Tuesday 1st January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello.

The day was described by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 27^th December 1917) as being a “beautiful day of sunshine, sharp frost and deep snow”.

Pte. Harold Charnock (see 27^th December 1917) remembered that, “The New Year opened quietly enough.  A battalion of the Middlesex Regiment attempted a raid on our right and got a few prisoners, but they attempted to put 300 men across the river, a task which proved too much for them.  Eventually they captured four prisoners, two of whom were drowned while being brought across the river”.  

L.Cpl. Gilbert Swift Greenwood (see 29^th July 1917) was wounded in action when an Austrian shell exploded outside the Company HQ where he was on guard duty.

Ptes. Harold Clifford Ashbrook (see 29^th November 1917) re-joined the Battalion following a stay at 23^rd Divisional Rest station, suffering from swollen feet.

Pte. George Green (22749) (see 23^rd December) was discharged from 69^th Field Ambulance and re-joined the Battalion.

Sgt. Harry Raistrick (see 4^th November 1917) and Pte. George Hayes (see 6^th November 1917) were posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields. 

The London Gazette published the New Year’s Honours List which included the award of the Military Cross, for general meritorious service, rather than for any specific action to Maj. James Christopher Bull (see 18^th December 1917) and Capt. Dick Bolton (see 3^rd December 1917). The list also included the award of the DSO to Major Ashton St. Hill (see 22^nd February), C.O., 11^th Northumberland Fusiliers, who had been in temporary command of 10DWR in February 1917.

 

Maj. James Christopher Bull MC

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Capt. Dick Bolton MC

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Monday 31st December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

A message was issued by 69^th Brigade HQ, “After visiting various parts of the Brigade Front today the Commander-in-Chief expressed to the Brigade Commander his high appreciation of all the work done and of the system of defence and desired him to give to all ranks his good wishes for a very happy New Year”.

Ptes. Harold Dale (see 19^th December), John Henry Evison (see 19^th December) and William Hewitt (25172) (see 19^th December) re-joined the Battalion, ten days after being posted from the Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre.

Pte. Joseph Hartley (see 17^th September) was reprimanded for having been “unshaven on 9am parade”.

L.Cpl. Fred Wilson Fawcett (see 7^th December) was discharged from 62^nd General Hospital at Marseilles, following treatment for boils, and posted back to 10DWR. However, it would be a further 16 days before he actually re-joined the Battalion.

Sgt. Ronald Jeckell (see 18^th December) and Pte. Herbert Ridley (see 2nd November) were posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields. 

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Frederick Charles Davies (see 7^th June 1917), who had died of wounds in June; his grandmother, Martha, was awarded 3s. per week, later increased (from 1^st May 1918) to 5s. 6d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Thomas Henry Hanson (see 14^th September), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his widow, Sarah, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week for herself and her daughter, Edna.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Donald Stewart (see 15^th October), who had been killed in action on 7^th June while serving with 69^th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action; his mother, Sarah Jane, was awarded 12s. 6d. per week.

No casualties had been suffered during the month.

The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France remained as:

Killed                                   275

Accidentally killed                5

Died of wounds                  20

Wounded                       1,280

Accidentally wounded      53

Missing                              178

Sunday 30th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

Pte. Herbert Holt (see 5^th October 1917) was admitted to 2^nd General Hospital in Le Havre (the details of his prior treatment in Italy are unknown), suffering from a whitlow (an infection) to his right index finger; after three days treatment he would be posted back to England onboard the Hospital Ship Essequibo. Pt. John Joseph Liddle was also admitted to the same hospital, suffering from boils to his back and legs; he would be treated for nine days before he too would be evacuated onboard the same hospital ship. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of Pte. Liddle; he had previously served with the Northumberland Fusiliers and would subsequently be transferred to the Army Service Corps.

Pte. Joseph Hirst (29641) (see 28^th November) re-joined the Battalion from 23^rd Division Rest Station.

L.Cpl. Reginald James Nosworthy (see 15^th November) was discharged from 11^th General Hospital in Genoa and posted to the base depot at Arquata Scrivia, en route to a return to active service.

