Monday 29th October 1917

Zudausques

Training and range practice.

Having received orders to be prepared for a forthcoming move, the War Diary of 69^th Field Ambulance noted that, “training of personnel for long marches to be commenced” and “to ensure forthwith that each man has complete issue of winter clothing”.

Although the transfer of 23^rd Division to Italy had not yet been formally confirmed, two officers of the Divisional Staff, along with the staff captains of each Brigade, departed for Paris, en route to Italy.

The whole of 69^th Brigade was inspected, near Boisdinghem, by Maj. Genl. Sir J. M. Babington KCMG, commanding 23^rd Division.

2IC Maj. Charles Bathurst MC (see 25^th October) left the Battalion to return to England having been taken ill (details unknown). On this occasion his officer's servant, Pte. James Albert Garbutt (see 30^th September), did not go with him but remained with the Battalion and would, in due course, become officer's servant to Maj. James Christopher Bull (see 22^nd September).

L.Cpl. Frank Revell (see 22^nd July) was reported by CSM Charles Edward Parker DCM, MM (see 25^th October) and Cpl. William Henry Dobson (see 25^th October) for ‘neglect of duty whilst in billet’; on the authority of Capt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 5^th October) he was ordered to attend two extra parades.

Sgt. Lionel Vickers (see 23^rd October), who had been away from the Battalion since having been wounded on 20^th September, now re-joined from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. James Frederick Coldwell (see 16^th January) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques suffering from inflammation of his right hand.

Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 26^th October) wrote to Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 29^th September) thanking him for a congratulatory letter which he had received,

“Many thanks for your kind congrats – of course I owe the honour entirely to the magnificent behaviour of the DW Battalion who right through these last operations have acted right up to the best traditions of the Regiment. I was awfully sorry to hear you were so badly knocked out and do hope you won’t be permanently injured. Let’s hear how you get on. Have you heard that Borrow (Maj. Edward Borrow, see 22^nd October) has the DSO, while Payne (Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne, see 21^st October) has not only the MC but a bar to it as well! He did magnificently, both on the 20^th and afterwards. Sparling (Capt. Herbert Sparling, see 18^th October) also has the MC but all deserved something or other and I only wish I could have got it for you all. We’re just off to entirely new battlefields in a hurry so you must excuse a short note. Wishing you the best of luck and a speedy recovery”.

Two large drafts joined the Battalion. One group of men were transferred from the Labour Corps and another from the Army Veterinary Corps.

The majority of the men transferred from Labour Corps had been serving with units in France, having originally been declared fit only for garrison service, but had no been re-categorised as fit for active service. They were as follows:

Pte. James Wallace Andrews was a 23 year-old farm labourer from Thornton, near Exeter. Pte. James Austin was a 32 year-old cowman from Banbury. Pte. Francis James Barnes was a 38 year-old basket maker from Tewkesbury. Pte. Thomas Bates was a 36 year-old brass dresser from Birmingham; he was a widower with four children. Pte. Charles Edward Berry was a 39 year-old carter from Cheltenham; he was married with six children. Pte. Frederick Betts was a 37 year-old labourer from Oxfordshire. Pte. Walter James Biddle was a 41 year-old postman from Alveston; he was married with five children. Pte. William Henry Bray was a 34 year-old gardener from Paignton. Pte. Percy Burrows was a 35 year-old market gardener from Kenton, near Exeter. Pte. William Carver was 36 years old and from Frome. Pte. Edward Henry Chant was a 33 year-old labourer from Malvern; he was married but had no children. Pte. John Charles Clarke was 33 years old and from Hampshire; he was married with one son. Pte. Charles Clear was a 20 year-old labourer from Portsmouth. Pte. William George Clements was a 29 year-old labourer from Lydney. Pte. Edwin John Collard was a 27 year-old wood carver from Bridgwater; he was married but had no children. Pte. Bertie Cox was a 32 year-old groom from Chesham; he was married with one son. Pte. Thomas Henry Cox (25806) was 30 years old and from Birmingham; he was married with two children. Pte. George Dunkin was a 35 year-old bricklayer from Long Crendon; he was married with one son. Pte. Frank Dunn was a 38 year-old farm labourer from Wellington, Somerset. Pte. Bertram Edwin Earney was a 29 year-old horse dresser from Salisbury; he was married but had no children. Pte. Alfred Fishlock was a 34 year-old carter from Wiltshire; he was married with two children. Pte. Arthur Flowers was a 20 year-old labourer from Cosham. Pte. Walter William Ford was a 32 year-old corset presser from Bristol; he was married but had no children. Pte. Ernest William Gilbert was a 25 year-old hairdresser from Birmingham; he was married with one daughter. Pte. Robert William Gough was a 33 year-old market gardener from Callington; he was married with one daughter. Pte. Joseph Hadley was a 28 year-old brickyard labourer from Dudley; he was married with three children. Pte. Percival William Hall was 20 years old and from Kidlington. Pte. Martin Luther Harding was a 22 year-old collier from Bristol. Pte. James Harper; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Albert Edward Victor Harris was a 20 year-old hairdresser from Gloucester. Pte. William Hill was a 27 year-old mason from Gloucester. Pte. John George Inshaw was a 34 year-old travelling jewellery salesman from Birmingham; he was married with one son. Pte. Robert Jackson was a 34 year-old carman from Tooting; he was married but had no children. Pte. John Walter Jennings was a 25 year-old warehouseman from Birmingham; he was married with one son. Pte. George King (25833) was a 34 year-old farmer from Stoney Stoke. Pte. Louis Frank Lewis was a 30 year-old brewer from Calne; he was married with three children. Pte. William Ley was a 27 year-old baker from Combe Martin; he was married with children. Pte. William Henry Luke was a 23 year-old window cleaner from Nottingham. Pte. Lewis Martin; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Edward Mawle was a 21 year-old shepherd from Banbury. Pte. Sidney Guy Mealing was a 29 year-old coal loader from Bristol. Pte. Robert Chave Melhuish was a 27 year-old house painter from Taunton; he was married, with one daughter. Pte. Bruce Ernest Nash was a 36 year-old labourer from London. Pte. John Richard Newell was a 28 year-old carter from Headington; he was married with four children. Pte. Maurice Paignton was a 37 year-old labourer from Wiltshire. Pte. Frederick Thomas Peart was a 35 year-old drayman from Cheltenham; he was married with three children. Pte. James Pidgeley was a 27 year-old labourer from Hindon, Wilts.; he was married with two children. Pte. Ernest Portman was a 22 year-old motor driller from Redditch. Pte. Ernest Potter was a 29 year-old metal stamper from Birmingham; he was married with three children (a fourth child, Elsie, had died aged four months in August 1916). Pte. Samuel Richards was a 37 year-old farm labourer from Langfoot; he was married with two children. Pte. Charles Henry Russell was 34 years old and from Birmingham; he was a married man.  Pte. Walter William Scott was a 32 year-old labourer from Bristol; he was married with four children. Pte. Albert Scrase; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Smart was a 28 year-old labourer from Stroud; he was married with three children. Pte. Ernest Locker Smith was a 22 year-old farm hand from Burton-on-Trent. Pte. Albert Stanley was a 30 year-old labourer from King’s Norton; he was married with three children. Pte. Frederick Thorn was a 26 year-old gardener from Newbury; he was married with one daughter. Pte. Thomas Tibble was a 29 year-old farm labourer from Micheldever. Pte. George William Tombs was a 30 year-old carpenter’s labourer from Preston Bisset, Bucks. Pte. Frank Tucker was a 26 year-old farm labourer from Bridgwater. Pte. Frederick George Westlake was 25 years old and from Martock, Somerset. Pte. Arthur J. Webb; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Herbert Williams was a 26 year-old coach painter from Balsall Heath; he was married with three children. Pte. Thomas Young (25815); in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.  

