Sunday 23rd September 1917

In reserve at Railway Dugouts.

Another quiet day.

Pte. Harry Hey (25170) (see 20^th September), who had been wounded three days previously, died at 47^th General Hospital at Le Treport; he would be buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery. Pte. Lewis Lunn (see 20^th September), who had been wounded three days previously, died at 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings; he would be buried at the adjacent Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

Pte. James Hotchkiss (see 25^th June) was appointed Lance Corporal; he would be promoted Corporal three days later.

L.Cpl. Martin Reddington (see 18^th September), who had suffered minor shrapnel wounds to his back and right knee five days previously, re-joined the Battalion from 71^st Field Ambulance.

Maj. Edward Borrow (see 20^th September), who had suffered a bullet wound through his right hand three days previously, was evacuated from Rouen to Southampton for further treatment.

Maj. Edward Borrow

L.Cpl. Ernest Gee (see 20^th September) was evacuated to England from 10^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis. Pte. Thomas Caton (see 20^th September) was evacuated to England from 22^nd General Hospital at Camiers, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege; on arrival in England he would be transferred to Evington War Hospital, Leicester. Ptes. George Herbert Lant (see 20^th September) and John Longmire (see 20^th September) were evacuated to England; Pte. Longmire would be admitted to hospital in Liverpool but the details of Pte. Lant’s treatment are unknown. Pte. Herbert Ridley (see 20^th September), who had been wounded three days previously, was evacuated to England from 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship St. George. Pte. Ellis Sutcliffe (see 18^th September), who had been admitted to hospital five days previously suffering from inflammation of his right knee, was evacuated to England onboard the Hospital Ship Pieter de Corninck. 

Pte. Harold Parsons (see 5^th July) was posted back to England; the reason for his departure from the Battalion is unclear, but it is likely that he had been among those wounded on 20^th September.

L.Cpl. John Jackson (19555) (see 28^th July) and Ptes. William Naylor (see 25^th July), Frederick Patrick (see 19^th December 1916) and Fred Sutcliffe (see 1^st June) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

It seems likely that it was around this time, in calmer conditions, that officers and men would have begun to write to the relatives of those who had been killed on 20^th September. Letters were certainly written to the mother of Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 4^th September). Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 17^th September)  told her that, “He had long done splendid work with his Battalion, and set a great example of coolness and courage to all. It may be some consolation to you to know how well and gallantly he died in the hour of victory, leading the men he had trained and to whom he had given so much care. His loss to us all is great, but he did his duty to the last like the gallant soldier he was”. Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge (see 20^th September) told her, “Your boy was killed whilst gallantly leading his Company, and has died the glorious death that he, being the good soldier he was, doubtless would have wished. I have lost a very valuable officer, who was much loved by all ranks in the Battalion, in the course of gaining one of the most brilliant victories of the war”. Maj. Edward Borrow (see above), also wrote to Mrs. Pereira, “I very soon learnt to appreciate his excellent qualities, especially as a Company Commander”. The Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Hugh Wilfrid Todd (see 15^th June), told Mrs. Pereira, “I have known your son since 1915, and, knowing him, one must of necessity admire and love him. He was always most faithful in the discharge of his religious duties, and was ever a model of good example to those under him. He received the Sacraments before going into attack. Your son was wounded early in the battle but refused to go the dressing post”.

Capt. Adrain O'Donnell Pereira

CQMS Edgar Shuttleworth (see 7th June) wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Nussey, parents of Sgt. Ernest Nussey (see 20^th September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September: “It is with deepest sorrow I write to inform you of the death of your son, Ernest, which occurred on the 21^st (sic.). On that date the battalion went over the top and poor Ernest was shot by an enemy sniper when we had gained our objective. From information gathered his conduct throughout was splendid. He was at the time of his death giving great encouragement to the men of his platoon, of which he was in command, as the officer had previously become a casualty. His loss has certainly cast a gloom over all in the Company, in which he was a great favourite. His coolness in action was remarkable and the success of his Company on that day was largely due to his leadership. All the men of the Company join me in conveying our deepest sympathy in the loss of such a noble son.”

Sgt. Ernest Nussey

Shuttleworth also wrote to the widow of Sgt. Thomas Sheldon (see 20^th September), telling her that her husband had been, “well liked by the officers and other ranks of his Company, and his loss is keenly felt. He was an excellent soldier”.

At home in Horncastle, Florence May Culley, wife of Pte. Charley Culley (see 11^th September), who was currently being treated for “pyrexia NYD” (high temperature, not yet diagnosed), gave birth to the couple’s first child; the baby boy would be named Charles Geoffrey.

Also at home, in Gosberton, near Spalding, Elsie Alice Prestwood, wife of Pte. Arthur Prestwood (see 22^nd September), who had died of wounds the previous day, gave birth to a daughter, Edith Hilda; she was the couple’s first child, although Edith had a son by a previous relationship.