Headstone of Corporal P. Cotter of the Royal Irish Regiment, died September 3, 1916 at the age of 32, and buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, France. © 2013 John M. Shea
10545 CorporalP. CotterRoyal Irish Regiment3rd September 1916 Age 32Jesus MercyAll I ask of youIs that you will remember meAt the altar of the Lord
"October 1st.—The officers assembled in the school to meet the new G.O.C. 'Seems a pleasant, human man: not too old.' After compliments, he told us that we will be 'for it' in a week. Another wood awaits attack. The subalterns adapted the refrain of a popular music-hall song, and sang, 'And another little wood October 3rd.—won't do us any harm.' A guest night, the Drums playing: this was the only event of the kind in my time. And October 4th.—they played Welsh airs in Doullens Grande Place. The French audience increased at each subsequent performance."
Entries for October 1 through 4, 1916 from the writings — diaries, letters, and memoirs — of Captain J.C. Dunn, Medical Officer of the Second Battalion His Majesty's Twenty-Third Foot, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and fellow soldiers who served with him. The Battalion was then serving in the Somme sector. Doullens is 36 kilometers west of Arras, which was on the front line. Composed by American Nat D. Ayer with lyrics by Britisher Glifford Grey, 'Another Little Drink Wouldn't Do Us any Harm' was included in The Bing Boys Are Here, a revue that opened in London's West End in April, 1916.
The War the Infantry Knew 1914-1919 by Captain J.C. Dunn, page 263, copyright © The Royal Welch Fusiliers 1987, publisher: Abacus (Little, Brown and Company, UK), publication date: 1994
1916-10-03, 1916, October, Somme, Battle of the Somme