One of Tunstill’s original recruits, Cpl. John Henry Hitchin (see 16^th November) was killed when the troopship Aragon was torpedoed just outside Alexandria Harbour. Also killed in the sinking was Cpl. Harry Wilkinson of the ASC; he was the brother of James Wilkinson jnr. (see 9^th November), who had also originally volunteered with Tunstill’s Company. The Aragon had sailed from Marseilles for Malta in the company of an escort group and was carrying some 2,500 bags of Christmas mail, 160 Nursing Sisters, 150 military officers, 2,200 troops, plus ship's officers and crew. The ship had arrived safely in Malta and remained there for four days before proceeding on to Alexandria. By all accounts the trip had been uneventful and, upon arrival, the ship had been allowed to enter the Port of Alexandria early on the morning of 30^th December but had then been ordered back out of the port due to either there being no berth available, or that the harbour was mined (the story varies). Nonetheless, the Aragon had departed the harbour and stood off approximately ten miles from port when a submarine was sighted which had then fired a torpedo. Efforts to avoid the torpedo had been unsuccessful and the Aragon had been hit on the after port side of the ship and immediately began sinking. HMS Attack, which had also been in the convoy, had immediately come alongside the ship and had taken on as many personnel as was possible before being forced away from the sinking ship. As HMS Attack stood off rescuing men in the water, she had also been struck by a torpedo and had sunk as well. 610 lives were lost in total. Both Hitchin and Wilkinson are among 380 men killed in the disaster who are now commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria.

Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 14^th December), having just returned to 3DWR at North Shields following his Christmas leave, wrote to his father with news of a problem which had arisen in his absence and which would see him re-deployed to different duties with the Battalion. The precise nature of the events is unknown.

“Thanks very much for the wonderful writing case which is in use at the moment and looks like standing overseas use with great ease. My future address will be 52 Percy Gardens, Tynemouth. It is the mess for that Company and I am to live in the same house which is rather convenient for one so good at getting up as I am. I am sorry to leave Shields and “Auntie” is heartbroken but the two places run into each other and I shall often be back. I am to keep the key of this house and have the boy’s bicycle so that I can come in any time and often and the Vicarage people went on inviting me on Friday night as if nothing had happened.  It is a much jollier and select mess at Tynemouth and I know them nearly all but I am rather annoyed at the changing now.

I had another interview yesterday this time with the C.O. himself. He apologised in a way for moving me while I was away and admitted it was because of what happened when I was away. Said I must suffer for what my Company did when I was away. Thought I ought to have created a machine which ought to have gone on working when I was away. Had come to the conclusion it was too hard a job for me especially as I had not made the subalterns work enough. I would like to ask him a lot more things if I had been on my defence. I would have done but as I was already condemned in my absence, I thought it was useless to quarrel with another C.O. I had previously promised the adjutant who was very nice and sympathetic to me, I would try the work at Tynemouth before demanding being sent overseas but I think I shall go. The C.O. seemed to be keeping me more out of charity than because he wanted me so that unless I find he has really sent me a job of some use and interest I shall remember I am G.S.

Please thank Mother for letter and parcel and tell her Mrs K would like her recipe for parkin. Please ask Maybell too to thank her people for remembering me after all.”

 (I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to allow me to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence).

Capt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. John William Smith (11986) (see 27^th October), serving with the Labour Corps, was admitted to 1^st/2^nd North Midland Field Ambulance, suffering from indigestion; he would be discharged and return to duty after two days.

Saturday 29th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

The weather became milder, with a slight thaw of the lying snow.

CQMS Frank Stephenson (see 13^th June) had recently been taken ill, suffering a severe attack of pneumonia. Details of his illness and treatment are unknown, but his illness was reported in the Keighley News:

"Mrs. Frank Stephenson, Park Lane, Sutton Mill, received a telegram from Italy on Saturday, stating that her husband, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Frank Stephenson, was lying at a casualty clearing station in Italy, seriously ill, suffering from pneumonia. The War Office afterwards confirmed the news, but nothing further has yet come to hand. He is in the West Riding Regiment and joined up in the early months of the war. He took part in the Somme fighting last year. This is the first Christmas he has not spent at home since joining the Army".

CQMS Frank Stephenson

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Cpl. Thomas Anthony Swale (see 3^rd December) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Details Camp at Boulogne and Pte. Herbert Willoughby (see 5^th December) re-joined from one of the Infantry Base Depots at Etaples.

2Lt. John Robert Dickinson (see 15^th December), who had suffered gas poisoning while serving with 2DWR in the line near Arras, was evacuated to England, leaving Le Havre for Southampton. 

Pte. Harry Hartley (see 19^th December), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France and would join 8DWR.

