Friday 4th May 1917

Billets at Steenvorde

Training continued on another hot day. In a postscript to his letter of the previous day, Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 1^st May) again commented on the weather, “I thought we should get some rain before this as the swallows were flying very low the other evening but it is still warm and fine and of course now getting dusty because of the constant traffic … The men have been playing quite a lot of cricket in the evenings. It is almost too hot for football though we shall have the final to play off some time or other”.

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

L.Cpl. Thomas Robinson (16490) MM (see 20^th February) reverted to the rank of Private (details unknown).

Pte. Thomas Robinson MM, seated

Image by kind permission of Gary Robinson

Pte. Harry Jackson (24186) (see 17^th October 1916) was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days as a result of ‘hesitating to obey an order’. Pte. Ernest Wilson (28985) (see 16^th January) was also ordered to be confined to barracks for three days; he had been found to have “dirty ammunition on parade”. Wilson’s offence was reported by Sgt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 20^th April) and the punishment ordered by Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 1st April).


Pte. John Onion (see 10^th April), who had been wounded three weeks previously while serving in France with 2DWR, was evacuated to England; the details of his treatment are unknown.

Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 14^th February), now serving with the ASC, was awarded a good conduct badge.

Pte. John Sheridan (see 19^th December 1916), who had been in England since December 1916 having been wounded, was posted back to France; however, he would join 2DWR rather than re-joining 10DWR.

Pte. James Young McDonald (see 7^th September 1916), who had been in England since having been wounded in September 1916, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

A payment of £5 10s 9d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Oliver Stancliffe (see 5^th January) who had been killed in the German shelling of Ypres in January; the payment would go to his mother, Mary. She would also receive a parcel of her late son’s personal effects, comoprising of, ‘mirror, disc, cigarette case, wallet, photos’.

The Times published an obituary of 2Lt. Roland Herbert Wyndham Brinsley-Richards (see 25^th April), who had been officially reported ‘missing in action’ following the action at Munster Alley in July 1916.

The weekly edition of the West Yorkshire Pioneer carried news of the death of L.Cpl. Edward George Graham; he was the elder brother of L.Cpl. Charles Graham (see 8^th July 1916), who had had his right foot amputated as a result of wounds suffered while serving with 10DWR in July 1916 on the Somme, and was still in hospital in Liverpool.

HELLIFIELD SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Graham, of Brook Street, Hellifield, received information from the Records Office, York, that their son, Lance-Corporal Edward George Graham, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, has died from wounds received in action on April 19th, and that his death occurred at the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, France, on April 21st. Lance-Corporal Graham was the eldest of Mr. and Mrs. Graham's four sons, two others of which are in the army, Lance-Corporal C. Graham, wounded, and in the Myrtle Street V.A.D. Hospital, Liverpool, and Private R. Graham, of the King's Own. He joined the army in January, 1916, and after training at Skipton, and passing a special course of saddlery at Leeds, he went out to France in June, where he was promoted. He was 27 years of age, and was formerly employed as a coach driver at Ilkley. In a letter to Mrs. Graham at the time he was wounded, Private A. Greenwell writes:- "I am sorry to inform you that your son Ted has been wounded. He got hit in the back last Thursday (April 19th). I don't think he is very bad. He seemed right cheerful, so the lads say. I was working in another place at the time, and he sent word that I had to let you know. Ted and I have been pals since we joined up. I feel right sorry about this, and all the lads feel the same. He was well liked amongst us." A letter from the Canadian Chaplain states:- "Your son, Lance-Corporal E.G. Graham, is in the 1st Canadian C.C.S., France. We are sorry to say he is in a serious condition with an abdominal wound. He sends his love to you and his sweetheart." A letter of sympathy was also received from his officer.