First Class Continental Rail Travel.
Picture courtesy of - "The Heritage of the Great War".].
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5th FEBRUARY.
Relieved at night by 6th Btn D.L.I. and moved back into very comfortable cellars at Ypres.
Next day they travelled by light railway to Brandhoek and Toronto Camp.
The camp was occupied and they had to sit
about until 4 p.m.
9th FEBRUARY.
Travelled back to Sunderland Camp, Ypres by train.
200139 Pte Hide Albert, Edward. Born and enlisted at Redcar N Yorks. Died at home.
Buried at Redcar Cemetery.
10th FEBRUARY.
Travelled by light railway to the Front, where they relieved the 5th Btn, Border Regiment.
The weather was extraordinarily fine and warm for the time of year.
The enemy was quiet and a good deal of
barbed wiring was done in front of posts.
Only one casualty during this tour.
11th FEBRUARY.
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Men of the 4th Battalion. CQMS Jackson, bottom row on the left. Others not identified.
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The reorganisation of British Divisions took place with Infantry Battalions being reduced from
12 to 9.
It was becoming harder to find personnel for reinforcements.
The 4th Yorks Btn were not affected, but the
7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers, 9th Btn D.L.I. and the 5th Btn Border Regiment were transferred to other Divisions.
The 150th Brigade was now formed by the 4th and 5th Yorks Btns and the 4th East Yorks.
14th to 20th FEBRUARY.
Btn was relieved by 8th Btn D.L.I. and after 4 days back at St Jean Camp, Potijze, Ypres
they were back to relieve 6th Btn D.L.I in Support trenches. Weather was frosty but fine, the Front was quiet and
the health of the men was "excellent".
21ST FEBRUARY to 8th MARCH
Relieved at night and next day were moved by train to Wizernes, way behind the Front to
the South West of St Omer. From there they marched to Esquerdes, "where the inhabitants gave us
a warm welcome. They had never before known the same Btn to return to the same village - Tres Rare."
The Btn had seen the last of the Ypres Salient. They stayed at Esquerdes until the 8th of March.
During February only 4 other ranks had been wounded and 5 Officers and 155 other ranks had been received as
reinforcements.
35134 Pte Downs Reginald, Ernest. Home at Ryhall, Stamford, Lincs. Born at Kettering and
enlisted at Northampton. Died of wounds on the 15th Feb Age 18. Buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery.
Ex Northants Regt.
9th MARCH.
The 50th Division joined the Fifth Army on the Somme.
The 4th Btn were at Guillaucourt.
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