Ptes. George Carter (see 1st December), William Henry Gray (see 1^st November) and John Oldfield Greenwood (see 14^th October), all of whom had been in England having been wounded, departed from Folkestone for Boulogne and would be posted to 2^nd/6^th DWR.

Friday 28th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

There was heavy snowfall through the day.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 27^th December) reviewed the recent sentence which had been passed in the case of L.Cpl. John William Mallinson (see 2^nd December); he confirmed the sentence of the court martial, but ordered that Mallinson should not be committed to prison until further notice.

L.Cpl. Ernest Gee (see 23^rd September), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, was discharged from hospital and posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Cpl. Thomas Arthur Sturdy (see 3^rd July), who had been in England since having suffered severe wounds to his left leg on 6^th June, appeared before an Army Medical Board at King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London. The Board found him unfit for any further service and recommended that he be discharged.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Fred Brown (see 22^nd September), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his mother, Alice Ann, was awarded 12s. 6d. per week.

Pte. Fred Brown

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Fred Crabtree (see 3^rd May), who had been reported missing in action in May while serving with 2DWR; his mother, Elizabeth, was awarded 11s.per week.

The War Office wrote to Mrs. Florence Church, widow of the late Pte. Edwin Charles Church (see 15^th October), who had been killed in action on 20^th September, requesting that she forward birth certificates for her two children in order that they could process her claim to an army pension.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of Pte. Edmund Peacock (see 13^th November), serving in France with 9DWR:

IN RECOGNITION OF CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY

Private Edmund Peacock, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, has been highly commended for his bravery at the Front. He has been presented with a tasteful certificate, signed by Major-General Robertson, commander of the 17^th Division, with the following inscription: “Pte. Edmund Peacock, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, in recognition of conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in conveying messages under fire on 13^th November 1917”. In a letter to the parents, who live at Bentley Street, Nelson, Captain Mackenzie states that the card was awarded Pt. Peacock for having made several journeys over bad ground with messages and keeping up communication between the company and battalion headquarters. He was engaged on this work when wounded and carried on his work, not complaining till next morning of any injury. 

The London Gazette published official notice of the award of the Albert Medal in gold to the late Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 6^th December), who had been killed in a bombing accident at X Corps School. The citation confirmed the circumstances of the incident: “On 31^st July 1917 during instruction in the throwing of live bombs, a bomb was accidentally dropped. Lt. Halstead placed himself between the bomb and the soldier who had dropped it, in order to screen him, and tried to kick the bomb away, but it exploded, fatally wounding him. The soldier was slightly wounded and there can be little doubt that Lt. Halstead’s gallant action saved the soldier’s life.”

Thursday 27th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

A fine, sunny day with another hard frost and snow lying on the ground. Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 24^th December), accompanied by the Prince of Wales, who was on the staff of XIV Corps Commander, the Earl of Cavan, visited the Battalion positions. The outcome of the visit was a set of orders which were issued by XIV Corps regarding the organisation and defence of the front line.

1. The Corps Commander is thoroughly aware of the amount and excellence of the work on defensive lines which as been carried out by all units in the Corps, and has no complaints to make on this head.

2. At the same time, every one can learn, and he is of opinion that the work done in the Sector held by the 69th Infantry Brigade of the 23rd Division is in advance of anything that is being carried out at the moment, both as regards organisation of labour, and as regards the tactical dispositions.

3. He wishes all units of the Corps to study, and where possible to initiate the system which is to be seen in this Brigade Sector. He wishes therefore G.S.Os.1. and C.R.E. of Divisions and all Brigadiers to visit this Sector at as early a date as possible, and in any case before January 3rd, the arrangements to be made direct with the G.O.C. 23rd Div.

4. There are many points of interest to be seen. Special attention is called to:

(a) The combined action of Machine and Lewis Guns with Trench Mortars in the defence.

(b) The amount of tunnelling work which is carried out by men who are not trained as tunnellers. Units have complained that they have no tunnellers available, but the GOC 69th Infantry Brigade has clearly proved that tunnellers can be produced from any Unit.

(c) The excellent interior economy and cleanliness. Every dugout has its rifle rack, in which rifles are standing as clean as if in a barrack room.

5. If it were possible, and can be arranged with the GOC 23rd Division, the Corps Commander would like Battalion Commanders to visit these lines, in addition to the officers enumerated above.

