William Slade Vincent

7.6
8th Gloucestershire Regiment

On 27th November 1917, William was posted to the 8th Bn. Gloucester Regiment. This regiment was undergoing a lot of training in the Belingham area of France at the time and William was attached to the unit, possibly for further training.

8th Gloucester Reg. 2nd Lt. W.S. Vincent M.C. joined for Duty [69]

But he was not to last long with the 8th Bn. as his problem with trench feet flared up again and he was sick with pain and swelling of the feet. He was evacuated , by Field Ambulance, on 3rd December 1917 and after further assessment at various hospitals in France, was transferred to England.

2nd Lt. W.S.Vincent M.C. evacuated by Field Ambulance 3rd December 1917 [70]

Whilst with the 8th Bn., William joined the officers mess and as officers were allowed to do, the cost of the food, drink and other purchases was billed to an account that officers held at the mess. Owing to the suddenness of William’s departure by Field Ambulance, his mess bill was not paid before his journey to England. The sum he owed was 72 French francs or £2 12s 6d.

This outstanding mess bill was to cause the British Army a “headache” as correspondence on this matter included letters to and from the offices of Field Marshall Douglas Haig, K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., Commander-in-Chief, British Armies in France. From when the mess bill started accruing on 27th November 1917, it would take until 3rd September 1918 for the matter to be finalised. There were several correspondences about this matter.

With the haste in evacuating William, it can be easily understood that the mess bill was not paid as it usually was. However, this was not to be the only occasion William left a debt behind him. Later, we will come across more instances when he left an unpaid debt.

------------------------------
[69] - [70] National Archives - War Diary W/O 95