Sunday 1st April 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

On a very cold and wet day the Battalion remained in training, including, “Special Course in Bayonet Fighting under an Army Instructor, & Special instruction in the use of the Lewis Automatic Rifle by an Instructor from the School at Etaples”. The men of the Battalion were also taken to Poperinghe to bathe in the Divisional Baths. It was here that L.Cpls. Walter Appleby (see 6^th February) and Lionel Vickers (see 5^th March) found themselves in trouble with CSM James Davis MM (see 16^th February); both would be admonished by 2Lt. Harold Watthews (see 20^th February), as a result of, “hesitating to obey an order; not having a bath when ordered”. 

LCpl Lionel Vickers (standing left)
Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

CSM James Davis MM
Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Harold Watthews

For the third time in less than six weeks Pte. Ernest Ashness (see 23^rd March) was again in trouble, this time having been found to be “improperly dressed on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 31^st March) he was to undertake two extra drills. 

Less than a week after joining the Battalion, Pte. Harold Precious (see 26^th March) was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days having been reported as having a dirty rifle on parade; his offence was reported by Sgt. William Henry Mears (see 8th July 1916) and the punishment ordered by Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 10^th March).

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 27^th February), who had been posted back to France a month previously, re-joined the Battalion.

Saturday 31st March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

A third consecutive wet day. Training continued.

Pte. Fred Slater was (see 16^th January) was reported absent from parade at 6.15am; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for seven days on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 30th March). The report had been submitted by Sgt. John Scott (see 4^th October 1916) and Cpl. George Wallace Fricker (see 24th March).

Pte. Herbert Newton (see 22^nd March) was reported by Sgt. Harry Waddington (see 24^th March) as having been “unshaven on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Harrison he was to be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. John Jackson (19555) (see 17^th July 1916) was reported as absent from “6.15pm special parade”; he was reported by Cpl. Joseph Rawnsley (see below) and Sgt. Thomas Edmund Troop (see 2^nd February) and, on the orders of Capt. Edgar Stanton (see 21^st March), he was ordered to be confined to barracks for two days.

Joseph Rawnsley was an original member of the Battalion; he was a 39 year-old wire drawer from Halifax, married with two children.

Cpl. Frank Christelow (see 19^th January) who had joined the Battalion in June 1916 and had been a member of the Orderly Room staff, departed for England to begin his officer training.

Brig Genl. Lambert (see 30^th March), in a letter home to his wife, confirmed the arrival of the commemorative shield which he had asked her to have made ready for the winners of the Brigade competitions. “The shield arrived safely and seems to be much admired though personally I regretted that the engraver had treated my name as the most important feature whereas it might well have been in smaller type than say some of our battles! However it is quite a success. Thank you very much for all the trouble you took about it. I sent an officer over with it to try to get the name of the winning battalion, the 11^th, engraved at Bailleul, but after a long drive he came back to say that there appeared to be no engraver nearer than Paris! So the finishing touches will have to wait til later. I think the idea of the salver on a wooden plaque is rather successful. I am going to present it on Monday.”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 21^st March), currently serving with 3DWR at North Shields, wrote to the War Office to explain the reasons behind his decision to withdrew his application for a permanent commission in the Indian Army.

“I have the honour to inform you that my reasons for asking that my application for a permanent regular commission in the Indian Army to be cancelled are as under.

1. It is four months since I sent in my application and owing to altered circumstances during that time I no longer desire a permanent regular commission in the Indian Army.

2. It is more than two months since I have been passed fit for general service and I presume that I have not been sent to France on account of being on the waiting list for the Indian Army.

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira

Pte. Joseph Chandler (see 3^rd March), who had been reported as a having deserted four weeks’ previously while serving with 3DWR at North Shields, reported back to his Battalion and was placed in the guard room to await trial by District Court Martial.

Pte. Jacob Sweeting (see 14^th February) was reported absent without leave from 83^rd Training Reserve, based at Gateshead.

Pte. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’), serving in France as a motor transport driver with the ASC, attached to O Corps Signals Company, Royal Engineers, was posted back to England to begin an officer training course. He would later serve with 10DWR. Alf Pass was 21 years old (born 25^th June 1895); he was the second of three sons of Alfred Shakespeare Pass and his wife, Ada May. Alfred snr. was a ‘music dealer’ and the family lived in Barrow-in-Furness. Alfred jnr. had been working as a shop assistant and warehouseman before enlisting in May 1915; he had been posted to the Army Service Corps and had gone out to France on 21^st November 1915. He had spent two short periods in hospital in France, in April and August 1916 (cause unknown).  