Pte. Harold Charnock (see 20^th December) was clearly aware of the significance of the visits, noting that, “The 69th Brigade was particularly congratulated on the good work done on the defences and dug-outs and all other units were told to copy our methods.  A constant stream of ‘brass hatted’ visitors ensued”.

2Lt. Christopher Longstaff (see 31^st October) was posted to France to join 9^th Battalion West Yorks.

Sgt. Herbert Lawton (see 19^th November), serving with 86^th Training Reserve Battalion, was transferred back to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. James Arthur Markinson MM (see 24^th September), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

2Lt. Thomas Arnold Woodcock (see 26^th September), who had served with the Battalion for only three weeks before reporting sick in April, and was currently on attachment to 52^nd Durham Light Infantry, appeared before a further Medical Board assembled at Chelmsford. The Board found that, “his stomach condition is still improving and the bladder irritability is much diminished”. The Board recommended that he should return to his unit and continue his treatment.

A payment of £5 3s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harold Shaw (12758) (see 20^th September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September; the payment would go to his mother, Martha.

Wednesday 26th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

There was a further hard frost overnight 25^th-26^th and the weather remained cold all day.

There were Austrian air raids in response to the allied raids of the previous day; 11 Austrian aircraft were reported to have been shot down, with no losses for the allies.

Pte. Robert Frank Smith (25829) (see 13^th December) was transferred from 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, via 39^th Casualty Clearing Station, to 66^th General Hospital at Bordighera; he had been suffering from swelling to his right knee.

Pte. George Barber (see 14^th November), serving with the Royal Defence Corps in Middlesbrough, was reported for ‘overstaying his pass’; he had been due to return at 12 noon but would not report back until 10pm on 29^th December and would ordered to forfeit seven days’ pay.

Pte. Charles William Hird (see 5^th December), who had been absent without leave for the previous three weeks, reported back to 3DWR at Tynemouth. Having missed his posting to France he was sentenced to 28 days detention, with loss of pay.

Two former members of 10DWR were married; both men had been evacuated to England having been wounded near Le Sars in October 1916. L.Cpl. Maurice Bannister (see 25^th May), who had been discharged from the army due to wounds he had suffered, married Alice Nutt in a ceremony held at the Wesley Place Chapel, Paper Mill Bridge, Keighley. Pte. Daniel Brennan (see 11^th November) married Jane Steele at St. Ann’s Church, Bradford.

Pte. Patrick Ferguson (see 5^th December), who had been in England since July, suffering from rheumatic fever, was formally discharged from the Army as being no longer physically fit for service; he was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing thereafter to 5s. 6d and to be reviewed in a year’s time.

Tuesday 25th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

A fine and frosty day.

There were allied air raids against Austrian positions.

On Christmas Day all non-essential work was suspended and the men were fed special rations; the exact detail for 10DWR is unknown, but elsewhere in the Division this consisted of, “Breakfast:- Quaker oats, sausage (tinned), Bacon, SM tea. Dinner:- Roast pork, potatoes, cabbage, plum pudding (tinned), Rum sauce, quart Italian beer. Tea:- Rolypoly duff, jam, margarine, 3pkts Italian fags and 2pkts Gold Flake per man”. Copies of the 23^rd Division annual review, ‘The Dump’, were issued and well-received by the men.

The Battalion band played at the Brigade Christmas Dinner.

Officers and men had sent home Battalion Christmas cards to friends and family. One survives among the collection of Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 19^th June) and a second, sent by original Tunstill recruit, Pte. Solomon Richard Webb (see 8^th January 1916), to Mrs. Geraldine Tunstill (see 3^rd October) has also survived.

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Tom Greenwood (see 3^rd October), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his mother, Alice, was awarded 8s. per week.

Pte. Tom Greenwood

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Harry Read (see 25^th October) who had died of wounds in June; his mother, Mary, was awarded 8s. per week.

Monday 24th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

A competition was held across the Brigade “to judge the best interior economy arrangement in Transport Lines of the Brigade”. Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 23^rd December), along with Major Owen DSO, DAAG, 23^rd Division, would award marks for the condition and cleanliness of: “cookhouses, ovens, dixie trenches, ablution arrangements, latrines, incinerators, billets, horse lines, water supply, harness and metal work”. 10DWR finished in joint second place, along with 11WYR, sharing a prize of 175 lira; the winner was the Brigade Machine Gun Company.

