Wednesday 28th November 1917

In billets at Grantorto for rest and training.

The day was fine and sunny as the Battalion resumed its march, covering sixteen miles north-east via Facca, Tombolo and Castelfranco Veneto to Valla. Here, according to Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 26^th November), a number of battalions ‘had some difficulties’ with billets.

Pte. Alfred Whittaker (see 26^th June) was reported by Sgt. John Stephenson (see 5^th October) for “losing by neglect his steel helmet”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 25^th November) he was admonished and ordered to pay for the lost item.

Pte. Joseph Hirst (29641) (see 16^th January) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left leg.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 11^th November), who was imprisoned at 7^th Military Prison at Les Attaques near Calais having been convicted of desertion and sentenced to 15 years’ penal servitude, had his sentence commuted to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Pte. Walter Pedley (see 15^th November), serving with 2/7^th DWR, was killed in action. It appears likely that his body was originally identified and buried but the site of his grave was subsequently lost and he is now commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval.

Pte. Arthur Sutcliffe (see 30^th July), serving with 2/6^th DWR, was wounded, suffering injuries to his right ankle.

L.Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 29^th October), formerly of 10DWR but now serving with 2^nd/6^th DWR, was promoted Corporal.

The exchange of correspondence between the father of the late Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see 16^th November), through his solicitors, Messrs. Goldberg, Barrett and Newall, and the War Office, regarding a claim for his son’s loss of kit in a fire in April, continued with a further letter from the War Office,

“I am directed to suggest that more definite evidence regarding the claim might be obtained by reference to the late officer’s bank pass book, which might show the amounts expended in purchasing new kit and the names of the firms from which the kit was bought; duplicate bills could then be obtained from the firms, showing also the dates of purchase. You will no doubt understand that some definite evidence is required before a payment of compensation can be authorised from public funds. I am to add that if you could furnish further particulars regarding the fire, such as when and where it occurred, it might be possible to trace the late officer’s claim”.