Saturday 8th December 1917

Support positions between roads 12 and 13 on the Montello.

Pte. Harold Charnock (see 2^nd December) remembered that, “In our Sector there were a few stray poultry, guinea fowl, and wild horses and so we had a bit of good sport chasing them.  In two houses close to the front line we had to turn the civilian people out.  In the house where HQ Mess was the cellar was four steps deep in wine and the empty barrels were floating in it.  Off the end of the building there was a barn full of hay and when the transport brought the rations and emptied the limbers they would fill them with hay and a bit extra for their animals.  After about three days when they were getting it from the top of the stack we found furniture buried in the hay.  On further examination there was everything to furnish a house.  The drawers were full of clothing and even gold and silver jewellery.  Shortly after it was discovered the owner of the furniture came with a four wheeled light wagon to take it away.  He should not have been allowed to come for it but as long as he got here he was allowed to take it away.  The old boy got plenty of assistance from some of the boys”.

Pte. Stanley Barker (see 16^th January) was reported for ‘hesitating to obey an order’; he was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. John Henry Evison (see 20^th September), who had been wounded on 20^th September, was transferred from 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport to 3^rd Convalescent Depot also at Le Treport.

Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 9^th November) was transferred from 24^th General Hospital at Etaples to 6^th Convalescent Depot, also at Etaples.

L.Cpl. Thomas Lloyd (see 7^th September), serving in France with 2/6DWR, was admitted to hospital suffering from a mild case of trench foot; he would be discharged to duty after one week.

L.Cpl. John Henry Eastwood (see 12^th October), serving in France with 860^th Area Employment Company, Labour Corps, was promoted Acting Corporal.

Sgt. Robert William John Morris (see 14^th September), serving at the Detention Barracks at Woking, Surrey, was severely reprimanded for ‘creating a disturbance in the quarters after lights out’; he would be further reprimanded two days later for ‘making false statements to the Commandant in respect of medals’.

Pte. Harry Crawshaw (see 24^th September), who was at the Military Hospital in Exeter being treated for trench foot, was now also diagnosed as suffering from nephritis.

A payment of £6 5s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harold Precious (see 24^th August) who had died at the East Leeds War Hospital on 4^th July, a month after being wounded; the payment would go to his mother, Ann.