Colour Sergeant Henry Briley (see 1^st January 1916), serving with 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion, was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit due to sickness. It has not been possible to establish the nature of Briley’s illness nor when he had returned to England from 10DWR.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Fred Greenwood (12115) (see 1^st November 1917), who had been killed in action in June 1917; his widow, Beatrice, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week. 
A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. John William Hardcastle (see 4^th September) who had initially been reported missing in action on 7^th June and subsequently confirmed as having been killed; his widow, Ellen, was awarded 26s. 3d. per week for herself and her three children.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Tom Close Naylor (see 22^nd September), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his widow, Harriet, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Charles Smith (29004) (see 8^th October), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his widow, Ann, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Lewis Sykes (see 7^th June 1917) who had been killed in action in June; his widow, Minnie, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Thomas Wood (see 21^st October 1917), who had been killed in action in June; his widow, Catherine, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week for herself and her daughter.

Sunday 23rd December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

The weather remained fine but the ground was very muddy following the recent rain and snow.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 18^th December) noted in his personal diary that “Pontefract came to see Lawrence re: football teams”. 2Lt. John William Pontefract (see 3^rd December) of 10DWR had captained the Brigade football team which had won the Divisional football competition in April 1917.

(I am greatly indebted to Juliet Lambert for her generosity in allowing me access to Brig. Genl. Lambert’s diary and letters).

69th Brigade football team, Spring 1917, with 2Lt. John William Pontefract seated in the centre of the front row

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. George Green (22749) (see 10^th December) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from “ICT (inflammation of connective tissue) – general”.

Pte. Frederick Thorn (see 7^th December) was transferred from 23^rd Divisional Rest Station to 66^th General Hospital at Bordighera.

L.Cpl. Thomas Lloyd (see 8^th December), serving in France with 2/6DWR, was attached to 457^th Field Company, Royal Engineers.

Saturday 22nd December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

Snow and rain fell throughout the day.

Pte. Hiram Tasker (see 16^th December) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, suffering from trench foot.

Pte. John Edward Scott (see 2^nd November), serving with 2/7^th DWR, was sentenced to five days’ Field Punishment no.2, having been reported for “not complying with an order”.

Pte. John Edward Atkinson (see 9^th December), who was on home leave from 17^th Labour Company, Labour Corps, was admitted to Halifax Military Hospital, suffering from bronchitis. He would be discharged within a few days and would return to France on 1^st January.

Pte. Arthur Chapman (see 1^st December 1916), who had been severely wounded in November 1916, suffering a compound fracture of the right femur and fibula, was formally discharged from the Army, with the award of the Silver War Badge. He was also awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. for four weeks, reducing thereafter to 8s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed in a year’s time.

A payment of £42 15s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late 2Lt. Donald Halliday Lyon (see 22^nd October) who had been killed in action on 20^th September.

2Lt. Donald Halliday Lyon

A payment of £1 18s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harry Hey (25170) (see 23^rd September), who had died of wounds on 23^rd September; the payment would go to his mother, Lily. She would also received a package of his personal effects comprising of, “card-case, photos, note-case, letters, book, disc, comb, thimble, New Testament, lock, buttons, tags, thread”.

Friday 21st December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

Cold and dull but fine.

Pte. John Crossley (see 12^th December) died at 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia; he would be buried at Bordighera British Cemetery.

L.Cpl. Louis Feather (see 16^th November) and Ptes. Walter Dey (see 5^th December) and Willie Holmes (see 15^th November) all re-joined the Battalion following treatment for illness.

Pte. Spencer Buckley (see 31^st August 1916), who had been serving with 3DWR in England since having been wounded in August 1916, was transferred to the Royal Engineers and posted to the Railway Construction Troops Depot at Longmoor.

Thursday 20th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

The weather remained fine and warm.

A boat had recently been provided for the right battalion to assist in their attempts to cross the Piave for patrolling and reconnaissance of the far bank of the river. However, Pte. Harold Charnock (see 18^th December) remembered that, “Various attempts were made to cross the Piave by boats but the current was very strong and the river’s channels altered amazingly.  The Austrian line was mostly in the woods and undergrowth along the opposite side of the river and patrols could collect practically no information.  The nights were very cold”.  

A/Cpl. William Atkinson (25980) (see 3^rd November) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 66^th General Hospital at Bordighera; he was suffering from influenza.

Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 19^th November), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, left England en route to re-join 10DWR.