Many of the men transferred from the AVC had served in France with the AVC, but for others this was their first posting overseas; they were as follows. Pte. Herbert Archer was a 29 year-old farm bailiff from Tamworth; he was married with two sons. Pte. Robert Henry Arnold was a 21 year-old groom from Cashel, County Tipperary. A/Cpl. William Atkinson (25980) was 37 years old and from Knutsford. Pte. George William Ball was a 30 year-old head cowman from Little Blunsden, Wilts.; he was married with three children. Pte. Thomas Henry Barnaby; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. James Barker (25964) was a 37 year-old confectioner from Falkirk. Pte. Francis Barrett was a 26 year-old waggoner from Rugeley. Pte. George Bell was a 31 year-old groom from Linlithgow. L.Cpl. Percy Harry Bentley was a 30 year-old Poor Law relieving officer from Stoke-on-Trent. A/Cpl. Thomas H.C. Bevan; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. L.Cpl. Stanley Arthur Bones was a 22 year-old horsekeeper from Colchester. A/Cpl. Alfred Bradbury was a 30 year-old horsekeeper from Derby. Pte. John Bundy was a 28 year-old woodcutting machinist from Birmingham. Pte. Michael Church was a 26 year-old market gardener from Scarisbrick; he was married with one son. Pte. Arthur Clark (25966) was 28 years old and from Dalston, London. Pte. Robert Clarke was a 22 year-old groom from Colchester. Pte. William Henry Cleaver was a 36 year-old groom from Hove; he was married with three children. Pte. Jesse Richard Cooper was a 24 year-old gardener and horsekeeper from Fairford. Pte. John Cronin was 33 years old and from Camberwell; he had worked in a veterinary hospital before enlisting in 1914. Pte. Joseph Dagger was a 33 year-old motor driver from Bath; he was married with two children. A/Cpl. John Thomas Damant was a 40 year-old horsekeeper from Ipswich; he was married with four children. Pte. Andrew Davidson was a 23 year-old groom from Galashiels; he was married with two children. Pte. Noah Davis was a 30 year-old fish and fruit salesman from Chippenham; he was married with one son. He had originally applied for exemption from military service on the grounds that he was a ‘one-man business’, but his appeal had been denied with the Chairman of the panel telling him that “he should think Davis’ neighbours would be glad to renew their custom after he had served his country”. Pte. Harold Richard Denny was a 29 year-old horsekeeper from East Ham; he was married with three children. Pte. Walter Dey was a 26 year-old labourer from Openshaw; he was married but had no children. Pte. Alfred Charles Dolphin was a 21 year-old merchant navy sailor from Wallingford. Pte. Walter Eary was a 27 year-old labourer from Leeds; he was married with one daughter. Pte. William Thomas Foley was a 25 year-old carman from Dalston, London; he was married but had no children. Pte. Ernest Franklin (25969) was a 26 year-old horsekeeper from Findon. Pte. John Gayton was a 35 year-old carter from Wellingborough; he was married with five children. L.Cpl. Stanley Vyvyan Golledge was a 21 year-old veterinary student from Trowbridge. A/Cpl. Bertie Gooch was a 28 year-old horseman from Colchester.  A/Cpl. George Goodman; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Charles William Groves was a 26 year-old greengrocer from Middlesex; he was married with one child from marriage and two adopted children. Pte. James Grubb was a 25 year-old carter from Kirkcaldy; he was married with two children (one of whom was adopted). Pte. Jack Edgar Hall was a 27 year-old butcher from Marlow. L.Cpl. Roderick Harmer was a 23 year-old groom from Renfrew. Pte. William Harper (25972) was a 33 year-old carman from High Wycombe. Pte. Richard Henry Harris was a 23 year-old hauler from Birmingham; he was married with one son. Pte. William Havery was a 38 year-old pig breeder from Gateshead; he was married with three children. Pte. Thomas James Hogben was a 28 year-old farmer’s son from Staplehurst; he was married but had no children. Pte. Matthew Howard was a 24 year-old stableman from Chester. Pte. William John Thomas Hurst was a 26 year-old carman from Shoreham. L.Cpl. William Arthur Hutchinson was a 32 year-old cartman from Alnwick; he was married with three children. Pte. James Henry Innes was a 26 year-old assistant druggist from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Pte. Lancelot Johnson was a 28 year-old shepherd and stockman from Malton; he was married with two children. Pte. William Gordon Johnston was a 28 year-old horsekeeper from Balham. Pte. James Isaac King was 24 years old; he had been born in Canada, but had been living in London when he had joined the AVC, and had stated his occupation as ‘cowboy’. Pte. Albert Leeson; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Little was a 36 year-old farm servant from Canonbie, Dumfries.  L.Cpl. Frederick James Lynch was a 23 year-old horsekeeper from London. Pte. Daniel Mackenzie was a 33 year-old window cleaner from Liverpool. L.Cpl. Jesse Merritt was a 34 year-old groom from Findon; he was married with three children. Pte. Arthur James Miles was a 27 year-old compositor from London. Cpl. Percival John Munn was a 34 year-old horsekeeper from Dorset; he was married with one son. Pte. Arthur Newton was a 22 year-old horsekeeper from Sheffield. Pte. Joe Noons was a 29 year-old horsekeeper from Dartford. L.Cpl. Reginald James Nosworthy was a 23 year-old horsekeeper from Devon; he had been married on 18^th July, shortly before leaving for France. Pte. William James Nunn was a 34 year-old gardener from Wood Green; he was married with two children. Pte. Harry Orchard was a 30 year-old firewood dealer from Wolverhampton. Cpl. John William Pennells was a 33 year-old groom from Bolney, Sussex; he was married with four children. Pte. James Percival was a 30 year-old horsekeeper from Walthamstow. Pte. Sidney John Rainbow was a 29 year-old carter from Oxford; he was married with two children. Cpl. Ernest Reeve (25923) was a 26 year-old horsekeeper from Stockwell; he was a married man with one daughter. A/Cpl. Albert Reynolds was a 31 year-old horsekeeper from Pimlico; he was married with two children. Cpl. Abel Roberts was a 27 year-old groom from Crowborough; he was married with two children. Pte. Robert Russell was a 37 year-old carman from Twickenham. Pte. Thomas Edward Sear was a 27 year-old labourer from Brackley, Hants. Pte. Harry Seward was a 29 year-old driver from West Croydon. Pte. Thomas Alfred Simpson was a 38 year-old groom from Wolstanton; he was married with three children. Pte. Albert Smith (25953) was a 33 year-old groom from Gosport; he was married with two children. Pte. George Smith (25950) was 25 years old and from Jedburgh. Pte. Samuel Smith (25952); in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. John Malcolm Starbuck was a 37 year-old ‘traffic controller’ from Long Eaton; he was a widower with two children. Cpl. John Starling was a 29 year-old horsekeeper from Bow, London. Pte. Francis Titcombe was 31 years old and from Wootton Bassett. Pte. Horace Trinder was a 26 year-old carter from Berkshire. Pte. Fred Melton Vasey was a 32 year-old horsekeeper from Doncaster; he was married with six children. L.Cpl. John Lamb Watt was a 23 year-old farmer from Aberdeen. Pte. Edward Percy Webb was a 22 year-old labourer from Thornton Heath. Pte. Herbert John Wicks was a 29 year-old grocer and horsekeeper from Colnbrook. Pte. Percival Albert Wiggins was a 27 year-old labourer from Oxford; he was married with two children. Pte. Robert Wilson was a 31 year-old groom from Riccarton.

