Friday 23rd February 1917

Brigade Reserve at Zillebeke Bund and around Observatory Ridge (one and a half Companies at Stafford Street, in Sanctuary Wood (I.24.b.3.5); two platoons at the Redan, just north of Rudkin House; and the remaining two Companies to the north-west edge of Zillebeke Bund (I.21.a.1.5).

Working parties were again provided for the Royal Engineers. Another misty day.

Pte. John Ellis (see 17^th October 1916) was reported by Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 19^th January) for “not complying with an order, ie not bathing when ordered to do so; on the orders of Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne (see 19^th January) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

RSM John William Headings (see 23^rd January) was granted a temporary commission as Lieutenant on taking up the post of Quartermaster to the Battalion, replacing Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster (see 23^rd  January), who had been on sick leave in England since mid-November and had recently been declared unfit for further service.

RSM John William Headings (standing), with his brothers, James Lawrence and Henry George.

(Image by kind permission of Jill Monk)

Lt. Daniel William Paris Foster

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

A number of men who had arrived in France in early February and were originally to have been posted from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples to 2DWR were now re-posted and joined 10DWR. Pte. Septimus Chapman (see 2^nd February) was re-joining the battalion having been in England after being wounded in September 1915. L.Cpl. Christopher Clapham was 26 years old and from Guiseley, where he had worked as a spinner before enlisting in August 1914. He had been posted to 8DWR and had gone to Gallipoli in July 1915. He had then been taken ill in November, suffering from enteric fever and had been posted back to England in December 1915. In May 1916 he had been posted to 3DWR at North Shields and had remained there until returning to France.Pte. Willie Dracup was 21 years old and from Halifax. He had attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 while working for Messrs. Oldfield and Schofield, engine tool makers in Halifax. In February 1916 his employers had written to the the County Court in Halifax to explain that Dracup, “is still working for us because we gave the Town Clerk of Halifax all the information about this man and he told us that he must go on with his work until we had some communication from the War Office. We have not, as yet, received this communication, therefore the man is still working. He is a Driller and a very useful man for us. He is working on our night shift and we are engaged at our works in making machines for the National Shell Factory at Nottingham. We feel sure the man is doing good work for the war”. Despite his employer’s appeal, Dracup had been called up in July 1916 and had trained with 3DWR at North Shields. Whilst there he had several times been charged with minor indiscretions. Pte. Fred Wilson Fawcett was a 38 year-old labourer from Halifax; he was married with two children. Pte. Hartley Gibb was a 29 year-old weaver from Barnoldswick; he was married but had no children. Pte. Peter Herity was a 25 year-old woolcomber from Bradford. He had originally enlisted in August 1914 and had joined 8DWR. However, he had been discharged after three months’ service having been convicted of “striking a comrade and striking an NCO whilst in the execution of his duty”. He had then been called up in August 1916 and had spent three months with 3DWR at North Shields before deserting on 28^th November 1916. He had been apprehended on 21^st December and, following a court martial hearing in January 1917, had been sentenced to nine months’ detention. However, he had then been posted to France on 3^rd February. Pte. George Hirst was a 37 year-old dyer’s labourer from Bradford; he was married with two children. He had been called up in September 1916 and had trained with 3DWR. L.Cpl. Harold Howlett (see 20^th November 1916) was re-joining the Battalion having been wounded at Contalmaison in July 1916.  Pte. William Walker Jackson was a 21 year-old farmer’s son from Horton-in-Ribblesdale (born 31^st May 1895); he had trained as a signaller while with 3DWR. Pte. Herbert Crowther Kershaw was a 29 year-old warehouseman from Bradford; he was married with a seven-month old son.  Pte. Thomas Legg was a 27 year-old weaver from Todmorden; he was married but had no children. He had been called up in July 1916. Ptes. Jabez Wintersgill and Joe William Woodhouse also joined the Battalion; both had been called up in August 1916 and had trained with 3DWR. Wintersgill was a 19 year-old weaver from Earby. Woodhouse was a 20 year-old textile worker from Longwood near Huddersfield. It seems likely that he should have been part of the draft which had joined 10DWR on 16^th January, but his departure from England had been delayed because he had spent 27 days in hospital in December, being treated for boils.

Pte. Thomas Bulcock (see 4^th January), serving in France with 2DWR, was posted back to England (cause unknown).

A letter from the War Office reached 2Lt. Howard Thurston Hodgkinson (see 17^th February), who had been evacuated to England sick in October, instructing him to resign his commission on grounds of his continued ill health. Hodgkinson, from his home address at Broom Hall, Bidford on Avon, Warwickshire, immediately wrote in reply:

Sir

Re your letter received this morning. I should be much obliged for information on the following:

I. I should prefer, if possible, to remain in the Army for the duration of the war. Would it be possible to obtain a light duty occupation for that period?

II. Prior to the war I was a farmer by trade; is there anything I could assist with in regard to this?

III. I wish to claim for allowances during my sick leave and as I presume there is no depot for me now, can you supply me with the necessary forms?

IV. Do I receive a pension? If so, what amount, as this complaint was caused by the trenches?

V. Can you give me any idea of the time which will be required to send me definite answers to these questions?

Capt. William Norman Town (see 5^th February), serving with the 3^rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in Chester, was transferred to the 3DWR at North Shields.