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We have not yet found on which day William was wounded, he is buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Cemetery which was used mainly by 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations posted at Ytres for their burials. The Battalion War Diary for the period 1st to 15th December is transcribed below. The first mention of a casualty is on the 12th and there were a total of only 4 casualties in the whole two week period, 1 of them accidental.
Pont Asquin 1st to 6th
1st - Saturday: Training by Coys in morning. Battn Officers Football team lost to 8 Glouc R 1-5 in the Brigade Final. Remained of Bttn had baths. Leave Lieut Lander & 1 OR. 2/Lt Andrews rejoined from 10/Worcs R.
2nd Sunday: Church parade in the morning. Battn Tug of War team lost to Bde HQ in the afternoon. Leave 2 OR. Capt Hewitt returned from leave.
3rd Monday: Training by Coys on Battn training grounds in morning. Leave 3 OR. 2/Lt Meacham returned from Lewis Gun course.
4th Tuesday: Coys practised the attack on Bttn training grounds in morning. Leave 3 OR.
5th Wednesday: Coys practised the attack on Bttn training grounds in morning. Leave 2 OR. Lieut J.E.D Shaw (Yorkshire Dragoons) joined
6th Thursday: Battn marched in the evening via Canal to St. Omer Station. Battn entrained and proceeded by train to Mondicourt NE of Douellens.
Berle-au-Bois 7th/8th
7th Friday: Battn marched from detraining station in morning to billets at Berles-au-Bois. Lt Oakley from leave.
8th Saturday: Battn marched two miles to an embussing point and proceeded in busses to Baupume to a point 1/2 mile SE of Le Transloy. Thence Battn marched via Rocquigny-le-Mensil [where buried] & Manancourt to a camp at Etricourt (III Corps Area)
Etricourt 9th
9th Sunday: In the evening Bttn marched via Equicourt-Fins-Metz-en-Couture-Trescault to Reserve Bridage area (Hindenburg Line) about 1 mile SW of Ribcourt relieving 2nd York & Lancs Regt (6th Div). Disposition Battn HQ, A&D Coys in Unseen Support Trench, B&C Coys in Unseen Trench.
Brigade Reserve Area 10th
10th Monday: In the evening Battn relieved the 14th Durham LI (6th Div) in front line left sub sector. A quiet & quick relieft
Front Line 11th to 15th
11th Tuesday: A quiet day & night. Companies worked on improvement of trenches from defensive point of view, opening up CT [Communication Trench]. 2?lt Benedict from L. G. Course. Lt Aston to Fourth Army Course.
Casualies Nil. Leave 2 OR
12th Wednesday: A quiet day & night
Casualties: 1 OR accidentally wounded. 2/Lt Andrews to hospital (sick). Leave 2 OR
13th Thursday: A quiet day & night
Casualties: 1 OR wounded. 2/Lt Chapmell to 82nd Field Coy R.E. Leave 2 OR
14th Friday: A quiet day & night
Casualties: Nil. Leave 2/Lt Roshfords and 1 OR
15th Saturday: In the evening Battn was relieved by 7/L.N. Lancs. Relief complete 6.40pm. On relief companies proceeded to the Reserve Area to same position as previously occupied for 1 night [Sunday 9th].
Casualties: 2 OR wounded. Leave 2 OR
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