Monday 8th January 1917

Billets in the Hospice and Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Ypres and at Zillebeke Bund

The German shelling of Ypres intensified again and a number of shells fell in and around the Hospice, but without causing any casualties in the Battalion.

Pte. Thomas Arthur Sturdy was promoted Lance Corporal. He had enlisted under the Derby Scheme in November 1915, while working as a dyers labourer. He was a married man (he had married Annie Elizabeth Lee in 1907), but had no children. He had been called up in April 1916 and had been posted to 10DWR on 7^th September 1916.

Pte. John Onion (see 24^th December 1916), who had been under treatment for ‘trench foot’ while serving in France with 2DWR, was transferred from 1^st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Elijah Sudworth (see 31^st December), who had been admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from suspected pneumonia ten days previously, was transferred to No.3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, with a diagnosis of influenza.

Pte. Harry Clark (see 20^th December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France, but would join 2DWR rather than re-joining 10DWR.

2Lt. John William Pontefract (see 7^th January) reported for duty with 10DWR.

At home in Preston Sarah Milner died from pneumonia; she was the mother of Pte. Arthur Milner (see 6^th January).

Following three weeks leave in England, Pte. Conrad Anderson (see 19^th December 1916), previously serving with 26^th Royal Fusiliers, reported for duty at no.17 Officer Cadet Battalion at Kinmel, near Rhyl. Once commissioned he would serve with 10DWR.

A payment of £2 12s 9d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King (see 31^st August 1916), who had died of wounds in August 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Ada. 

A/Sgt. Lewis Thomas King, pictured with his wife and children.

Image by kind permission of Clair Almond