Saturday 18th November 1916

Brigade Reserve, west of Zillebeke Bund

Another cold, frosty and quiet day, with small working parties again provided for the Royal Engineers.

Acting Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 30^th July) departed to England on a one-week leave.

Pte. Harold Schofield Hanson (see 14^th November) who had been treated at no.8 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux having been wounded four days earlier, was evacuated to England for further treatment. He travelled onboard the hospital ship ‘Western Australia’ and on arrival in England was admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

Ptes. Richard Butler (see 21^st October), Thomas Delaney (see 8^th November) and Thomas Robinson (16490) MM (see 30^th September) were posted back to France; they were originally due to join 8DWR, but would instead be re-posted and re-join 10DWR on 6^th December. Also posted to France as part of the same draft was Pte. Walter Appleby; he would also join 10DWR. He was a 20 year-old tinsmith’s labourer from Keighley. He had joined 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion in July 1913 and had been posted to France in November 1914, joining 2DWR. He had been evacuated to England in January 1915, suffering from frostbitten feet, and had remained in England until June 1915 when he had been posted to 2DWR. He had then been wounded (details unknown) on 1^st July 1916 and had been evacuated to England, being treated in hospital before being posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion. It seems likely that Pte. Arthur Mitchell was also among this draft. He had originally served with 9DWR and had been wounded on the Somme in July 1916 and evacuated to England. He was 25 years old and had worked as woollen piecer; he had married Martha Hannah Ashworth shortly before he had been first posted to France in July 1915 and she was pregnant with their first child. 

Pte. Thomas Robinson, seated.

Image by kind permission of Gary Robinson

Pte. Walter Appleby

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

Having the previous day been passed fit for light duty Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 17^th November) reported for duty with 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Bertie Constantine (see 26^th October), who was in England having been wounded on 29^th July, was posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead.

The War Office wrote to Capt. William Norman Town (see 22^nd October), who was currently on three months sick leave, asking that he supply them with confirmation of his current address, in preparation for his next Medical Board which was due to be held in the New Year.

A payment of £4 11s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Cyril Clarkson Hoyle (see 29^th July), who had been killed in the actions around Munster Alley in July. The payment would go to his father, John.

The War Office wrote to Messrs. Martineau & Reid, solicitors, acting for the family of the late Lt. Harry Harris (see 9^th November) who had been killed at Le Sars, to confirm that all Harris’ effects had now been sent to his father, Samuel Harris, 5 Hatton Gardens, London.