Wednesday 17th January 1917

Billets in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres

The men of the two recent drafts were given intensive arms drill whilst upwards of 160 men were employed each night in working parties for the front line. There was a considerable snowfall, of around three inches, during the day.

Pte. George Edward Milner (see 19^th December 1916) was amitted to hospital, suffering from influenza; he was transferred via 69^th Field Ambulance and 17^th Casualty Clearing Station to 12^th Stationery Hospital at Boulogne.

Pte. Ernest Pearson (see 6^th March 1916) was granted one months’ leave to England. His original three year engagement from the Army Reserve had now expired but, under the terms of the Military Service Act, he was deemed to have re-enlisted.

The Slaidburn Parish Magazine recorded the provision of various items of clothing for local men serving at the front. The list included: “Mrs. Tunstill (for the Settle Company): 6 shirts, 12 pairs of socks, 8 pairs of mittens”. There was also specific mention for the two remaining Slaidburn recruits from among the six who had originally joined Tunstill’s Company in September 1914; Sgt. Charles Edgar Parker MM (see 20^th November 1916) was still serving with the Company but Pte. George Whitfield (see 17^th October 1916) had been posted to 1^st/7^th Durham Light Infantry, having recovered from wounds suffered at Le Sars in October 1916. Both men (along with a number of other local soldiers) received parcels comprising of “1 sweater, 1 muffler, 3 pairs of socks, 1 pair of mittens”.

Sgt. Charles Edward Parker MM (standing centre)

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Sydney Charles Ernest Farrance (see 10^th January) reported for duty with 3DWR based at North Shields.

A payment of £2 1s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Frank Horner (see 21^st August 1916), who had been killed in action in August 1916; the payment would go to his father, Robert.