Thursday 30th November 1916

Front line trenches near Zouave Wood (I.18.a.5.7. to I.18.c.4.7)

On another dull and misty day much work was carried out to improve the state of the trenches and wire. The day was generally quiet, although the Divisional Trench Mortar Battery reported firing 22 rounds in retaliation for some German shelling.

L.Cpl. William Rawnsley, (see 20^th November), who had been wounded during the trench raid on 20^th November, died of wounds and was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He was 21 years old and originally from Bradford. He had been awarded the Miiltary Medal for his courageous actions at Le Sars in October.

CQMS Andrew Hermiston (see 27^th October) was discharged from Wharncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead.

2Lt. John Redington (see 28^th November), was instructed by the War Office to relinquish his commission on grounds of continuing ill health.

More than fourteen months after his death, a payment of the amount outstanding in pay and allowances was finally made to the family of Pte. Willie Burley (see 22^nd October 1915) who had been one of the first of Tunstill’s Company to have been killed. It seems that the delay most likely arose due to the complications in Burley’s family, both parents having died. In the end the payment was divided in equal shares of 15s 8d. to each of six sisters (Louisa Burley, Elizabeth Louisa Chase, Lily Gadsly, Ellen Price, Louisa Rogers and Rose Newman).

69^th Brigade War Diary recorded casualties for the Brigade for the month of November:

Killed                                        6 other ranks

Accidentally killed                 0

Died of wounds                     1 other rank

Wounded                               1 officer and 32 other ranks

Accidentally wounded         2 other ranks

Missing                                    1 other rank

10DWR’s casualties were recorded as:

Killed                                       0

Accidentally killed                0

Died of wounds                     0

Wounded                               1 officer (Millward) and 14 other ranks

Accidentally wounded         0

Missing                                   0

These official casualty figures do not take account of the deaths L.Cpl Hemp (see 13^th November), Pte. Waddington (see 14^th November) or L.Cpl. Rawnsley (see above), all of whom had been wounded but had died locally whilst receiving medical care.

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France were now:

Killed                                       142

Accidentally killed                     4

Died of wounds                         7

Wounded                               717

Accidentally wounded           47

Missing                                   116