Tuesday 15th August 1916

Billets in Metrien

Over the next three days at Metrien the Battalion underwent some light training and all the men had the opportunity to have a bath and were issued with clean clothing. There were also the usual equipment checks but, with an eye to planned future operations, particular attention was paid to preparations for the use of gas and it was specifically ordered that officers should “ensure that all ranks possess at least one serviceable gas helmet until the full complement is made up”. 


Pte. Charlie Wilman (see 29^th July), who had been wounded on 29^th July, was transferred from 6^th General Hospital at Rouen to 2^nd Convalescent Depot also at Rouen.

Pte. Walter Charlesworth (see 16^th July) was discharged from St. John’s Hospital in Southport and posted to 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs. Pte. Sam Tinkler (see 15^th July) was discharged from the convalescent hospital in Eastbourne where he had spent the last month, and was also posted to 11DWR.

Pte. Sam Tinkler

Enquiries began to be conducted regarding 2Lt Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 29^th July) who was officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the attack on Munster Alley. A statement was taken from Pte. Tom Swales (see 29^th July) of ‘A’ (Tunstill’s) Company, who had himself been wounded in the same action. Swales was being treated at no.11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, and he gave his understanding of events:

“There was a Mr. Richards in the 10^th Battalion who was 2^nd in command of B Company. We went out from our trenches near Albert (sic.) on the night of the 30^th July (sic.) to make an attack on Contalmaison (sic.). It was just before midnight when we went over the top and while we were approaching the village, Mr. Richards was killed by machine gun fire. We afterwards held that ground, and though I never heard myself of his body being brought in, I think he must have been buried by our own men. I understand that in private life he was a novelist (sic.). He had a slightly deformed shoulder and stood 5ft. 7 or 8” (on enlistment, Brinsley-Richards’ height had been recorded as 5ft. 6 ½”).

The inaccuracies in Swales’ account are entirely understandable given the fierce fighting in which the Battalion had been involved over the previous month. Subsequent reports, taken from other witnesses often contain similar inaccuracies and often contradict each other.

 

2Lt. Roland Wyndham Brinsley-Richards

 

Pte. Tom Swales