Monday 11th June 1917

Zillebeke Bund

Zillebeke Bund was still close enough to come under fire from German artillery and there was considerable shelling during the twenty-four hours that the Battalion remained there.

Pte. Reuben Smith (see 10^th June), who had been wounded the previous day, died at 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings; he would be buried at the adjacent Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

Pte. Reuben Smith

Cpl. William Henry Scott (see 7^th April 1915), who had been one of Tunstill’ original recruits, died of wounds at 46^th Casualty Clearing Station at Mendinghem; he would be buried in the adjacent Military Cemetery. The date on which he had been wounded is unclear, but the circumstances were explained in a letter home to his wife written by his platoon officer, 2Lt. William George Wade (see 19^th December 1916), “It is with the deepest sympathy and regret that I write to inform you of the sad death of your husband who died from the shock of his wound. Corporal H. Smith (unidentified) – a great friend of his – and myself were standing talking when a shell burst behind us. A part of the shell case struck your husband on the left cheekbone. He was unconscious, but we did not think the wound would be fatal when I wrote to your niece. It was after two or three days when we heard about his death, and owing to our frequent moving from place to place I had not the opportunity to write before. Believe me, the men of our transport deeply regret his death, and be assured that their sympathy is with you in your hour of trial, for your husband was one of the most cheerful companions and popular with his fellows. It is difficult yet to obtain news of his burial place, but I will endeavour to find out his last resting place, and should we be at any time in that district, you may be comforted to know that we will pay our deepest and fullest respects to his grave. You will be proud to know that he was always ready to volunteer to do his share of the great work.”

 

Pte. William Henry Scott

Pte. Thomas Eastwood (see 9^th March 1916), serving with 11^th West Yorks., died of wounds sustained at some point during the previous few days; he would be buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground.

Pte. William (Billy) Hoyle (see 7^th June), who had been recommended for the Military Medal for his conduct on 7^th June, was promoted Lance Corporal.

On the same day that his close friend Pte. William Henry Scott (see above) had died of wounds, another one of Tunstill’s original recruits, Sgt. William Edward Gibson (see 18^th October 1916), would earn the award of the Military Medal; the citation explained the circumstances,

“On the night of 11^th – 12^th June, 1917 at Jackson’s Dump, near Hill 60, this NCO was in charge of a limber bringing back captured machine guns, when two motor lorries, loaded with ammunition, which were in the Dump, were struck by a shell and commenced to explode. Cut off by the burning lorries from taking his limber away, heedless of the danger, this NCO, with great gallantry first brought his mules into safety and then ensured the safety of the material in his charge, remaining by the limber till daylight. Prior to the attack on Hill 60, this NCO displayed daily conspicuous coolness, good judgement and gallantry in guiding all convoys under his charge through heavy enemy barrages without casualties”.

The report that Pte. Fred Brown (see 7^th June); had been killed in action on 7^th June was now rescinded and it was reported instead that Brown had been wounded. A correction to the report was hastily despatched to Brown’s family, stating that a “great mistake” had been made and that Brown was actually "alive and fairly well." A letter would also be despatched from the Regimental Records Office asking for the return of the official notice that Brown had been killed, and saying he was now reported wounded on June 7th.

Cpl. Albert Earnshaw (see 28^th May) was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance, having suffered a sprained ankle. 

Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 7^th June) who had been wounded on 7^th June, was evacuated to England from 56^th General Hospital at Etaples; he travelled onboard the hospital ship Princess Elizabeth. Also on the same ship were other men who had been wounded on 7^th June. Pte. Harry Exley (see 7^th June) was evacuated from 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples and Pte. Arthur Wideman (see 7^th June) from the St. John’s Ambulance Base Hospital at Etaples. On arrival in England Pte. Wideman would be admitted to 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

L.Cpl. Norman Moorhouse (see 7^th June), who had been wounded four days previously, was evacuated to England for further treatment. The same was also the case for Pte. Henry Charles Lindsay (see 7^th June).

Pte. Herbert Burgess (see 13^th October 1916), serving in France with 2DWR at North Shields, was posted back to England (reason unknown).

Ptes. Clifford Midwood (see 24^th May) and James Young McDonald (see 4^th May) were posted back to France. However, they would not re-join 10DWR but were instead posted to 1^st/5^th DWR. 

Pte. Walter Robinson (15117) (see 16^th December 1916) was also posted back to France; he would join 8DWR.

Pte. William Sutcliffe Wood (see 24^th October 1916), serving 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion at Gateshead, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of dysentery contracted whilst on active service; he was awarded an Army pension of 8s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed after six months.

 

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