Unlike every other month to date, the Brigade War Diary does not give a list of casualties for the month and the Battalion list only a single casualty – the death from broncho-pneumonia of Pte. Arthur Slingsby (see 25^th March).

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France thus remained as:

Killed                                       157

Accidentally killed                    4

Died of wounds                         7

Wounded                               772

Accidentally wounded           49

Missing                                   116

Friday 30th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

A very wet day. The inter-Battalion competitions concluded with the tug of war and Lewis Gun competitions, with 10 DWR “easily winning” the Lewis Gun competition. However, overall, the Battalion came in fourth of the four Battalions, with 11^th West Yorks winning and 9^th and 8^th Yorkshires second and third respectively.

Pte. John Smith Hodgson (see 18^th December 1916) was reported for “disobeying Battalion orders – ie, being out of camp”; on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 27th March), he was confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. John Killerby (see 20^th October 1916) again found himself on a charge, for having a “dirty rifle on parade”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days. Pte. John Ellis (see 6th March) was also again in trouble. He was reported by Battalion M.O., Capt. Cecil Berry (see 23^rd March) and by L.Cpl. Smith (unidentified) for “irregular conduct on sick parade; ie refusing Medical Officer’s treatment”; on the orders of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 27th March) he was punished with 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Ambrose Birdsall (see 16^th January) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from myalgia and nephritis; he would be transferred via 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings to 14^th General Hospital at Wimereux.

Brig Genl. Lambert (see 27^th March), in a letter home to his wife, asked her again to contact Lt. William Andrew Leo Kerridge (see 27^th March), who had recently been posted to 3DWR at North Shields:

“Kerridge has received the photo but I gather from his letter that he never got a set of Hobday’s Contalmaison pictures either. Will you send a set off to him. He has now changed his address and it is Duke of Wellington’s Regt., 15 Northumberland Square, North Shields.”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

After spending 161 days in hospital under treatment for wounds suffered at le Sars in October 1916, Pte. Thomas Lloyd (see 4^th October) was discharged; he would have ten days leave before reporting to 3DWR at North Shields on 10^th April.

L.Cpl. Walter Maynard Willis (see 1^st December 1916), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was admitted to 1^st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle, complaining of “frontal headache. No previous illness. Had shellshock”; he appears to have been discharged and re-joined his unit.

L.Cpl. Lawrence Tindill MM, 1^st/5^th Yorkshires (see 23^rd February), who had spent the previous six weeks on leave in England, was now given one weeks’ notice to report, on 7^th April, to no. 9 Officer Cadet Battalion at Gailes, Ayrshire. Similar orders were issued to Sgt. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 15^th February), who had previously served with 2^nd Royal Berkshires; L.Cpl. Fred Dyson (see 18^th February), 23^rd Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish); and L.Cpl. Sam Benjamin Farrant (21^st February), 2^nd Battalion East Lancs. All of them would be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.


A payment of £10 10s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Albert Senior (see 5^th October 1916), who had died of wounds in October 1916. The payment would be divided in seven equal shares (of £1 10s. 1d.) to his brothers Naylor (who was serving with 3^rd West Yorks.), Ben and Whittaker and married sisters, Fanny Barker, Sarah Crowther, Ann Hartley and Mary Kellet.

Thursday 29th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The weather again turned wet. Training continued.

2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 13^th March) returned to France en route to re-join 10DWR. 

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Two days after having been reported to have deserted, Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 27^th March) was apprehended and placed under guard, awaiting trial.

Pte. Patrick Conley (see 23^rd March), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was reported as absent overnight 29^th/30^th, until reporting at 7am on 30^th; on the orders of Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 26^th January), he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

2Lt. Maurice Tribe MC (see 10^th February), who had been severely injured at Le Sars, appeared before a Medical Board at Caxton Hall, London, having recently been discharged from hospital. The Board found him unfit for General Service for three months; unfit for Home Service for two months; and unfit for light duties at Home for six weeks. He was accordingly awarded six weeks’ leave before being re-examined.

