Thursday 29th November 1917

Valla

Another fine and sunny day saw the Battalion complete its march, covering the last five miles to Barcon, four miles south of the Montello, where the Battalion was to be deployed in due course. Pte. Harold Charnock (see 24^th November) remembered that, “The whole Battalion was billeted in a very large granary.  The nights at this time were very cold indeed, as usual in Italy, on the plain, firewood was difficult to obtain.  Canteen stores were very hard to get; for the first month we had practically no mails and parcels were most uncertain.  The men suffered a good deal from a shortage of tobacco and cigarettes.  Billets were generally roomy and comfortable”.

Sgt. Lionel Vickers (see 31^st October) was briefly admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance (cause unknown); he would be discharged to duty the following day.

Ptes. Harold Clifford Ashbrook (see 5^th October) and William Ryan (see 5^th October) were both admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, suffering from swollen feet.

L.Cpl. John Wright Pollard (see 3^rd November) and Pte. John Henry Fidler (see 3^rd November) who had gone on leave to England shortly before the Battalion departed for Italy, now re-joined the Battalion.

After 18 days in hospital, Pte. Joseph Walton (see 11^th November) was discharged and returned to 729^th Labour Company, Labour Corps.

Pte. Arnold Walker Brook (see 26^th September), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army on account of the wounds he had suffered in January; he would be awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Samuel Woodhead (see 27^th August 1917) who had died of wounds on 9^th June; his widow, Selina, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Pte. Samuel Woodhead