16.10.1915: VERQUIN: Details joined Battn. Capt EMB Taylor to Command C Company.

Edward Mallalieu Brook-Taylor

Draft of 50 NCOs & men joined from Entrenching Battalion.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Many of the men that formed this draft had arrived in France with the II Reinforcement on the 26th June 1915 and has served with No.2. Entrenching Battalion. Amongst these men were:-

• 170 Sampson Bennett
• 2160 William Hallows
• 2493 Fred Moorcroft
• 2609 Arthur Collier
• 3105 James Brocklehurst
• 3192 Harry Bellamy
• 3256 Harry Mee
• 3562 Alfred Bailey
• 3441 James Bradley

Army Service Record for 3105 Pte James Brocklehurst recoding his departure from Southampton on 26th June and arrival in Rouen on the 29th June with the II Reinforcement. A Nominal Roll dated 23rd July 1915 records him joining No. 2. Entrenching Battalion with his subsequent transfer to the 1/6th Battalion on the 16th October 1915. James was killed 5 weeks later in the trenches at Richebourg.

Oct 16th. Got to Sailly about 1 a.m. had hot tea & then slept in a field till about 4-30 a.m. Set off again & got to Verquin at 7 a.m. Some billeted in barns, but No.11 platoon in a kind of wash house. Had breakfast & then slept till dinnertime. Cleaned up in afternoon & had a walk round later. Nice day. Had a fire & some straw at night so very comfortable. Got a parcel from C’field.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]