Gnr. Harry Beaumont who had recently been called up for service with the Royal Garrison Artillery was posted to ‘C’ Mountain Battery in the 5^th Reserve Brigade; he was the elder brother of Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 13^th March), who was in hospital in England having suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his left thigh when the Battalion billets in Ypres had been shelled in January.


A pension award was made in respect of the late Cpl. Joseph Edward Preston (8^th February) who had been killed in action in October 1916; his mother, Martha, was awarded 2s. per week for life.

Cpl. Joseph Edward Preston

A payment of £3 7s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Thomas Rigby (see 3^rd August 1916), who had died of wounds following the actions on the Somme in the Summer of 1916; the payment would go to his father, Thomas snr.

 

Pte. Thomas Rigby

A payment of £3 0s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Charlie Wilman (see 6^th October 1916), who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Elsie.

Wednesday 28th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

Fine Spring weather returned as General Sir Herbert Plumer, commanding 2^nd Army, inspected the Battalion on the parade ground. Brig Genl. Lambert (see 27^th March), had been concerned that, “Our parade grounds are bad, so I hope the rain will hold off.”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

There was also an exercise for Brigade and Battalion Signallers involving contact aeroplanes.

Acting Sgt. George Richard Goodchild (see 9^th March) was now confirmed in his rank of Sergeant.

Acting Sgt. George Richard Goodchild

L.Cpl. Edwin Lightfoot (see 5^th March) was reprimanded for “irregular conduct; smoking in the ranks without permission”, on the evidence of Sgt. John Thomas Hall (see 8^th December 1916) and Cpl. George Benson Heap. Heap was one day short of his 20^th birthday; he was an original member of the Battalion, though not of Tunstill’s company. He was one of six children (two of whom had died in infancy) of John and Annie Heap and had been born in Todmorden but latterly had lived in Ripponden.

Pte. John William Mallinson (see 3^rd March) was again ordered to be confined to barracks for three days having been found, for a second time, to have a “dirty rifle on parade”.

Pte. Albert Edon (see 19^th January) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 50^th Casualty Clearing Station for treatment for scabies; he would be treated for a week before re-joining the Battalion on 6^th April.

Pte. Fred Kershaw (see 16^th January) was evacuated to England, suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left foot; on arrival in England he would be admitted to 5^th Northern General Hospital in Leicester.

CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 16^th February) who had been back in England awaiting posting to officer training, received orders to report to no.5 Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge on 7^th April.

CSM Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Arthur Cooper Clapham (see 27^th February) who had been killed in action in October 1916; his mother, Hannah, was awarded an unknown amount per week for life.


A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. William Currey (see 21^st February) who had been killed in action in October 1916; his stepmother, Ann, was awarded 12s. 6d. per week for life.

Tuesday 27th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The cold weather of the previous day persisted. Training continued and in the afternoon there was the inter-Battalion cross-country race which had been postponed from the previous day; 10DWR finished in third place, behind 11^th West Yorks. and 9^th Yorks. Brig Genl. Lambert (see 22^nd March) described the event in some detail in a letter to his wife, “We held our cross country race and it was a very pretty sight at the start – 300 starters. The West Yorks. won rather easily but they had practiced more carefully than the others and so deserved it. It was nearly 2 ½ miles long and the first man was in in 12 minutes which is good going. We had time limits so it was not strictly a race except against time. Those who got home under 18 minutes counted 1 point; those outside 18 but under 25 counted zero; those over 25 lost a point for their side. The West Yorks. got the first 9 out of 10 and by means of a ‘whipper in’ got the whole of their pack of 50, except one, in under the 18 minutes. This last man was a few seconds late! It was quite a good run.”

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

Sgt. Edward Isger (see 17^th February) was reported by L.Cpl. George William Keeling (see 13^th January) as having been “absent from tattoo 9pm”; he would report for reveille the following morning and would be severely reprimanded by Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 16^th March).


L.Cpl. John Henry Crawshaw (see 6^th February) was reported by CSM Valentine Curson (see 11^th February) for ‘neglect of duty’ (details unknown); he would be reprimanded by Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 24^th March) but would suffer no further punishment.

Lt. William Andrew Leo Kerridge (see 18^th March), had recovered sufficiently, having been on sick leave, to join 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 19^th March), who had been in England since being wounded on the Somme in July, returned to duty with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, based at Gateshead, having been absent without leave for ten days; the nature of his punishment is not known.

Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 16^th September 1916) was reported to have deserted from 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion; he had suffered shellshock at Contalmaison in July 1916 and it may be that his actions were triggered by news of an impending return to active service, though, of course, this cannot be confirmed.

Pte. Sam Tinkler (see 29^th November 1916) was formally transferred to 15th Infantry Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regt. Also transferred to the same unit on the same day was another original member of 10DWR. Pte. Eber Casson Sykes (see 6^th July 1916) had enlisted in Huddersfield on 9^th September 1914, aged 30 and having been working as a millhand. He had been wounded in the actions around Contalmaison and had been evacuated back to England on 11^th July 1916, being treated for some time at a Red Cross Hospital in Hove before being posted back to 3DWR.

Pte. Sam Tinkler

At home in Huddersfield, Lena Frame, wife of Pte. Willie Davenport Frame (see 16^th January), gave birth to the couple’s fifth child; she would be named Madge.


Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 21^st February) who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service was admitted to Ida Convalescent Hospital, Leeds.

Ida Convalescent Hospital, Leeds

A payment of £11 10s 4d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. Arthur Bearpark (see 10^th October 1916) who had been killed at Le Sars; the payment would go to his brother, Harry

A pension award was made in respect of the late Pte. Fred Benson (see 31^st October 1916) who had been killed in action in July 1916; his widowed mother, Ann, was awarded 5s. 6d. per week for life.

Pte. Fred Benson

Monday 26th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The weather again turned much colder, and very wet in the morning. Training continued; there were also the finals of the inter-Battalion boxing competitions, although planned cross-country runs were postponed due to the wet weather.

A number of men joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, having originally been posted out on 4^th March to join 9DWR. Pte. George Green (22749) was a 34 year-old labourer from Todmorden. Pte. Joseph Livesey was a 30 year-old millworker from Springhead, near Oldham; he was married with one daughter. He had originally attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 but had not been called up until December 1916. Pte. Harold Precious was 40 years old and had been the Principal of H. Precious, Dyers and French Cleaners, in Bradford. He had enlisted under the Derby Scheme in November 1915 but had not been called up until 16^th November 1916. However, he had failed to report to Bradford Recruiting Office as instructed and, on 27^th November, a police officer had visited him at home. In his report PC Maurice Barker reported that, “At 8.45am Monday 27^th November 1916 I visited the house at 21 Cranborne Road, where I saw Precious and I said to him I am going to take you into custody for failing to report yourself to the Bradford Recruting Office after receiving final notice. He replied, ‘I should have reported myself on 16^th and I have been expecting you coming’. I took him in to custody and brought him to the Town Hall, where I charged him with the offence. He replied, ‘That’s true’”. Precious had been duly brought to court the same day and been fined £2. Having failed to pay the fine, he was given eleven days’ imprisonment and it was ordered that the fine be deducted from his army pay. He had then been immediately sent to the Regimental Depot at Halifax under military escort. Having spent three months in training with 3DWR he had also, in February, been reported absent off his final pass for three days before reporting back to barracks at North Shields.

Pte. Albert John Start (see 27^th January), serving on Base Duties at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples; was, for third time, admitted to hospital suffering from influenza; on this occasion he was admitted to 2^nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeville.

Pte. James Edward Simpson (see 17^th March), who had been in England since having been wounded on 5^th July, was posted back to France and would join 2^nd/6^th DWR.

Following one months’ treatment for influenza, Pte. Joseph Renshaw (see 26^th February) was discharged from the City of London Military Hospital; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting to 3DWR at North Shields.

A payment of £3 10s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. James Gordge (see 5^th March), who had been officially missing in action since 10^th July 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Mary Ann.

Sunday 25th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The clocks had been advanced one hour overnight 24^th/25^th for the start of Summer Time, and, appropriately enough, it turned out to be “a glorious Spring day”. Training continued as did the inter-Battalion competitions, with the shooting competition and relay races being held.

