Tuesday 29th August 1916

Front line trenches east of Ploegsteert Wood

The weather took a marked turn for the worse, with heavy rain for much of the day. It was reported that, “Trenches became bad as a result and collapsed in places”. Faced with similar problems, the Germans had been “according to report … working particularly hard improving his trenches, he has also become most persistent in rifle and machine gun fire during late night and early morning”. It had been intended to launch a gas attack against the German lines at 1.30am on the morning of the 30^th, to coincide with raiding parties attacking the German lines, but these operations were postponed owing to a change in the wind direction.

Cpl. Charles Marsden (see 1^st August) was promoted Acting Pioneer Sergeant.

Pte. John Edward Smith was appointed Acting Corporal; he had been an original member of the Battalion and had enlisted in Bradford in September 1914. He had enlisted aged 31 and working as a labourer; he was married but had no children.

After seven weeks in hospital L.Sgt. John Bargh (see 7^th July) (he had lost his acting rank of sergeant being no longer on active service), was discharged from Edinburgh War Hospital. He would have a period of furlough before reporting to the Regimental Depot..

Enquries continued regarding 2Lt Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 23^rd August) who was officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the attack on Munster Alley. A statement was taken, at 5^th General Hospital, Rouen, from Pte. George Slater (see 29^th July), who had been a member of ‘B’ Company, but not in Brinsley-Richards’ platoon. Slater said simply, “Mr. Richards belonged to B Company, 8 Platoon. I believe he was killed but cannot give any details. I was told that he was killed by Pte. Bell of No.6 Platoon”. 

2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 24^th August), having been absent without leave from the Regimental Depot at Halifax for the previous five days, now returned to duty. On the same day, Darwin’s brother, Trooper Claude Darwin (see 27^th August), serving with 11^th Australian Light Horse in Egypt, who had been taken ill two days earlier was transferred from 53^rd Welsh Field Ambulance to 24^th Stationary Hospital. 

The family of Pte. James Edward Haley (see 17^th July), who had been taken prisoner on 29^th July, received a letter from their son, confirming that he was being held at a prison camp in Germany.