Tuesday 11th December 1917

Support positions between roads 12 and 13 on the Montello.

Another fine day.

In the morning there was heavy shelling of the British front line and of the reserve positions, which raised concerns about a possible Austrian attack, but nothing materialised. Pte. John Killerby (see 3^rd September) was wounded, suffering shrapnel wounds to his left arm and shoulder, including a fractured scapula. He would be evacuated to the UK, via 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre, arriving at Oakbank War Hospital, Glasgow, on 2^nd January 1918.

Pte. Walter Robinson (14753) (see 13th March) was killed in action while serving with 1^st/6^th DWR in France. He had been wounded in December 1915 while serving with 10DWR and, having recovered, had been posted successively (details unknown) to 8DWR, 9DWR and 1^st/6^th DWR, being wounded twice more. Capt. Godfrey Buxton would write to Robinson’s parents with news of their son’s death, "I am very sorry you have not been informed before, but I was away at the time. Your son has always been a reliable soldier and done his work thoroughly. I fear it will be a great loss to you, and all ranks in 'D' Company join with me in expressing our sympathy to you. He died without pain and was buried near where he fell with some of his comrades, and a cross has been erected over his grave." Robinson’s grave would be lost in subsequent fighting and he is now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Pte. Walter Robinson

Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 15^th November), serving in France with 2DWR, was admitted to hospital suffering from a high temperature.

Pte. James Wilson (see 19^th November), serving in East Africa as a lorry driver with the Motor Transport Section of the ASC, was admitted to hospital in Ndanda (in modern day Tanzania) suffering from malaria.

Sgt. William Allen Sayer (see 22^nd September), who had been in hospital in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, was discharged as fit for duty; he was granted ten days’ leave before reporting to 3DWR at North Shields. In actual fact he would be overdue reporting for duty and would not report until 27^th December.

Pte. Herbert Farrand Hogley (see 25^th November), who was in England having been wounded in action serving with 2/6^thDWR, was transferred from hospital in Eastleigh to the Military Hospital in Bangor, North Wales.

CSM Harry Dewhirst (see 13^th October), formerly of 10DWR, was posted from 3DWR at North Shields to 4DWR at Rugeley Camp, Staffs.

Pte. Ernest William Evans (see 24^th October), who had been in England since having been wounded in June, was formally discharged from the Army as being no longer physically fit. His discharge report stated that following his abdominal wounds, “Has considerable bladder disturbance. Very sudden necessity to pass water always ‘wets himself’ if he does not get the chance to pass it at once. Has to support abdomen with hands while urinating. Will not make Class A, B or C”. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. for four weeks, reducing thereafter to 8s. 3d; to be reviewed in a year.

Margaret Rothera, aged 60, died at her home in Keighley; she was the mother of L.Cpl. Cain Rothera (see 7^th November).

A payment of £15 15s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Joseph Dobson MM (see 12^th March), who had died of wounds on 21^st September; the payment would go to his father, Matthew.

A payment of £6 11s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Albert Edward Pope (see 24^th September), who had died of wounds on 24^th September; the payment would go to his widow, Clara. She would also receive a parcel of her late husband’s personal effects, comprising of, ‘disc, cap badge, spectacles in case, cigarette case’.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Herbert Hodgkins (see 23^rd October), who had been killed in action on 9^th June; his mother, Sophia, was awarded 7s. 6d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Maurice Stead Hodgson (see 19^th September), who had been killed in action on 8^th June; his widow, Mabel, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Samuel Sharp (see 7^th June) who had been killed in action on 6^th June; his widow, Alice, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week for herself and her son, Jack.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Frederick Arthur Stead (see 22^nd November), who had been killed in action in June 1917; his mother, Sarah, was awarded 7s. 6d. per week.