Pte. Arthur Slingsby died of broncho-pneumonia. He was 25 years old, originally from Retford, Notts. and had served with 1^st/6^th Battalion before being transferred to 10DWR. He was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He is the only Battalion casualty recorded for the month of March. His death was subsequently reported in The Retford Times (13^th April 1917):

Sincere sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs J E Slingsby of the Old Lodge, Babworth Hall, Retford, in the loss of their son, Pte Arthur Slingsby of the West Riding Regt, who died from pneumonia in France on March 26^th (sic.). He was 25 years of age and before joining the Colours in March 1916 was employed in the gardens at Park Hall, Mansfield Woodhouse. He had previously been employed at Osberton and at Rufford Abbey. He underwent his preparatory training at Clipstone Camp and had been out in France seven months. The gallant young soldier was a man of very fine physique and a very popular football player. When home on leave before going to the front he looked the picture of health and it was thought that he was quite equal to all the stress and strain of the battle field. His Company Q.M.S. writes to say that they had been on the march when he was taken ill and adds:- “He was a good soldier and although had not been with us long we all miss him very much.” On March 22nd the sister in charge of the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, France, wrote stating that he was seriously ill but assuring his parents that he was in a comfortable bed and that there were doctors and sisters who knew how to give him the care he needed. He passed away on March 26th (sic.) but his parents did not hear of his death until Monday April 2nd.

Pte. Arthur Slingsby

Pte. Leonard Hurley (see 17^th January) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from influenza; he would be treated for two weeks before returning to duty on 9^th April.

Pte. Nathaniel Bather (see 17^th March) was transferred from 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station; he had been suffering from diarrhoea and would re-join the Battalion after two days.

After spending two months at 13^th General Hospital at Boulogne, having been wounded in January, Pte. Willie Holmes (see 21^st January) was discharged and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route to a return to active service.

Pte. Henry Marshall (see 25^th January) was discharged from 51^st General Hospital at Etaples after two months of treatment for syphilis; in accordance with army regulations relating to cases of venereal disease, his army pay had been stopped for the duration of his treatment. On discharge he was posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, prior to re-joining the Battalion.

Sgt. Wilson Pritchard (see 24^th December 1916), who had been in England since September 1916 having been wounded, returned to France to re-join the ACC; he had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits but had been transferred to the ACC while the Battalion was still in training.

The mother of 2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 20^th March), who had been officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the action at Munster Alley in July 1916, wrote to the War Office in response to recent correspondence received by her:

“Dear Sir
In answer to your letter of the 20^th March asking me whether I have received any further news about my son , Second Lieutenant R.H.W. Brinsley-Richards, reported missing 30^th July 1916, I regret to say that all the letters which have reached me from his brother officers leave me practically no hope that he has survived. Thanks to the Red Cross Society I have been put into relation with several of the privates who went out with my son on that night attack and although some of them saw him fall they evidently do not think he can have survived.

A few days ago a rumour reached me which I am following up. One of the officers of my son’s Regiment recently home on leave said that news had been received at Christmas from one of the privates who was with my son on that night. He had written saying he was wounded and a prisoner in Germany and that he believed 2^nd Lt. Brinsley-Richards was also taken prisoner.

At present I am doing all I can to sift the matter as it is the only ray of hope granted to me during all these months. I will inform you of the result of my inquiries.”

 

2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards

Saturday 24th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The weather again turned much milder. Training continued and the final of the inter-Battalion football competition was played, with 11^th West Yorks. beating 8^th Yorks. 1-0.

Cpl. Harry Waddington (see 12^th March) was promoted Sergeant (and Signaller).

Just two weeks after being sanctioned for smoking while on the march, Pte. Michael Henry Rourke (see 9^th March) was again in trouble, this time for “insolence on parade”; he was again reported by Cpl. George Wallace Fricker (see 9^th March), and again on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 23^rd March), he was to be confined to barracks for seven days. Pte. Charles Frederick Riddial (see 16^th January) was also in trouble; he was reported by Cpl. Edward Woffindale (see below) for having a dirty rifle on parade. He was ordered to be confined to barracks for five days, on the orders of Capt. Harrison.

Edward Woffindale was an original member of the Battalion. He was 37 years old and from Pool-in-Wharfedale, where he had worked as a woodman. He had been promoted Corporal whilst the Battalion was in training in England.

Pte. Alfred Bogg (see 6^th October 1916), who had been in hospital in England for the previous five months after having been wounded in October 1916, was discharged from to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester. In the absence of a more complete service record the details of his subsequent service are unknown, but he would serve with both 9DWR and 2^nd/4^thDWR.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News carried a brief report of local men who had been wounded in action; those named included Sgt. Frank Shelah Gilleard (see 6^th October 1916). Also named in the list was Pte. James Deeks; he had been a pre-war regular and had gone to France in November 1914 with 2^nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment but had subsequently been transferred to 10DWR. It is unclear exactly when both men had been wounded, but it was most likely during the actions in late February.