Ptes. John Edward Bartle MM (see 19^th August) and Dennis Waller (see 14^th November), who had been in England since having been wounded earlier in the year, were both posted back to France and would join 2^nd/4^th DWR.

Pte. Lewis Greenwood (see 20^th September), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, was formally posted to 3DWR at North Shields, but was reported as having deserted.

Pte. Joe Feather (see 16^th June), who had been severely wounded on 7^th June, was formally discharged from the Army with the award of the Silver War Badge.

A payment of £2 14s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. John William Hebb (see 20^th September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September; the payment would go to his widow, Mary.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Jacob Sweeting (see 5^th September) who had originally been reported wounded, but later confirmed killed in action on 7^th June; his widow, Edith, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Wednesday 19th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

Fine, warm and muggy, but very muddy underfoot.

It was at some point during this tour in the front line that Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson (see 20^th September) painted a view from the British front line, overlooking the Piave. Wilson had studied at Goldsmiths College before the war and, equipped with only a few tubes of watercolour, a roll of paper and a solitary brush he would paint close to the frontline, often in considerable danger. Fearing his works would be confiscated he produced them in secret and on their completion he posted them to the family home in Blackheath.

Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Ptes. Harold Dale (see 5^th December) and John Henry Evison (see 8^th December), both of whom had been wounded on 20^th September, were discharged from 3^rd Convalescent Depot at Le Treport and posted to the Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre; three days later they would be posted back to 10DWR in Italy. Pte. William Hewitt (25172) (see 18^th September) was discharged from 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples and posted to the Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre; three days later he would be posted back to 10DWR.

Sgt. Richard Farrar (see 29^th July), serving in France with 2DWR, was posted back to England (reason unknown).

Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 12^th July), who had been in England since having been wounded on 7^th June, was discharged from hospital and posted to 3DWR at North Shields. 

Pte. Harry Hartley (see 17^th November), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported absent off his final embarkation leave; he would return to duty five days later.

A payment of £1 17s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Richard Nelson (see 7^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his mother, Emma. She would also receive a parcel of her late son’s personal effects, comprising of, ‘notebook, photos, postcards’.

A further payment of £1 was authorised, being an additional amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George William Cook (see 14th December), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his father, John.

Tuesday 18th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

The weather remained fine all day but conditions were very muddy.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 16^th December) inspected another draft of about 150 men at Venegazzu. Amongst this draft were men who would be posted to 10DWR. They included Sgt. Albert Blackburn; he was from Bradford and had enlisted, aged 18 in May 1915. He had served in England with 3^rd/6^th DWR and had been promoted Corporal and Lance Sergeant in October 1915, Acting Sergeant in March 1916 and finally Sergeant shortly before leaving England in November 1917. Sgt. Joseph Patrick Melvin was 29 years old and from Bradford; he was married with two children. He had enlisted in August 1915 and had served in England with 3^rd/6^th DWR, rising to the rank of Corporal. He had been promoted Sergeant on being posted to join 10DWR in November. Pte. James Henry Lomax was a 25 year-old cotton bleacher from Greenfield; he had originally attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 and had been called up in June 1917, since when he had been in training in England. Pte. Richard Henry Wedgbury was a 30 year-old master printer from Bradford. He had served in France with 2^nd/4^th DWR from January 1917 until being wounded in April, since when he had been in England. Also among the draft were Ptes. Edward Anderson (see 1^st December), Fred Hargreaves (29267) (see 1^st December), Thomas Charles Jaques (see 1^st December) and William Henry Luke (see 1^st December), who were all re-joining the Battalion 18 days after being posted from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Fred Hargreaves (29267)

Image by kind permission of Patrick Hargreaves

Pte. Harold Charnock (see 8^th December) remembered that, “While we were in this Sector the Austrians displayed a large placard.  ‘Armistice signed with Russia’.  My Christmas in hospital”. (The armistice had been signed on 15^th December).

Pte. Thomas Caton (see 7^th November) was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields; he would have two weeks leave before reporting for duty.

Pte. Thomas Irvin Wood MM (see 21^stSeptember), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that he be discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

The German Red Cross replied to Mrs. Isabella Smith, mother of 2Lt. John Selby Armstrong Smith (see 10^th October), who had previously served with 10DWR, but had been reported wounded and missing in action while serving with 9DWR; she had previously written to them asking for any information regarding her son.

