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