Major Rickard arrived yesterday, and has taken over command of the Battalion from Major King of the 4th Battalion.
At present we are having very fine weather, and we all hope it continues, as it will give the men in the trenches a chance to dry themselves and make their trenches more inhabitable. The rains have been so heavy, add to this the sudden bursts of thaw and frost, the country is like a large jelly, and it is almost impossible to keep the trenches from falling in, especially under heavy shell fire, and one has to be constantly throwing back the falling earthy liquid with scoops and improvised ladles made of old tin biscuit boxes, etc.; yet in spite of all this hardship the men are in wonderful spirits, and laugh and joke through it.
OFFICERS IN ACTION AT FESTUBERT
| Lieut.-Colonel A. M. Bent, wounded. Major E. P. Thomson, killed. Major F. I. Day, killed. Major G. J. Ryan. Captain A. Gorham. Captain G. A. Woods. Captain H. C. H. O’Brien, killed. Captain W. Emerson. Captain R. E. M. Pakenham, died of wounds. Captain F. W. Durand, killed. Captain F. W. Grantham. Captain O. Pemberton, killed. Lieutenant J. F. O’Brien, killed. Lieutenant H. H. Lake. Lieutenant W. E. Molesworth, wounded. Second Lieutenant C. H. Carrigan. Second Lieutenant R. A. Young, killed. Second Lieutenant T. Price. Second Lieutenant W. J. King, wounded. |
Officers not in the action but present with the Battalion at the time:—
| Major A. E. King (Regimental Transport Officer). Lieutenant W. J. Hewett (Temporary Brigade Transport Officer). Lieutenant P. Devanney (Quartermaster). |
TOTAL CASUALTIES