Friday 23rd March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

Another very cold day. Training continued alongside a continuation of the inter-Battalion competitions. 

‘A’ Company lost one of their most experienced men when Sgt. William Eley MM (see 8^th December 1916) was posted back to England. Eley was suffering from ‘neurasthenia’ (commonly known as shell shock) and deafness in his left ear.

Pte. Ernest Ashness (see 22^nd February) again found himself on a charge, this time having been found to be “dirty on parade”; on the evidence of Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see below) and on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 9^th March) he was to undertake two extra drills. Pte. Alfred Whittaker (9^th February) was also reported as being “dirty on parade”; he was reported by Cpl. Dennis Bradbury (see below) and was also ordered by Capt. Harrison to undertake two extra drills. Pte. Joseph McDermott (see 16^th January) found himself on a charge for being “unshaven on parade”; his punishment was also to be ordered to undertake two extra drills. 

Alfred Dolding was from Camberwell, London, and had first joined the West Riding Regiment as an 18 year old in April 1902. He had served three years as a regular, during which he had a number of brushes with military discipline, including several peiods of absence without leave and a convictaion for stealing from a fellow soldier for which he had been committed to prison with hard labour for eight weeks. He had been discharged on the completion of three years service, with his character on discharge described as ‘very bad’. He had then remainedon the Army Reserve for the next five years, with this period terminating in April 1914. During that period he had been living in Camberwell, Dartford and latterly in Peckham and working as a plumber. He had married Alice Farran in 1907 and the couple had four children. On 9^th September 1914 he had volunteered in Deptford and had been posted to his old regiment. He was posted to the newly-formed 10^th Battalion as a Private on 18^th September and promoted Lance Corporal in October and Corporal in December in 1914. He had then been promoted Lance Sergeant in June 1915 and, after arriving in France with the Battalion in August, Sergeant on 25^th October 1915. He had been slightly wounded at Contalmaison in July 1916, after which he spent three weeks in hospital in Rouen before re-joining the Battalion. He had then had two further, short, stays in hospital in August 1916, being treated for pyrexia (high temperature) and influenza.

Dennis Bradbury had been an original member of the Battalion and had been promoted Corporal at some point whilst the Battalion was in France. He was 33 years old, from Guiseley, and before the war had worked as a bookkeeper, whilst living with his two sisters, Edith and Emily; both of their parents having died.

One month after being taken ill with influenze Pte. Willie Cowgill (see 24^th February) re-joined the Battalion.

Once conditions had been improved there was time for the annual Brigade competitions, in which the Battalion fared rather poorly, although they did win the Lewis gun competition.

Battalion M.O., Capt. Cecil Berry (see 13^th March), who had married whilst home on leave in England, re-joined the Battalion; his temporary replacement, Capt. T.L. Llewellyn, re-joined 69^th Field Ambulance.  

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Pte. Ronald Bray (see 28^th February) returned to duty after being under treatment for trench foot for the previous month.

L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) (see 12^th October 1916), serving with 8DWR, was promoted Acting Sergeant and posted for duty to Etaples (details unknown). 

Pte. Thomas McDonald (see 29^th July 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in July 1916, was posted back to France; he was due to join 2DWR but would instead be re-posted to 9DWR.

Pte. Patrick Conley (see 24^th October 1916), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was examined by Capt. Joynes of the RAMC. The report reviewed Conley’s current condition, with an emphasis on his stated disability of bronchitis “He states that in August 1913 he had an attack of pleuro-pneumonia and since that he has had bouts of asthma. Sent out to France on 25^th September (sic.) 1915. On the 20^th (sic.) of July he was knocked down by a fuse and sustained three fractured ribs. Sent to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital and transferred to Middlesex Hospital. Then sent to North Shields and joined 83^rd Training Reserve at Gateshead. Done only light duty. He complains of shortness of breath and dizziness”. He also found that Conley had a deformed right foot due to a fracture in 1906. On the basis of his examination, Joynes recommended that Conley should be discharged as permanently unfit.

Pte. Charles Davey (see 28^th August 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in June 1916, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer fit for service due to ‘valuvular disease of the heart’.

Capt. John Atkinson (see 10^th January), who had been on sick leave in England since September and had recently been declared unfit for further service overseas was formally struck off the establishment of 10DWR.

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton