the company, and I should like you to know that there are others who will miss his cheery nature besides his close relations. He had quite a charm of his own, and though he had been here only a comparatively short time he entered into the spirit of everything and was very soon a general favourite.” Pte. Whitaker’ body would indeed be returned home and he would be buried at Stanbury Cemetery, near Haworth.

Pte. Heaton Whitaker

Images and additional information by kind permission of Andy Wade and 'MenofWorth'

Lt. James Watson Paterson would later serve with 10DWR. Born in Edinburgh in 1889, he was the son of Thomas Watson Paterson, a teacher. He had joined the Scots Guards following the outbreak of war and had been posted to France on 25^th May 1915 with 2^nd Battalion, but whad been discharged on appointment to a temporary commission with 11DWR on 23^rd July 1915. He had been promoted Temporary Lieutenant with effect from 1^st May 1916 and would be promoted Temporary Captain from 1^st September 1916. Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke would also later serve with 10DWR. He was born in 1887, in Camberwell, the son of German civil engineer Hans Roderich Leopold Reincke and Annie Sophia Reincke (née Wattenbach), of London. He was educated at Dulwich College Preparatory School and Dulwich College itself. He was in Egypt on the outbreak of war in 1914, but had immediately returned to Britain, being commissioned into the Dukes. Reincke was then employed with 11^th Battalion in the instruction and training of troops.

Following seven weeks’ treatment for neurasthenia, Pte. Eli Bradley (see 18^th June) was discharged from the Military Hospital in York. He would be allowed three weeks’ leave before reporting to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead.

Lt. Thomas Beattie, (see 3^rd August) who had been wounded in the left shoulder by shrapnel two days earlier while serving with 9DWR was x-rayed and then operated on at no.2 Red Cross Hospital, Rouen; he would later serve with 10DWR.