Tuesday 14th August 1917

Billets near Moulle.

Another largely fine day, though once again there was heavy rain in the evening.

Pte. Alec Radcliffe (see 27^th July), who had suffered relatively minor wounds to his right leg on 7^th June, re-joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 11^th August), who had been absent without leave since 9.30pm on 11^th August, now returned. On the orders of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 7th August) he would forfeit four days’ pay and be sentenced to 28 days’ Field Punishment No.1

Pte. William Ward Pickles joined the Battalion. He had enlisted in February 1915, aged 35, and had been living in Sowerby Bridge, where he worked as a bricklayer; he was a married man, but had no children. He had been posted to 8DWR and had served with them at Gallipoli from August 1915 to July 1916, before returning to France with the Battalion. He had been wounded in October 1916, suffering a wound to his left thigh and had been treated at Bellahouston Red Cross Hospital, before being posted to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion on 22^nd November. He had returned to France on 3^rd May but had stayed for three months at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples until joining 10DWR.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 9^th August), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, was reported absent without leave and in possession of another man’s pass, from 14^th Australian General Hospital at Abassia. On his return he would be deprived of four days’ pay. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 9^th August), who was back in England having been wounded on 7^th June.

Pte. James Beatty (see 23^rd March 1916) was formally discharged from the army as no longer physically fit for service. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to identify the nature and origin of his injuries or illness.