Monday 19th November 1917

Billets at Sarginesco.

There was another sharp frost overnight 18^th/19^th. The Battalion, along with the whole of 23^rd Division began the march which would take them to their new destination. Capt. William Norman Town (see 14^th November), recalled how, “The 23^rd Division began its historic march of 100 miles across the Italian plain. None who took part in that march will ever forget it”.  Starting at 9.45am the Battalion marched eighteen miles via Grazie, Mantua and Stradella to the hamlet of Carpaneta, near Gazzo. Passing through Mantua around lunchtime the Battalion received a memorable welcome, remembered by Pte. Harold Charnock (see 18^th November): “The inhabitants were most enthusiastic and were particularly astonished at the smart turnout of the men and the transport, so much that they thought we were just out from England.  We marched down a narrow lane of people who threw flowers, confetti and apples, at the same time waving flags and cheering.  This was almost too much for some of the horses”. Capt. Town, with his classical education, was equally struck by both the city and the reception, “we marched through the streets of historic Mantua, the home of Virgil, one of the fortresses of the Austrian Quadrilateral, with its two lakes and encircling River Mincio.  We were received as if we had won the war rather than just arrived.  Chrysanthemums, postcards, cigarettes, etc, were showered upon us; the Italian flag was waved in the faces of restive horses; vivas resounded and the stimulus to the Italian morale, which was no doubt one reason for our march, was manifest”. 

Pte. John Walter Gethen (see 5^th July), who had been posted to 69^th Trench Mortar Battery, was charged with being drunk and ‘resisting the Military Police’; he was ordered to undergo 21 days’ Field Punishment no.1. He had a long string of previous offences.

The Supplement to the London Gazette formally published notice of the gallantry awards made to three members of the Battalion for their actions on 20^th September. Maj. Edward Borrow (see 12^th November) was awarded the Distinguished Service Order; Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne (see 16^th November) received the Military Cross; and CSM Charles Edward Parker, MM (see 29^th October) the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Pte. James Wilson (see 9^th October), serving as a lorry driver with the Motor Transport Section of the ASC, disembarked in Dar es Salam.

Sgt. Herbert Lawton (see 28th April), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to 86^th Training Reserve Battalion.

Sgt. Ronald Jeckell (see 12^th August), who had been in England since having been wounded in July, was discharged from hospital and posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon. 

L.Cpl. Charles Graham (see 21^st June), who had been in England since having had his right foot amputated as a result of wounds suffered while serving with 10DWR in July 1916, was transferred from Keighley War Hospital to the Pavilion Military Hospital in Brighton.

Pte. Robert Wilson Irving (see 24^th June), serving with 360^th Labour Company, Labour Corps, appeared before an Army Medical Board in Nottingham. The Board found him unfit for further military service and recommended that he be discharged. 

Pte. Louis Heren (see 27^th October) was formally discharged from the Army as permanently unfit for further service, having lost both eyes when wounded on 20^th September. He remained at St. Dunstan’s Hospital for further treatment.

Pte. Walter Lee (see 15^th March), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class W in March and had resumed his pre-war employment as a core maker for Messrs. Joseph Blakeborough & Sons, Woodhouse Works, Brighouse, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds. He was awarded an Army pension of 5s. 3d. per week for four months, increasing thereafter to 5s. 6d. per week.

At home in Malton, Mary Jane Johnson, wife of Pte. Lancelot Johnson (see 22^nd March), gave birth to the couple’s third child; the baby boy would be named Francis Victor.

At home in Maidstone, Kent, Jessie Wood, wife of L.Cpl. Joseph Simpson (see 14^th July), serving in England with 493^rd (Home Service) Employment Company, gave birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter who would be named Betty.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. William Ackroyd (see 12^th September), who had been killed in action on 1^st May while serving in France with 2DWR; his widow, Edith, was awarded £1 8s. 9d. per week for herself and her four children.

A payment of £6 12s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Holmes (15231) (see 8^th June), who had died of wounds on 8^th June; the payment would go to his sister and sole legatee, Elizabeth Williams. 

A payment of 12s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Waterworth (see 7^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his father, James.