Thursday 24th May 1917

Trenches in the Hill 60 sub-sector, opposite the Caterpillar

The weather remained very warm and conditions were somewhat quieter. However, Pte. Selwyn Stansfield (see 16^th January) was wounded, suffering wounds to his left arm; the details of his treatment are unknown, but he would be evacuated to England five days later.

Following the deaths in action of several NCO’s, L.Cpl. Lionel Vickers (see 10^th April) and L.Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 5^th May) were both promoted Corporal.

 

L.Cpl. Lionel Vickers (standing far left) and other NCOs

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 19^th May), returned to duty from 71^st Field Ambulance at Waratah Camp, south-east of Poperinghe, having been spent the previous few days being treated for pyrexia (raised temperature).

2Lt. Thomas Arnold Woodcock (see 7^th April), who had served with the Battalion for only three weeks before reporting sick on 7^th April, having been treated locally was now sent to no.14 General Hospital at Boulogne for further investigations and treatment.

Pte. Thomas Lloyd (see 30^th March), who had been wounded twice while serving with 10DWR in 1916, was posted back to France from 3DWR. He was originally due to join 9DWR but would instead to be re-posted to 2/6DWR, joining them on 14^th June after spending three weeks at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Clifford Midwood (see 14^th May) who had been in England under treatment for ‘trench foot’ since February was posted back to 3DWR at North Shields. 

Pte. Herbert Greenwood Audsley (see 27^th April) serving with the Wireless Depot Company at BEF Headquarters, was admitted to 20^th Field Ambulance, suffering from lenticular cataracts.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 5^th March), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, was sent to a rest camp near Alexandria for treatment to a minor injury to his right hand. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 20^th May), who had recently re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 13^th October 1916), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company before being transferred to 9DWR and had been wounded on the Somme in August 1916, was transferred to the Army Reserve, Class P. This classification of the reserve had been introduced in October 1916 and applied to men “whose services were deemed to be temporarily of more value to the country in civil life rather than in the Army”.  Rushworth’s last known occupation prior to enlisting was as a bricklayer, but what work he undertook under his new classification is not known. He was also awarded the Silver War Badge in recognition of his discharge being due to wounds suffered in action.

Pte. George Edward Western (see 24^th August), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of wounds; he was awarded an Army pension of 8s. 3d. per week.

A payment of £3 9s 3d was authorised, being an amount found to be still outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Herbert Bayfield (see 20^th February); the payment would go to his widow, Alice.

A further payment of 3s 8d was authorised, being an amount found to be still outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. William Hemp (see 20^th March); the payment would go to his mother, Miriam.