Thursday 5th April 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

On a fine, bright day training continued. Meanwhile, the first round of the Divisional football competition was held with 69^th Brigade defeating the Royal Artillery 3-2. 10DWR had four representatives in the 69^th Brigade team; 2Lt. John William Pontefract (see 8^th January), Sgt. John Thomas Hall MM (see 28^th March) who, before the war, had been captain of the Keighley Celtic football team, Cpl. Thomas Arthur Sturdy (see 8^th March) and Pte. Anderson (I am unable to make a positive identification of this man).

69th Brigade football squad

The photograph comes from the collection of Lt. Dick Bolton, by kind permission of Henry Bolton.

Dick Bolton noted (on the reverse of the image) only the names of Sgt. John Thomas Hall MM, who had been an original member of Bolton's Company, and 2Lt. John William Pontefract (seated centre with the ball at his feet).

A copy kept by Brig. Genl. Lambert was annotated with the names of all the members of the squad: (left ro right) starting with the back row: Sgt. Hall (10DWR); Pte. Timms (9Yorks); Sgt. Bee (9Yorks); Cpl. Raffell (9Yorks); Pte. O'Shea (11West Yorks); Cpl. Sturdy (10DWR); Pte. Hood (8Yorks); Pte. Shepperd (11West Yorks); Pte. Wild (11West Yorks); Cpl. Gibson (8Yorks); Pte. Anderson (10DWR); Cpl. Simpson (9Yorks); Pte. Leyburn (11West Yorks); Sgt. Miller (8Yorks); 2Lt. Pontefract (10DWR); Sgt Sams (11West Yorks); Pte. Dobson (9Yorks).

The inter-Battalion transport competitions were held. According to Brig Genl. Lambert (2^nd April), the competition comprised of “a pair horsed limber wagon, a pack mule, a pair horsed mess cart and a pair horsed water cart. They were all so good that judging was very difficult”. There was no success for 10DWR, finishing third in both; the two classes being won by 9^th Yorks and 11^th West Yorks.

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

Pte. Herbert Newton (see 31^st March) was reported by CSM Valentine Curson (see 3^rd April) for “having an untidy bed in hut on inspection”; on the orders of Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 4^th April) he was to be confined to barracks for five days. Pte. Cain Rothera (see 28^th December 1916) was also reported by CSM Curson; his offence was to have had “dirty equipment”, for which he was ordered by Capt. Harrison to be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. Thomas Caton (see 12^th February) was reported by L.Sgt. John William Dickinson (see 1^st December 1916) for “Disobeying Battalion orders; ie having empty water bottles on the line of march”; he would be confined to barracks for three days. Ptes. Henry Jarratt (see 20^th February) and Richard Metcalfe (see 22^nd March) were reported by Sgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 22^nd March) as having been “improperly dressed on 6pm parade”; they were ordered to be confined to barracks for three days. Pte. Albert Moore (see 16^th January) was reported for “irregular conduct, ie dirty on 10am parade” on the evidence of Sgt. Joseph Bona (see 22^nd March); he was sentenced to two days confined to barracks. Pte. Victor Alexander Wildman (see 2^nd February) was also reported for the same offence. However he was sentenced to three days confined to barracks. His offence was reported by Sgt. Arthur Kilburn Robinson (see below). All of these punishments were on the orders of Capt. Edgar Stanton (see 2^nd April).

Arthur Kilburn Robinson was also an original member of the Battalion; he was 23 years old and had worked as a clerk in Bradford. He had been promoted successively Lance Corporal, Corporal and Sergeant while the Battalion was in training in England.

A week after returning to France, 2Lt. Bob Perks, DSO (see 29^th March) reported for duty with 10DWR.

2Lt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. Harry Clark (see 8^th January), serving in France with 2DWR was posted back to England (cause and details unknown).

2Lt. Fred Baume (see 13^th February), currently on light duty with 3DWR at North Shields, having been wounded during the actions at Le Sars, appeared before a further Medical Board, which found that, “he cannot yet march more than 3 miles without pain. Is at present only fit for light duty at home”. Consequently he remained with 3DWR.

After five weeks back in England, Pte. Menhell Hudson (see 1^st March) was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.