Also joining with this draft were a number of men from 3DWR. Pte. Joseph Binns (19614) was a 29 year-old woollen warper from Mirfield; he had been called up in March 1916 since when he had served with 3DWR. He had been promoted Corporal, but had recently reverted to Private at his own request. Cpl. George Alma Cook was 23 years old, from London, and had worked as an ‘outdoor porter’ before joining the regular army in February 1912. He had served with 2DWR, with whom he had served in France between August 1914 and January 1915 before returning to England due to an infected hand. He had served at the Regimental Depot and then with 3DWR from September 1916 until being posted back to France. Cpl. Thomas Henry Cox (9328) was 27 years old and recently married; he had served with the Dukes since 1908, most recently with 3DWR. Pte. Henry Pike was a 36 year-old body builder’s machinist from Nottingham; he was a married man with two children and had originally served with the ASC before being transferred to 3DWR. Pte. Tom Wade was a 37 year-old moulder from Leeds; he was married with one son. He had enlisted in March 1915 and had served in France with 2DWR from August 1915 until having been wounded in August 1916.

Pte. Robert Frank Smith (25829) (see 18^th October), who had suffered a shrapnel wound to his left thigh ten days previously, was discharged from hospital and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples en route to a return to active service.

Pte. Robert James Greenwood (see 16^th October), who had suffered an accidental sprain to his right ankle, was evacuated to England from 18^th (Chicago USA) General Hospital at Camiers. The details of his subsequent treatment and career are unknown.

After almost a month in hospital suffering from tonsillitis, L.Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 4^th October), formerly of 10DWR but now serving with 2^nd/6^th DWR, re-joined his Battalion.

2Lt. Eric Dixon (see 26^th September), serving with the Royal Flying Corps, appeared before an RFC Medical Board which found him hit only for light duties, with no flying, and recommended him for three weeks leave. The cause of his incapacity is unknown.

2Lt. Eric Dixon

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

2Lt. Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 25^th September), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was admitted to Brighton Grove Military Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, suffering from gonorrhoea. He would later serve with 10DWR.

A payment of £2 9s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harold Pape (see 9^th June), who had died of wounds on 9^th June; the payment would go to his mother, Ellen. A package of his personal effects would also be despatched to his mother, comprising of, “disc, letters, photos, leather purse, leather wallet, note book, cap badge, testament, metal mirror, small photos, pocket knife, numeral”.

Mrs. Angelina Pereira, mother of the late Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 16^th October), wrote again, this time to the War Office, regarding the burial of her late son:

“Has the War Office received his identity disc, attached was a medal (religious) which I have not received, but should like to have? None of his personal belongings which he would have been wearing when hit have been returned except one wrist watch with a little leather case with a rosary inside it and these things must have been on his body, such as a signet ring, worn on left hand, his prismatic compass, silver cigarette case, flask, field glasses, pocket book and so on”.