Friday 30th November 1917

Billets at Barcon

A fine and sunny day.

2Lt. Conrad Anderson, (see 20^th September), was posted back to England. The reason for his departure is unclear, but he would subsequently (in April 1919) state that, “whilst on active service I contracted influenza and pneumonia and have since suffered chronic lung weakness, rheumatism and general weakness”. Having returned to England he would, at some point (details unknown) be posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. George Green (22749) (see 4^th September) was reported by Sgt. Middleton Busfield (see 11^th August) as having a “dirty rifle on 9am parade”; on the orders of Capt. Henry Kelly VC (see 25^th November) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. John Malcolm Starbuck (see 29^th October) was reported by A/Cpl. George Goodman (see 29^th October) as having a dirty rifle; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton (see 31^st October) he would be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Frederick Thorn (see 15^th November) was reported by Sgt. James Henry Howarth (see 15^th November) as having ‘dirty equipment on parade’; on the orders of Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 26^th November) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

CSM Bob Harrison (see 24^th September) L.Cpl. Frank Mallinson MM (see 26^th September), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, were both discharged from hospital and posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon; they would have ten days home leave before reporting at Ripon.

Pte. Frederick Frank Banks (see 27^th September), who had been in England since having been wounded in September, was discharged from Keighley War Hospital; the immediate details of his posting are unknown. 

Pte. John Oldfield (see 8^th September) was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.

Pte. Augustus Edgar Stone (see 5^th November), who had been declared unfit for military service, was formally discharged from the Army.

The Ministry of Pensions confirmed an award of 22s. 11d. per week to the widow of the late Pte. Albert Edward Carter (see 18^th September), who had been killed in action on 23^rd May; the payment would commence on 10^th December. 

No casualties had been suffered during the month.

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France remained as:

Killed                                   275

Accidentally killed                5

Died of wounds                  20

Wounded                       1,280

Accidentally wounded      53

Missing                              178

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported on the wedding of Pte. Leonard Fox (see 27^th November) and also carried news of Gnr. George Thistlethwaite (see 1^st August):

KIRKBY MALHAM

Soldier’s Wedding: A wedding took place at Kirkby Malham Church on Tuesday between Sapper Leonard Fox of the Royal Engineers, and son of Mr. William Fox, of Wing, Rutlandshire, and Lucy Alice Buckman, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Alfred Buckman, of Bell Busk. The wedding was a quiet one on account of the death of the bridegroom’s mother and the bride having a brother a prisoner of war in Germany since 1914. The Vicar (Rev. D.R. Hall) officiated and Mrs. Hall played appropriate music on the organ. The bride was attired in a navy-blue tailor-made costume with beaver hat to match. The bridegroom was supported by Mr. Charles J.W. Buckman, the bride’s brother, as best man. The bride was given away by her father. After the ceremony, the wedding party and guests proceeded to the home of the bride’s parents at Bell Busk for breakfast. The young couple were the recipients of many handsome and useful presents.

AUSTWICK

Private J.W. Kirkbright and Gunner George Thistlethwaite have been home on leave during the week-end.