“In reply to your letter I beg to inform you that his name does not appear in any of the official lists of Prisoners of War or of those who have been buried by German troops. If he has not written to his relatives in spite of the permission to write which is in force in all the German camps and hospitals, it can only be concluded that he is not, and has not been, a prisoner of war in German lands. We recommend you to apply to the British War Office in London in order that his name may be included in the list of missing. By means of these lists, enquiries are made of prisoners of war in the various camps and hospitals regarding the fate of their missing comrades. If anything should be ascertained as to his whereabouts through this channel, you will receive notification direct from the War Office”.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. James William Brennan (see 18^th October), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his sister-in-law, Harriet, who was guardian to his three children, was awarded 19s. per week.
A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. John William Clark (20782) (see 20^th November), his mother, Rosanna, was awarded 8s. 6d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Henry Downs (see 5^th September 1917) who had died of wounds on 8^th June 1917; his mother, Jane, was awarded 5s. per week.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Frederick Miller (see 7^th June 1917) who had been killed in action on 7^th June 1917; his mother, Louisa, was awarded 8s. per week.

The London Gazette published official notice of the names of a number of officers and men of 10DWR who had been mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of 7^th November. They were: Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 3rd December), Maj. James Christopher Bull (see 16^th November), Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 15^th November), 2Lt. Vincent Edwards (see 20^th September), the late CSM James Davis MM (see 17th December) and Sgt. Ronald Jeckell (see 19^th November).

Monday 17th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

There was heavy snow overnight 16^th/17^th, leaving about three inches on the ground; this was followed by further snow and rain in the evening.

The Battalion was based in dugouts and Italian tents in small wooded gullies close to the river. Conditions were described as very quiet, with the men occupied in making new dugouts and improving the defences. 


Pte. Henry Edgar Grass (see 6^th May), serving at Burhan in India with 1DWR, was reported for “moving about in the ranks”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days.

The London Gazette published official notice of the award of the Military Medal to a number of men from 10^th Battalion for their conduct in the actions of 20^th September. Four of the men decorated had subsequently been killed: Sgt. James Scott (14445) (see 18^th October); Cpl. Joseph Smith (12748) (see 20^th October); L.Cpl. Arthur Dyson (see 17^th October); and Pte. Arthur Samuel Potter (see 17^th October).

The others decorated were:
L.Cpl. William (Billy) Hoyle MM (see 16^th November); this was a second award, having already been recognised for his conduct on 7^th June, he was now awarded a Bar to his Military Medal.
Sgt. Harry Holmes (see 14^th December).
Sgt. John William Wardman (see 21^st October).
A/Sgt. George William Keeling (see 1st December).
Cpl. Albert Jackson (see 20^th September).
Cpl. William Henry Dobson (see 29^th October).
Cpl. Horace Dewis (see 26^th September).
Cpl. Fred Greenwood (24522) (see 4^th October).
Cpl. James Jennings (11270) (see 27^th October).
Cpl. Thomas Mann (see 20^th September).
Cpl. Joseph Maddison (see 20^th September).
L.Cpl. Louis Feather (see 16^th November).
L.Cpl. Ernest Pearson (see 20^th September).
L.Cpl. Cain Rothera (see 11^th December).
Pte. Jesse Barker (see 20^th September). 

Pte. Richard Butler (see 27^th October) had been wounded and posted back to England.
Pte. Sydney Drake (see 18th October).
Pte. Frederick Harris (see 20^th September).
Pte. Michael Hopkins had been wounded (see 7^th November).         

Pte. H Kenworthy (268541) ((see 20^th September).
Pte. James William Kershaw (see 20^th September).
Pte. Albert Matchet (see 20^th September).
Pte. Ned Metcalfe (see 20^th September).
Pte. Harry Nason (see 20^th September).
Pte. Tom Platts (see 20^th September).
Pte. Ernest Reeve (13014) (see 20^th September).
Pte. Robert William Searby (see 20^th September).
Pte. William Settle (see 20^th September).
Pte. George Thompson (see 20^th September).
Pte. Frank Wood (see 14^th December).
Pte. Thomas Irvin Wood had been wounded (see 21^st September).


A pension award was made in the case of the late CSM James Davis MM (see 8^th June), who had died of wounds on 8^th June; his widow, Charlotte, was awarded £1 7s. 11d. per week. No payment would be made on CSM Davis’ pay and allowances as there had been a debit balance on his account at the time of his death.

CSM James Davis MM Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Joseph Bernstein (see 7^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; his mother, Leah, was awarded 11s. 6d. per week.