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