Saturday 18th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

The Battalion completed an arduous march of around 20 miles north-east from Cornedo Vicentino, via Malo, Molina, Rossi and Sarcedo to Fontanelli, just south of Santa Maria, where they were accommodated overnight in tents and bivouacs. In anticipation of hot weather the march had commenced early, with 10DWR setting out at 6.45am and Pte. Harold Charnock (see 12^th May) described it as, “a very hard march, on a stifling day”. This move was in preparation for a return to the front line as part of a plan for an allied offensive to be launched in early June, in the course of which the 23^rd Division was to co-operate, along with 7^th Division to the left and French forces to the right in an advance against the Austrian positions on the Asiago Plateau. 

This march was also marked by the first cases of influenza, which were to become much more prevalent over the following weeks. In the words of the Divisional History, “The 23^rd Division claims, among other distinctions, that of having been the first British Division in the war to have encountered what later became the scourge of the armies in Europe. On the first march from the Trissino area no fewer tha eighty men fell out on the wayside from one Company of a Battalion of the 70^th Infantry Brigade. They had been billeted at Arzignano, a great cente of the silk industry, and the diagnosis of the rank and file attributed the catastrophe to a disease caught from silkworms! With every respect to the medical profession, it may be said that the rank and file were at least unanimous in their diagnosis, while the disease as it spread through the Battalion and then the Brigade, remained for some time a matter of controversy among the medical officers. The one would claim for it all the symptoms of influenza, while the other would hold that whatever the malady might be, at least it was not influenza. It was influenza, not silkworms, and in view of the projected operations it created a very serious situation. At this time, fortunately, it took a very mild form. For three days only the victim was placed hors de combat, and recovery was quick. No means could be found of checking the spread of the epidemic. There appeared, however, to be no recurrence of the disease, and it could only be hoped that it would spread sufficiently quickly to render the Division immune before operations commenced. During the next few weeks the disease attacked the Division regularly and methodically, unit by unit”.

Pte. Charles Knight (see 21^st April), who was on attachment to a working party at Rocchetto Station, was reported for ‘drunkenness’ and was deprived of 14 days’ pay.

Following 12 days in hospital, being treated for dental caries, Pte. Willie Holmes (see 6^th May) was discharged to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

L.Cpl. Alfred John Davis (see 30^th April), serving in France with 179^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, was discharged from 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport and posted to the Royal Engineers Base Depot at Rouen; he would remain there for ten days before re-joining his unit on 27^th May.

Pte. Thomas McDonald (see 3^rd August 1917), serving in France with 9DWR, was posted back to England (reason unknown); he would subsequently be transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

Lt. Charles Frederick Wolfe (see 26^th January), former Transport Officer to 10DWR, now serving with the ASC, was posted to the Horse Transport Depot at Park Royal, London.

Pte. Philip Pankhurst (see 11^th November 1917), who had been in England since November 1917, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Ernest Fozard (see 28^th January), who had in England since January, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

At home in Rotherham, Doris Draper died at the age of eight months from whooping cough and bronch-pneumonia; she was the only child of Pte. Harold Draper (see 14^th September 1917) and had been born after he had departed for France in the Summer of 1917.

A payment of £1 1s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Ernest Bradley (see 5^th February), who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Dorothy. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “photo case, photos, letters”.

A payment of £7 4s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Sydney Exley (see 3^rd December 1917), who had died of wounds on 3^rd December 1917; the payment would go to his father, Albert. He would also receive a parcel of his son’s personal effects comprising of, “letters, cards, photos, 2 notebooks, religious books, 2 cigarette cases, metal ring, 2 wallets, 3 pencils, metal charm, collar stud, numeral, 2 German coins, 2 Belgian coins, cigarette holder, 1 coin ( ½ d.)”.

A payment of £18 11s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Thomas Tibble (see 8^th January), who had died from lobar pneumonia; the payment would go to his father, Thomas. He would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “disc, 8 coins, photos, cards, writing pad and envelopes, 2 packets cigarettes, 2 packets tobacco, 2 cotton bags (1 small), pencil, 2 scarves, cap comforter”.