Evening Pippa,
Ady is a busy man, doing lots of digging on our behalf. I did know about the six men in Ernest's draft (To the Worcesters) who got killed in the 10th Battalion. I did not mention it as you were on information overload anyway. Also I dont think it is relative to our case. Time will tell though. The 100 men that came with Ernest went I am sure, ONLY to the 2-7th Bn.. Around late 1917 or more likely early 1918, some of those men got transferred from 2-7th to the 10th Bn. I think Ernest was already a prisoner of War by then. I plump for Ernest being captured at Gallipoli Farm in 1917 because of what he has said in the past. Including his mastering of the German Language. Had he been captured late March 1918, I dont think he would have had time to do it. So my conclusion is a mixture of fact and educated assumptions. I am very much interested in the outcome. The Medal Rolls will not only confirm Ernest's details but the other 100 men with him.
The 10th Battalion was near to Bapaume (The Somme region) on 22nd March 1918. The wrong place at the wrong time ! The Germans had launched a massive attack, which was very successful. Captain Stacke gives masses of details and maps. He does say that no figures are available for the losse of the 10th Bn. in this action. It was a disaster for us and I think the lack of figures was a cover up. He does state that of the three battalions in the brigade, they had 1900 men at the start and only 900 five days later. As I said though, I dont think Ernest was any part of this.
Regards Mike