Monday 30th July 1917

Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.

There was heavy rain overnight 29^th/30^th and the rain continued through much of the day, causing some disruption to the planned training programme, as noted by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 27^th July), “It has been raining most of the night and is still wet so it is not a good day for manoeuvring troops about or even for sitting about and marching to and from the range, which is several miles away from each Battalion. I hope it means to clear up again but I fear the best of the weather has broken at last. Still, we have had such good weather for two months or more that we have no cause to complain.” He also reflected on the impact of the weather on plans for a Brigade sports day, “This rain has made the fields too slippery for jumping and I am afraid our sports day may not be a great success. I have put them off for a few days as owing to our move we cannot get things ready.”

Pte. Harry Clark (see 20^th July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France and would re-join 10DWR.

Ptes. Fred Kershaw (see 30^th June), James Edward Simpson (see 20^th July), and Arthur Sutcliffe (see 24^th June), who had all been serving with 3DWR were also posted back to France. However, although they were originally scheduled to re-join 10DWR, all three would be re-posted to 2/6^th DWR.

Pte. Edwin Wood (see 7^th July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France; he wold join 2^nd/7^th DWR.

Pte. Harold Wider (see 16^th June), who had been in England since being wounded in January, was also posted back to France, and arrived at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. He had been absent off his final pass for five days immediately before departure and had been ordered to undergo five days’ Field Punishment no.2 as a result.

L.Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 19^th July), who was serving with 3DWR in England having been wounded on 7^th June, began to paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Cpl. Henry Markham (see 20^th July), who had been discharged from Lochee Red Cross Hospital in Dundee ten days’ earlier, was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Lt. John Charles Brison Redfearn (see 6^th July), who had been under medical treatment in England for trench fever for the previous nine months, appeared before a Medical Board. The Board found that, “On July 6^th he was seized with pain in the stomach, vomiting followed by violent retching and slight looseness of the bowels. On July 7^th he was admitted to 1^st Northern General Hospital on recommendation of MO Backworth Detachment. On admission temperature normal, bowels regular, poor general condition, tongue clean. Abdomen shows nothing abnormal. He has been instructed to remain in hospital for 14 days longer for further investigation and final recommendation as to disposal”. In due course he would be transferred to Pinewood Sanatorium, Wokingham.

A number of new Second Lieutenants were commissioned who would subsequently serve with 10DWR. Sgt. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 7^th April), L.Cpl. Fred Dyson (see 7^th April), L.Cpl. Sam Benjamin Farrant (see 7^th April) and L.Cpl. Lawrence Tindill MM (see 7^th April) had all trained together at no. 9 Officer Cadet Battalion at Gailes, Ayrshire. CQMS Cyril Edward Agar (see 8^th April), had trained at no.19 Officer Cadet Battalion at Pirbright.  Cpl. Stephen Brown Airey (see 1^st October 1916) had trained at no.15 Officer Cadet Battalion at Romford; Cpl. William Johnson Simpson (see 7^th April) had trained at no.20 Officer Cadet Battalion at Cookham; and Pte. Percival Victor Thomas (see 7^th April) had trained at no.7 Officer Cadet Battalion at Cambridge. It has not been established where Pte. Keith Sagar Bain (see 13^th February), L.Cpl. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 24^th January), Sgt. George Clifford Sugden (see 8^th April), Cpl. Edward Kent Waite (see 28^th December 1915) or L.Sgt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 17^th April) had trained. Aidan Nicholson (see 10^th February), who had originally been rejected as an officer cadet because of his physical condition, but had subsequently served with the Royal Flying Corps, was also commissioned Second Lieutenant.

2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Edwin Everingham Ison

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Aidan Nicholson

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Former members of 10DWR, CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 7^th April) and Pte. Harley Bentham (see 5^th January) were also commissioned. Oldfield had trained at no.5 Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge and Bentham with Acarnley, Dyson, Farrant and Tindill at Gailes. However, both Oldfield and Bentham, having served in the ranks with 10DWR, would, in due course, be posted to other ‘Dukes’ Battalions.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

2Lt. Harley Bentham

Gnr. John George Waggitt (see 17^th November 1916), who had been serving in France with 2^nd Canadian Division, arrived in Addingham on leave. He was the brother of L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt (see 17^th November 1916), who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916.